FamilySearch Wiki:WikiProject Massachusetts

Overall Objectives
The purpose of the Massachusetts Wiki Project is to help readers find and use Massachusetts resources and records for genealogy and family history. The project will update and improve:


 * Massachusetts county pages. Example Suffolk County
 * Massachusetts main page.
 * Statewide topic pages. Example Vital Records
 * Other Massachusetts-related pages

Guiding Principles

 * Task Difficulty Tasks are rated for difficulty. Within each phase task table look for 1, 2, or 3, with 1 being the least difficult and 3 being the most difficult.


 * Highlight important and relevant items. Long lists of every website or every publication would bury, rather than highlight, what's important.


 * Tell readers what to expect when they follow a link or search a suggested record.


 * Balance content with these four factors in mind:


 * a. Genealogical Value. Does this help Wiki users further their research?
 * b. Clarity. Make sure everyone understands your meaning and the purpose of your words.
 * c. Brevity. Be succinct as possible without sacrificing purpose or clarity.
 * d. Documentation. Use footnote(s) to identify the source(s) of the content you are creating.

For each section containing information regarding resources and records, the following should be included:


 * Links to online resources: indexes and/or images of records or how to use those records.
 * Links to catalogs such as the Google books, WorldCat, Family History Library Catalogamong others.

For more style and guidelines for the Massachusetts Wiki Project.

Massachusetts Wiki Project Phases - Explanation

 * Task Difficulty Tasks are rated for difficulty. Within each phase task table look for 1, 2, or 3, with 1 being the least difficult and 3 being the most difficult.

Repositories Tasks
The first set of tasks includes adding content to each Massachusetts county page. Content will be added by completing written tasks which will apply to each county. These tasks will have written instructions giving guidance on how to enter information, format the information, and how to cite the information, when applicable. Some of these tasks entail specifically:


 * County headings
 * Verify parent county and surrounding counties
 * County repositories (libraries, archives, museums) - contact information for repositories that hold original and compiled records for individuals that lived in that county including links to the repositories' websites with additional information
 * Locate Family History Centers

Vital Records Tasks
The second group of tasks focuses on the following record type:


 * Vital Records

Each record type above will include what records are available, time period the record covers and how they can be accessed including links to databases, images and references to books and microfilm and information to repositories.

Probate and Land Records Tasks
The third group of tasks focuses on the following records types:


 * Probate Records
 * Land Records

Each record type above will include what records are available, time period the record covers and how they can be accessed including links to databases, images and references to books and microfilm and information to repositories.

Newspapers and Church Records Tasks
The fourth group of tasks focuses on the following records types:


 * Newspapers
 * Church records

Each record type above will include what records are available, time period the record covers and how they can be accessed including links to databases, images and references to books and microfilm and information to repositories.

County Histories Tasks

 * County histories - list of county histories available with links to online books and references to libraries

Tax and Cemetery Records Tasks

 * Tax records
 * Cemeteries

Each record type above will include what records are available, time period the record covers and how they can be accessed including links to databases, images and references to books and microfilm and information to repositories.

Schedule
February 2013

Massachusetts Wiki Project Tasks
Before beginning any tasks please review the Ohio Project guidelines.

FIRST TIME WIKI USERS: For instructions on how to edit the wiki use the following:


 * Online and Video Instructions
 * Editing on the Wiki written instructions

The following are tasks to be accomplished for the Massachusetts Wiki Project. Each task has step-by-step instructions to accomplish it. '''SOME TASKS ARE NOT YET COMPLETED. WHEN TASKS ARE LINKED (typed in blue) THEY ARE READY FOR PARTICIPANTS TO WORK ON THEM.'''


 * Task Difficulty Tasks are rated for difficulty. Within each phase task table look for 1, 2, or 3, with 1 being the least difficult and 3 being the most difficult.

Example of Massachusetts County Page
Suffolk County Massachusetts

Guidelines and Style
Style and guidelines for the Ohio Wiki Project

Registration
If you are interested in participating in the Massachusetts Wiki Project, click here to register as an Massachusetts FamilySearch Wiki Project Volunteer. As soon as you are registered, you may begin to add information to any of the tasks typed in blue in the tables above.

Discussion and Forum
Paticipants are encouraged to use theFacebook Massachusetts Genealogy Wiki Project Group as a forum for questions and discussions.

Community Meetings
To be determined

Online meetings with focus on Wiki pages for Massachusetts.


 * Share ideas, suggest improvements
 * Get news and progress reports.

Attend from home, at a library, or wherever you have an internet connection and a telephone.

Current Meetings
None are scheduled at this time.