The FamilySearch Wiki Makes it Easy
to Find the Path to Needed Records and Success!
GenealgyNow Blog Teem, April 18, 2016
I once heard that the reason children can work computerized devices so well is because they are not afraid to push buttons, where as older folks may seem to worry that they will create problems if they play around with the unknown.
Doing our family history is work, true; but it is also very exciting, fulfilling and exceedingly rewarding.
Learning to us the Wiki with the suggestions given in the past three weeks and what is available this week, will surely increase your confidence and knowledge as you use the Wiki to take your family history further with the assistance of all that is offered through the Wiki.
I once heard that the reason children can work computerized devices so well is because they are not afraid to push buttons, where as older folks may seem to worry that they will create problems if they play around with the unknown.
Doing our family history is work, true; but it is also very exciting, fulfilling and exceedingly rewarding.
Learning to us the Wiki with the suggestions given in the past three weeks and what is available this week, will surely increase your confidence and knowledge as you use the Wiki to take your family history further with the assistance of all that is offered through the Wiki.
Last week the suggested lesson was to get into FamilySearch Wiki (using one of the following methods) and click on as many of the links offered as possible to get well acquainted with what the FS Wiki has to offer as well as getting a good introduction as to how needed information can be accessed
If you have not accessed the Wiki home page and then clicked on the map tabs and the two linked pictures on the left below, consider doing so soon. Be sure to become acquainted with the l "Contents" (index listing box at the top of each new topic's page). Click on one or more of the links to see what comes up. Be curious! Read the "Contents box" list. Scan down to see some of what is offered for some of the topics and be sure to click on several of the blue links to get a feel for the variety and extent of information is made available free. After you have become acquainted with the home page on the right, take a look below here to see what you get from the list at the far left under "Research Wiki."
If you have not accessed the Wiki home page and then clicked on the map tabs and the two linked pictures on the left below, consider doing so soon. Be sure to become acquainted with the l "Contents" (index listing box at the top of each new topic's page). Click on one or more of the links to see what comes up. Be curious! Read the "Contents box" list. Scan down to see some of what is offered for some of the topics and be sure to click on several of the blue links to get a feel for the variety and extent of information is made available free. After you have become acquainted with the home page on the right, take a look below here to see what you get from the list at the far left under "Research Wiki."
Five Methods to Access the FS Research Wiki on line.
1. In FamilySearch click on "Search" on the top of all most every FamilySearch page. Click on "Wiki" in the drop down list.
2. Click on "Get Help" at the top right of almost every FamilySearch page. In the left column, scan down and click on "Research Wiki."
3. In your browser (example, Google), type "familysearch.org/wiki."
4. Once you have accessed the FamilySearch Research Wiki, add it to your Bookmarks so you always have instant access to it.
Each of the above will take you to the FS Wiki Home Page.
1. In FamilySearch click on "Search" on the top of all most every FamilySearch page. Click on "Wiki" in the drop down list.
2. Click on "Get Help" at the top right of almost every FamilySearch page. In the left column, scan down and click on "Research Wiki."
3. In your browser (example, Google), type "familysearch.org/wiki."
4. Once you have accessed the FamilySearch Research Wiki, add it to your Bookmarks so you always have instant access to it.
Each of the above will take you to the FS Wiki Home Page.
| Sample of Getting help from "About the Wiki" <<<<<< <<<<<< The list to the left is on the left of nearly every page in the Wiki. Notice that they are each blue meaning that they are "live link" to take you to more information. By clicking on "About the Wiki," a helpful list is discovered lower in the article under the title "Valuable Resources." In clicking through the list I found; "Help: Keys to Success Using the Wiki. This is an example why it is worth the time to see what is offered on topics listed under a chosen topic. See what you link from the copy of the information found there. You may want to try out some of the others there. |
Help:Keys to Success Using the Wiki
The “Keys to Success” in using the FamilySearch Research Wiki are based in part of four different success stories. Your success in using the Research Wiki to help with your genealogical research will be enhanced by your understanding of some of the best key features in the Wiki.
Success Stories - Remember that "blue" means "links."
Keys to Success
Key One: Try it!
