FamilySearch Wiki:WikiProject Creating Online Records Pages

Current Projects page Creating Online Records Pages

Purpose
The purpose of this project is to gather country-wide online databases (images and indexes) and other important resources onto a spreadsheet to later create a Online Records page for every country on the wiki. This project will be done in two parts.Part 1 is listed below. Part 2 is coming soon.

Project Contact
Jane Colmenares

Task List
Part 1 Task List

Project Instructions
Video Instructions for Project

Part One - Finding applicable collections
1. Go to the Task List and sign up for a country.

2. Click on the link to go to the Google doc spreadsheet for this project. All the databases and websites you find will be recorded onto this spreadsheet.

Looking for databases and websites for your country
Before you begin - We are looking for websites that fit the following criteria:


 * a. Country-wide online databases and indexes to records and digital images that contain individuals found on any type of website (can include archives and other entities hosting this information)
 * b. Website resources that will help someone determine where their ancestor lived including gazetteers and maps
 * c. Online Cemetery collections with individuals' names

For this project, we are not looking for the following websites:


 * a. Instructions on how to do genealogy in that country
 * b. Websites that contain links to databases (we prefer to have the actual databases)
 * c. Archives, Government agencies, or societies for general information (this information will be on other parts of the country page)
 * d. Websites of mailing lists or other communities where questions are asked (again, this will be put somewhere else on the country page)

Use the following list to locate these databases and websites

1. Check the country wiki page - Someone may have already gathered some relevant websites for researching in this country.


 * a. Open a new browser tab or window and type go to the wiki.
 * b. Type in the country in the search field box.
 * c. From the list of results pick the country page. If you were working on Belgium, you would click on "Belgium genealogy."
 * d. On the country page, look for lists of websites listed on the page.
 * e. Also look to see if there is a link to "websites" or "online records" on the topic list to the left of the main country page.
 * f. If you find any collections add them to the Google doc spreadsheet. Instructions on filling out the spreadsheet.

2. Check FamilySearch - Visit FamilySearch.org to see what collections are available for the country.


 * a. Go to FamilySearch.org Historical Records
 * b. On the left of the screen type in the country in the search box. All the relevant collections will now be listed.
 * c. Once the list comes up, compare the list to any collections you may have already listed.
 * d. If there are no new databases, skip to Step 3.
 * e. If there is a new database not already on your Google doc spreadsheet, fill in the necessary information for each new database. Instructions on filling out the spreadsheet.

3. Check Ancestry: Visit Ancestry.com to see what collections are available for the country.


 * a. Go to Ancestry's Card Catalog webpage.
 * b. Type in the name of the country into the "Keyword" field. A list of all databases for that country will appear.
 * c. Go through each database and compare it to any collections you may have already listed from the country wiki page.
 * d. If there are no new databases, skip to Step 4.
 * e. If there is a new database not already on your Google doc spreadsheet, fill in the necessary information for each new database. Instructions on filling out the spreadsheet.

4. Check Findmypast: Visit Findmypast to see what collections are available for the country.


 * a. Go to Findmypast and scroll to the map of the world at the bottom of the page. Click on the map where your country is located.
 * b. Compare the list to any collections you may have already listed from the country wiki page.
 * d. If there are no new databases, skip to Step 5.
 * e. If there is a new database not already on your Google doc spreadsheet, fill in the necessary information for each new database. Instructions on filling out the spreadsheet.

5. Check MyHeritage: Visit MyHeritage to see what collections are available for the country.


 * a. Go to MyHeritage and scroll to the map of the world at the bottom of the page. Click on the map where your country is located.
 * b. Compare the list to any collections you may have already listed from the country wiki page.
 * d. If there are no new databases, skip to Step 6.
 * e. If there is a new database not already on your Google doc spreadsheet, fill in the necessary information for each new database. Instructions on filling out the spreadsheet.

6. Use Google: Search Google for other databases.


 * a. Go to Google and make a search for any genealogy databases that may be available. Use the following search phrases to help find any possible databases. The example is for the country of Belgium:
 * Belgium gazetteers
 * Belgium genealogy websites
 * Belgium genealogy online databases
 * Belgium genealogy records
 * Belgium church records
 * Belgium cemeteries
 * etc.


 * Below is a list of more keywords you can use to search for databases:
 * Bible Records
 * Biographies
 * Births
 * Census Records
 * Court Records
 * Deaths
 * Directories
 * Divorce Records
 * History
 * Jewish Records
 * Land and Property Records
 * Maps
 * Military records
 * Naturalization Records
 * Newspapers
 * Obituaries
 * Passenger Lists (Immigration Records)
 * Tax Records
 * Voting Registers
 * Wills (probate records)
 * Try any other keyword searching you can think of.


 * b. Compare any results with the list of collections you may have already listed from searching the above websites.
 * d. If there is a new database not already on your Google doc spreadsheet, fill in the necessary information for each new database. Instructions on filling out the spreadsheet.
 * e. If there are no new databases to list, you have completed the task. Go to the task page and list the date you completed the task.

Filling out the Google doc
1. Go to the Task List and select a state that you signed up for.

2. Fill out the following fields regarding this collection:


 * a. The first two columns on the spreadsheet are for your name and your wiki username. You only  need to put your name once.
 * b. Use the drop down list to give a suggested heading for where the collection will be listed. If the collection is for marriages, choose the option, "marriage(only)." If the collection including births, marriages, and deaths, choose the option, Births, Marriages, and Deaths." If you do not find a heading that fits the collection, use, "other."
 * c. Copy the url and paste it onto the google doc.
 * d. List the exact title of the database or collection found on the website.
 * e. List the dates covered in the collection.
 * f. Use the drop down list to list if it is either a index only, image only, or index and image database.
 * g. Use the drop down list if the collection is complete or not. A complete collection covers the whole locality. If you cannot tell if collection is complete or not, assume it is and use, "complete."
 * h. If it is a FamilySearch collection, fill in the collection number found in the URL. It is the group of numbers listed after “collection/” Example: collection number is highlighted: https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1661470
 * i. The final column is Notes. If there is anything special you feel that you need to add, enter it here.

You do not need to save the Google Spreadsheet because it is automatically saved.