FamilySearch Wiki:WikiProject FamilySearch Historical Records/Guidelines for Articles

Main Page: FamilySearch Wiki:WikiProject FamilySearch Historical Records

We need your help! Below is a style guide to assist you in editing and authoring desciptions of wiki articles that describe FamilySearch digital collections.

Some Style Notes
FamilySearch provides free access to registered users of Historical Records Collections found on FamilySearch.org. The wiki articles that describe these collections have the phrase "FamilySearch Historical Records" in the title of the article.

These wiki articles are written to assist users who may or may not be genealogical experts. The articles should be written in a basic language style using simple words. Descriptions of each section of a FamilySearch Historical Records wiki article are listed below.

FamilySearch Collection Template
The template brands the article as describing a collection from the FamilySearch website and creates links to the digital collections.

Members of the User Guidance Unit (a FamilySearch entity) adds the template to the Historical Records wiki articles.

Image Visibility
If the collection the article is describing has any legal or contractual restrictions regarding the digital images of the collection records, then this section is added to the wiki article. This header will be added by User Guidance staff or missionaries. To find possible restrictions, locate the Restriction Codes under the Images tab in Rosetta. Compare the K codes with the Image Visibility Notices document (found in OneDrive) to see if you need to add a notice. If you do, copy and paste the corresponding notice text here. === Image Visibility === For additional information about image restrictions, please see the Restrictions for Viewing Images in FamilySearch Historical Record Collections page. 

Title in the Language of the Records
This portion of the article exists for non-English language collections. This section includes the title of the wiki article in the language of the collection records but without the suffix (FamilySearch HIstorical Records). When this section is incomplete, a template is added asking the community to supply a translation of the title in the language of the records. The template serves two purposes:


 * Makes the incompleteness easy to spot
 * Automatically categorizes this section in the Category:FamilySearch Historical Records articles needing title translations.

Example Wiki Article Title: Argentina, Salta, Catholic Church Records (FamilySearch Historical Records) Translated Title: Argentina, Salta, registros parroquiales de la Iglesia Católica

When the template is in place (translated title is unknown):

Record Description
This section of the article includes what record types make up the collection, the years that those records cover, the language (if not English) the records are in, any special formatting (printed, type-written, handwritten, etc.), and a description of the physical state of the original records in the collection, such as:


 * Water damage
 * Torn pages
 * Bleed-through
 * Fire damage

It is also helpful to describe major historical or political influences that effected the creation of the records.

Example:

This collection of census records covers the year of 1901. Census enumerations were recorded in registers with legal size papers in landscape orientation. Each book (libretto) is separated by a title page, which includes the name of the province, the section, and the type of population covered. It is followed by the enumeration sheets containing surname and names of the inhabitants, age, gender, and civil status, nationality, place of birth, occupation, literacy, and special conditions. At the end of each book (libretto) is a global summary page of the register.

If this section is incomplete, a template is added. The template serves two purposes:


 * Makes the incompleteness easy to spot
 * Automatically categorizes this section in the Category:FamilySearch Historical Records articles with an incomplete section.

Example of the incomplete section:

The Browse Statement Template
If the collection has images to browse, a link is added to this section that takes the user right to the images. Use the Collection Browse Link template by typing and the associated coding.

Example:

How to Use the Record
This section "How to Use the Record" requires the following subtopics: how to search the collection; and, if the records are not in English, where to find translation help.

Other optional subtopics may include: how to use the information found in a record, tips on continuing research or searching the collection, suggestions for if the record cannot be found, and any general information about the records or locality that may aid the users in their search.

Under the main header "How to Use the Record," it is helpful to provide suggestions that may aid the user in their search, such as:

As you are searching, it is helpful to know such information as your ancestor's given name and surname, some identifying information such as residence, age, estimated [event] year, and family relationships.

Specific research strategies for the record type(s) may be added as well.

For Help Reading These Records
Add this section only when the collection records are not in English. If more than three items are included in this section a bulleted list should be used. Replace the word "Language" with the language of the collection. List other resources as appropriate.

Bulleted list style: === For Help Reading These Records === These records are written in Language. For help reading these records see the following: 
 * Language Genealogical Word List
 * Reading Spanish handwritten records
 * Script tutorial for Spanish

Sentence style: === For Help Reading These Records === These records are written in Language. For help reading these records see Language, Reading Spanish handwritten records, and Script tutorial for Spanish.

