FamilySearch Wiki talk:WikiProject Utah Experimental County

Please make comments about anything and everything:


 * Color, content, ideas, suggestions.
 * What works for beginners, for experts?
 * What should be added, left out?

Please enter your comments under sections below. Be sure to sign by entering 4 tildes ~. Thank you.AdkinsWH 18:51, 17 January 2012 (UTC)

General comments
Wilma, the construction in the Sandbox is WONDERFUL, so colorful, and such immediate feed back. I would stay on the Utah Project just because it is immediate success. Fabulious construction. Thank you for all of your hard work!!! Wyzer17 15:34, 28 December 2011 (UTC)

Way to experiment! I love looking at new ways to do things. Two comments: 1)I think the page is really long and when it has more data in it it will get even longer. Is there a way to break it up into a series of pages rather than one really long page? Just a thought. 2) I would love to see some step-by-step guidance for finding births, marriage, death, etc.loosledc 19:29, 18 January 2012 (UTC)

Table at top
Suggestions:


 * What about the yellow as the middle color. To me yellow says "light bulb" with works with "ideas". Also wondering about a tan or something for the third color. Don't know what the meanings of colors are. Love the green as the first color. Like you said, Joy, green means "go." AdkinsWH 21:13, 17 January 2012 (UTC)
 * Interesting experiment. I like the idea of the table.
 * You may want to share the idea of the table with an instructional designer and see what they might add.
 * Not sure what the colors mean.
 * The census years listed are a bit misleading. It gives the impression for those who are less familiar with census records that there is a census for every year from 1856-present. Is there another way to do this such as "Beginning 1856" or "Earliest 1856"? loosledc 19:25, 18 January 2012 (UTC)
 * I love that you have directed them to other counties what Beaver residents may be from. loosledc 19:31, 18 January 2012 (UTC)

Implemented Suggestions:


 * Wilma and others who visit this page. I have changed the colord on the first table, but feel they are not as inviting as more vibrant colors.  Would love you input.  Thank you! joy 20:51, 17 January 2012 (UTC)
 * Thanks, Joy. I'll take a lookAdkinsWH 21:09, 17 January 2012 (UTC)
 * Wilma ... I fixed your spacing at the top of the TOC box where it is level with your Infobox  Jane evancol 21:19, 17 January 2012 (UTC)
 * Add a panoramic picture at the top, not just a stark table. Contributor's meeting 17 Jan and admin meeting 18 Jan


 * Job added a panormic view. WOW! Talk about more interesting! AdkinsWH 18:42, 19 January 2012 (UTC)

Style guide
Suggestions:


 * I think the page is really long and when it has more data in it it will get even longer. Is there a way to break it up into a series of pages rather than one really long page? Just a thought. loosledc 19:29, 18 January 2012 (UTC)
 * While I agree it is really long the TOC should negate most of that if done correctly. Klaw 13:54, 29 February 2012 (UTC)
 * Long lists of items:
 * columns
 * link to a separate page
 * Short list with a More link
 * Color, icons
 * What about using a light bulb and the color yellow on the pages for suggestions, not just words.AdkinsWH 18:53, 17 January 2012 (UTC)

Implemented Suggestions:


 * Use Bullets for each item listed under a topic or heading.
 * Exception: blurb that explains more about the heading should be on the margin
 * Use SHORT paragraphs. Computer screen space is limited, people bypass paragraphs longer than 1 or 2 lines
 * Using "templates" for repeated content in counties.
 * FHL and Allen County Public Library blurb

Find and use records section
(Was located above Resources on the table of contents)

Suggestions:


 * Move this below resources. The term "Find records" should work for beginners and not interfere with experts. (Comments from meeting17 Jan, 2012)

Implemented on the Experimental page:


 * Moved the section down. Moved what was under "repositories" to this section. Created a separate section called "Guides to using records".AdkinsWH 19:24, 17 January 2012 (UTC)

Genealogical topics
Suggestions:



Implemented Suggestions:



Church Records

 * See the Forum thread Lists of LDS Wards on Utah Pages

Vital Records

 * I would love to see some step-by-step guidance for finding births, marriage, death, etc.loosledc 19:29, 18 January 2012 (UTC)

Wilma and Pictures
Please send the pictures. I have time to put them up.

Thank you!

joyjoy 18:17, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

Offer to help create a template
Hi, I see that you have made great progress with this project to include a summary of county records in a table at the top of county pages. Would you like some assistance in converting your table into a template with parameters that can be used to insert the specific information for each county? If so just let me know. --Steve 23:26, 8 February 2012 (UTC)


 * Wilma replied to my offer on my talk page (see User talk:Cottrells). As a result of the positive response I have created a new template US County records based on the code used in the article. Having created the template I have now swapped out the code and put in the template with the parameters that have been used for this example. The only difference a person will see is that table now refers to "WikiProject Utah Experimental County residents" as that part of the template uses the page name to create that line of text. When the template is used on a real page the text will make more sense. I used the same anchor link words in the template as were used in the table, but I notice that some do not work, for example there is no section called "Land" rather there is one called "Land and Property". Also there is no "Probate" section - the section being named "Probate Records". I also note that the "Birth", "Marriage" and "Death" sections are formatted in white text with additional coloured boxes with the same titles displayed underneath! Is this really necessary? --Steve 18:20, 27 February 2012 (UTC)
 * We are using this page to experiment with anything and everything, including whiting out the words to a link and trying a colored bar instead. At this point, we are unlikely to ever implement this experiment. Thanks for noticing and for creating that great template. AdkinsWH 21:25, 20 March 2012 (UTC)

23 Feb w/Beth Longley
Restate when birth records start, and where originals are housed

Where people can get them including microfilm, internet, archive

When state starts and how to get those

Do they have the same info (state or county), is one better, cheaper, how does county allow access?

Online?

Type of information b records have


 * Name of child usually (some not yet named at time records was created
 * DOB, POB usually
 * Fathers name frequently (In some cases may be blank when father not known or not reported)
 * Father's age sometimes, occupation sometimes, bp seldom
 * Mothers given name usually
 * Mother's age sometimes, # of previous births (sometimes)
 * Mother's BP seldom
 * Maiden name frequently . In earlier records (years?) may be less often
 * Date of registration (is there a clue in that?)
 * Informant frequently (relationship?)
 * Clerk usually
 * Dr or midwife usually

Types of birth records


 * Midwife, MD, hospital, other

Rather than a long list of all these, use a More link

Make it visually appealing

Icons ready to review.
This is the remember light bulb - remember to do the following:

This is the key to unlocking all researching tips you would ever want to know.

This is the notepad. Use it for taking notes for Wilma.

For digital newspapers, the quality of the image affects the accuracy of your searches. Early issues may be low quality. Suggestion: look at a microfilmed copy of the newspaper. Better yet, find an original if at all possible.

Clouds - possible icon for online resources



Comment on Newspapers
I suggest we link to pages about each category of repository. For example, we should have a U.S. Page about the Library of Congress' s Chronicling America project including how to use the newspaper section. The information about how to use the Newspapers could be on that page Library of Congress