Family Search Research Wiki



The best kept secret in research is FamilySearch’s Research Wiki, a free online guide to family history research.  Genealogy research is location and time-period specific with many variables in between confusing and confounding even the best researcher.  The Research Wiki links to available information, but it also gives foundational information for the researcher. 

Steve Anderson on the Family Search  blog states“…the idea that should grab our attention and make us go WOW is the fact that such a large community of genealogists and family historians have worked together to pool their collective knowledge into a single web based library and made it all available to the public—for FREE. It’s like having a worldwide encyclopedia of knowledge for genealogists at your fingertips.”(1)
The Research Wiki does not contain names and dates, but it does point you in the direction to go to find and locate those names and dates.

According to the Family Search Blog, Nathan Murphy describes, “The FamilySearch Research Wiki is a free online guide explaining how to find ancestors in different time periods and places all around the world. Originally based on the Family History Library’s Research Outlines, the FamilySearch Research Wiki has expanded over the past five years… “ (2)  

Looking for United States vital records depends upon the time period and location.  The Research Wiki gives simple to read tables for the vital records, as well as links to available online records, where and how to order records, or  if the records are found in the Family History Library Catalog.  It is on these individual pages that you will find out IF the record was created and where it is NOW kept. 

Individual pages also give basic historical information that is valuable to research.  Such as migration patterns, history of a certain locale, and boundary changes.  This type of information is valuable as foundational information for your research.

The Wiki links to websites where the information is available regardless if it is subscription or free.   This is valuable because it is a broad overview of where the record may be obtained and does not discriminate if there it is a fee involved website.

In addition to localities and time periods, the Research Wiki teaches how to do genealogy and research.  There are basic articles written about organization, citing sources, software programs available and research principles. 

Go here at FamilySearch.org Wiki and explore!  


Sources and more information about the Research Wiki online:
(1)Anderson, Steve, “FamilySearch Wiki Reaches an Imporrtant Milestone” published 1 October 2013.  https://familysearch.org/blog/en/familysearch-wiki-reaches-important-milestone/
(2)Murphy, Nathan W., “FamilySearch Wiki Reaches an Important Milestone” published 3 October 2013.  https://familysearch.org/blog/en/familysearch-wiki-reaches-important-milestone-2/
Genealogy Star  http://genealogysstar.blogspot.com/2013/09/75000-articles-now-in-familysearch.html    
Dear Myrtle  http://blog.dearmyrtle.com/2009/02/1-5-10-year-possibilities-part-f.html

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