To Browse This Collection
Add this section only if there are images to view and a browse hierarchy with headers (not just numbers, aka a fakey browse). This section uses the tmplate. Replace the numbers in the CID parameter with the CID of the collection. Replace the "Publishable Title" text with the name of the collection. Remove the scheduled= parameter when the collection is published. === To Browse This Collection ===



FamilySearch Resources
This section provides links to wiki articles, collections, and catalog records on the FamilySearch site with related content. This section should use a bulleted list to display articles. If the article includes an Infobox on the right side of the page these links should be added to the FamilySearch Resources section. == FamilySearch Resources == 
 * Argentina
 * Argentina Census
 * Argentina Military Records
 * Argentina Notarial Records

Related Websites
This section provides links to wiki articles, websites, archives, and other online materials with related content. This section should use a bulleted list to display articles. If the article includes an Infobox on the right side of the page these links should be added to the Related Websites section. == Related Websites == 
 * Pennsylvania Death Certificates
 * Online Pennsylvania Death Records, Indexes &amp; Obituaries
 * Chinese Genealogies

What Can These Records Tell Me?
This section is to give users an idea what information is include in each image or record. Usually this includes a list of information included in the record. This can be in a sentence if the list is short or a bulleted list if there are more than three items. If the collection includes multiple record types a columnar bulleted list may be the best way to display the information. Please use phrases such as Name of Deceased, Birthdate of bride, and Occupation of groom.

The following example shows the wikitext used to display a three column list that uses 79% of the available screen. == What Can These Records Tell Me? == The following information may be found in these records:

Record Type

Record Type Record Type



Collection Content
These sections are only used based on the collection publication. Copy and paste the wikitext into the new article as appropriate. Sample images should only be used if there are no image visibility restrictions.

Sample images from the collection will be added to this section individually, or in galleries when there is more than one image. Images should be placed above or next to the record type that describes each image. Sample images should be included for each major record group. == Collection Content ==

Digital Folder Number List


How Do I Search This Collection?
This section is used all Historical Records articles. Copy and paste the wikitext into the new article. Add a sentence or use a bulleted list to identify information helpful to successfully use this collection. == How Do I Search This Collection? == Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know </PRE>

Search the Index
This section is used all Historical Records articles. Copy and paste the wikitext into the new article. Replace "number" with the CID number for the collection. Do not remove CID from the right side of the equals sign. === Search the Index === </PRE>

View the Images
This section is only used when images for a collection are available. Image availability is indicated on the collection landing page by the phrase View Images in this Collection followed by a link indicating the number of images in the collection. Image collections have either browseable waypoints (data that describes the folder) or a DGS ("Fakey") browse that consists only of the accession numbers of the image folders. Select the appropriate instructions based on the type of browse the collection uses.

For collections with waypoint data, use the {{{{View_Images_Link}} template. Replace "Number" with the CID number of the collection, and the First through Fourth browse levels with the browse levels used in the collection. === View the Images === {{View_Images_Link }}</PRE>
 * scheduled = Only needed if the collection is not published
 * CID = Number
 * browse_1 = First browse level
 * browse_2 = Second browse level
 * browse_3 = Third browse level
 * browse_4 = Fourth browse level

For Fakey Browse Collections with a Digital Folder Number List (DFNL) page use the following format. Replace the [DFNL URL Link Text]</PRE> with the name of the Digital Folder Number List page for the collection. You must also replace "CID" in the URL Browse Page with the collection CID.

=== View the Images === To view images in this collection: </PRE>
 * 1) Look at the [DFNL URL Link Text] article to determine the folder/film number for the images you want to see
 * 2) Go to the Browse Page
 * 3) Select the Film number to view the images

Known Issues With This Collection
This section will be added as needed by World Wide Support staff and missionaries when they add information about problems with the collection.

How Do I Analyze the Results?
This section is used all Historical Records articles. Copy and paste the wikitext into the new article. === How Do I Analyze the Results? === Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.</PRE>

What Do I Do Next?
This section is used all Historical Records articles. This section can be made up of either sentences or bullet points.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?
This section can be made up of either sentences or bullet points. The content should include useful instructions on how to incorporate the search results into your records and apply the new information to identify the next goal in the research process.

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?
This section can be made up of either sentences or bullet points. The content should include useful instructions on how move forward in when the information being looked for was not found.

== What Do I Do Next? ==

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?
</PRE>

Record Finder
This section is used all Historical Records articles. Copy and paste the wikitext into the new article substituting the country name for "County name" in the link. === Record Finder === Consult the [Country name Record Finder] to find other records.</PRE>

Citing This Collection
The collection citation is prepared by User Guidance staff. The initial explanation about citing records should be pasted as it is written.

Example of the Collection Citation paragraph and template:

== Citing This Collection == Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.</PRE>


 * Collection Citation:"Argentina, Buenos Aires, Catholic Church Records, 1635-1981." Index and Images. FamilySearch. http://FamilySearch.org : 1 April 2015. Parroquias Católicas, Buenos Aires [Catholic Church parishes, Buenos Aires Province].

This section also uses one or both of the following templates: These should be placed on the lines following the collection citation.  </PRE>
 * Where indexed records are available in the collection use the template
 * If images are available the template should also be used.

Stub Article
If the article has three or more incomplete sections, the stub template needs to be added to the bottom of the article. The template automatically categorizes this section in the Category:FamilySearch Historical Records article stubs. Category:FamilySearch Historical Records article stubs</PRE>

How Can I Contribute to the FamilySearch Wiki?
In this section, add the “Contributor Invite” template by copying and pasting this wikitext coding: == How Can I Contribute to the FamilySearch Wiki? == </PRE>