Underutilized Tool--Research Wiki



The Family Search research Wiki is one of the most underutilized tools researchers have.  The Family Search research Wiki, here after referred to a as the Wiki, is Family Search’s attempt to follow the online Wikipedia format for genealogical research help and assistance.    The Wiki is a valuable free online resource for all researchers to use in their endeavors.   The research Wiki gathers up all the information available from researchers, professionals and volunteers for a single portal to all available information.

The Family Search Wiki describes the Wiki as:
“The FamilySearch Wiki is not about finding the names of your ancestors.  It is not, in fact, about finding people at all.  The Wiki is about finding records that may have been generated about your ancestors and the places in which the records might be found. It is a vast record depository of the paper trail that people leave behind long after they are gone.”(1)

There are no names in the Wiki, but rather the Wiki will tell you if the record ever existed, does it still exist, and how to find the record.  In the United States, location topics are layered by, state, county, and town/city.  The Wiki gives available and valuable resources on each of these levels.

The United States Wiki page gives general information on how to get started in United States research.  There are numerous subjects to select from, located under the “topics” tab including, basic search strategies, cemeteries, court records, handwriting, land and property, livestock brands, migration, timelines, and many more. 

All of the state pages are set up alike.  On the individual state level, the state pages are set up with a state topics tab, available online records box, and a vital records box for birth, marriage and death records.  Further down the page you will find the counties listed alphabetically and on a map-which is helpful for surrounding location searches.  Finally on the state page, you will find any other helpful overall information for the listed state.

Most county pages are set up alike.  Each county page has an online record box, map showing the location of the county within the state, and a contents box.  In addition, the county page will list facts about the county, including when the county was founded, the county seat, pertinent addresses and websites. 

In addition to location information, the Wiki also directs researchers to many options available to them for basic genealogical and family history help. 

The research Wiki also gives researchers background information and helps for basic family history ideas and protocols to follow.  Some of the helpful ideas and articles are:
·         How to organize your records
·         Selecting personal family history software
·         Principles of family history research
·         Getting started in family history research
·         Evaluating evidence
·         Rookie mistakes
·         Keeping a research log

According to the Family Search Wiki, the purpose and scope of the Wiki is, “The Research Wiki is a tool that allows individuals to come together and teach the world how to do genealogy research. As a Wiki, anyone can share their knowledge in specific areas and topics. Through collaboration, sharing, open-edit, and forums the community can build a high-quality resource.”(9)  It is through the Family Search research Wiki that individual researchers will find answers to their research questions, and they will be able to access available records to further their ancestral lines.





Sources:
(1)    Family Search.org, “Family Search Wiki:  About Us”, accessed 7 August 2013, online at:  https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/FamilySearch_Wiki:About_Us
(2)    United States research
(3)    How to organize your records
(4)    Selecting personal family history software
(5)    Principles of family history research
(6)    Getting started in family history research
(7)    Rookie mistakes
(8)    Keeping a research log
(9)    Family Search Wiki:  Guiding Principles, Purpose and Scope,     https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/FamilySearch_Wiki:Guiding_Principles

Disclaimer:  I teach the new missionaries in the US/Canada Zone about the research Wiki.  I have not used any material from the class course that I teach at the Family History Library and these opinions and views I have expressed are my own.  In addition, I am partial on the use the Wiki and how beneficial it is to researchers and missionaries alike.

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