In every success story example, the Wiki was not the first choice to search for research help. But in every success story example, the user came away with the realization that the FamilySearch Research Wiki is a valuable tool and in many cases, the answers to research questions are already there.
Key Two: Use different ways to search and browse
Key Three: Understand some of the best features
The “Keys to Success” in using the FamilySearch Research Wiki are based in part of four different success stories. Your success in using the Research Wiki to help with your genealogical research will be enhanced by your understanding of some of the best key features in the Wiki.
Success Stories - Remember that "blue" means "links."
- Carlisle Indian School Records
- Finding Pennsylvania Ward Maps
- Using the Historical Records Wiki articles
- Video:Researching in the Wiki: A Case Study
Keys to Success
Key One: Try it!
In every success story example, the Wiki was not the first choice to search for research help. But in every success story example, the user came away with the realization that the FamilySearch Research Wiki is a valuable tool and in many cases, the answers to research questions are already there.
Key Two: Use different ways to search and browse
- Keyword searches
- Browse by country
- Browse by topic
- Navigational boxes
- Categories
- Clickable maps
- Disambiguation pages
- "What links here" on every page
Key Three: Understand some of the best features
- Research Content
- FamilySearch publications were added to the Wiki and updated!
- New research topics and articles never seen before
- Links to online databases and descriptions of how to use them
- Research strategies for births, deaths, and marriages based upon time and locality from the 1500s to the present
- Use the content as a venue to teach others how to help themselves
- Research tools
- Articles that teach you how to locate records
- Tons of images to help learn about records and places
- Answers to common research questions, for example see:
- FamilySearch Historical Records content
- The Historical Records page links to the usage description page in the Wiki
- The Historical Records Wiki page links to the database so you can immediately conduct a search
- Anyone can add additional insight into using each of the Historical Records databases by adding what you know to the wiki article
- An Opportunity to Share
- Share what you know
- No publication delays
- Preserve your knowledge
- Your Own Page
- Use your “user page” to introduce yourself to the wiki community
- Use your User Page-Talk page to communicate with wiki community members
- Add a User Box to your page to help share details about the things that interest you
- Talk Pages
- Use the Talk page to share your ideas about improving an article
- Use the Talk page to talk to a specific user in the wiki
- Viewing a List of Contributions
- View your own list of contributions
- Keep track of your contributions for credentialing purposes
- Learn from a specific author in the Wiki by viewing their “user contributions”
- Every Page has a History
- See a history of all the edits made for any article
- See exactly what the page looked like on any given day it was saved
- Wiki System Preferences
- Change your preferences.
- The Watch List
- Be notified when new content articles are updated.
- Be notified when someone improves what you contributed.
- Manage your watchlist
- Wiki Projects You Can Join
- Participate in a Wiki Project to help grow and improve the content
- Choose from a list of tasks identified by the Wiki Project leaders
- Get the help you need from those involved in the Wiki Project
- Create your own Wiki Project to share what you know and to help others learn
- Disambiguation Pages
- There is often more than one place for a specific locality name. The list of Ambiguous place name pages in the wiki gives you a glimpse of how many locality names might be confusing in your research. Each of these Disambiguation pages will help you sort through the options and hopefully find the right locality!
- For non-place-name disambiguation pages, see the Disambiguation category page
- The Navigational Boxes
- There are a lot of different types of navigation boxes.
- Each navigation box will help you navigate to other pages that relate to the topic you are viewing
- Each navigation box will help expand your knowledge about related topics and places
- The "What links here" feature
- If the article you are viewing does not have the information you are looking for, choose the option to see a list of other pages in the wiki that link to the page you are viewing. Perhaps the other articles have exactly what you are looking for.
More Links to Try - Remember blue means "links."
Learn more about using the wiki:
Getting Started
Navigation Basics • Wiki Basics • Editing • Genealogical Terms
Browsing the Wiki
Navigation • Searching • Advanced Searching • Search Tips
We have just given you a peak of how helpful the FamilySearch Research Wiki can. don't stop here. The more you use it and access the help options available on the "Home Page," you will always be able to find your way.
Watch for our Wiki class probably in a month at the St. George FamilySearch Library
Watch for our Wiki class probably in a month at the St. George FamilySearch Library