the power of we: an introduction to familysearch research courses, wiki, and forums
TRANSCRIPT
Leveraging the Power of We
A Watershed Event in Discovering Where to Find Your Ancestors
What we’ll do today
• Note the watershed genealogical event of this era & another event it is sparking
• Introduce three tools:– Research Courses– Research Wiki– Forums
• Learn about ways to give back and leave a legacy
NOTE TODAY’S WATERSHED EVENT
…and the new watershed event it is sparking
Today’s Watershed Event: Digitization (Lots of Records Online)
Census
Occupational
Newspapers
EmigrationBirth
Tax
CourtMarriage
Land
Immigration
Cemetery
Death
Obituary
Funeral Home
Military
School
Insurance
Religious
Local Histories
Biographies
Family Bibles
DiariesFamily Histories
Census
Occupational
Newspapers
EmigrationBirth
Tax
CourtMarriage
Land
Immigration
Cemetery
Death
Obituary
Funeral Home
Military
School
Insurance
Religious
Local Histories
Biographies
Family Bibles
DiariesFamily Histories
Challenge: Which records should I search
first?
Today’s Watershed Event: Digitization (Lots of Records Online)
Mass Digitization =Lots of Places to Look
FamilySearchRootsWeb
National
ArchivesAncestry
GenealogyBank
Footnote
ProQuest
Accessible Archives
Cyndi’s List
VitalRec
Interment.netGenWeb
Libraries
American Battle Monuments Comission
American AncestorsChronicling America
DAR
FindAGrave INS
OneGreatFamily
BLM
Mass Digitization =Lots of Places to Look
FamilySearchRootsWeb
National
ArchivesAncestry
GenealogyBank
Footnote
ProQuest
Accessible Archives
Cyndi’s List
VitalRec
Interment.netGenWeb
Libraries
American Battle Monuments Comission
American AncestorsChronicling America
DAR
FindAGrave INS
OneGreatFamily
BLM
Challenge: Where do I look for the records
I need?
Watershed Events Yield New Needs
Event• Lots of records
available• Lots of record
providers
Needs: Find out…• Which records to
search• Where those
records are• How to sift the
data into family groups
Needs Spark New Solutions
Needs• Know which records
to search• Know where those
records are
Solutions• Find people who
know– (Everybody knows
something that can help someone else)
• Compile everyone’s knowledge
• Put it in a place everybody can find
THE POWER OF WEWe used to have to rely on Web and book publishers for most research guidance. Now we can band together to leverage our collective knowledge.
Solutions from FamilySearch
• Three “We” solutions– Research Courses: Cool how-to videos on many
topics.– Wiki: 59,000 articles on how to find, use, and
analyze records in your ancestor’s area.– Forums: A place to ask/answer questions.
• All are free and community-built• All leverage the Power of We: collective
knowledge & rapid growth
RESEARCH COURSES
an introduction
Research Courses
• Over 160 lessons
Research Courses
• Over 160 lessons• Most by regional
experts
Research Courses
• Over 160 lessons• Most by regional
experts• Topic range:
Beginner to expert
Research Courses
• Over 160 lessons• Most by regional
experts• Topic range:
Beginner to expert
• 5-60 mins.
RESEARCH COURSES
examples
FINDING RESEARCH COURSES
on FamilySearch.org
THE RESEARCH WIKI
an introduction
What’s a Wiki?
• Wiki: Hawaiian for “quick”
• A place to collect community knowledge
• Anyone can contribute
• Writing: Easy as MS Word
• Write an idea now; add more later
FamilySearch Wiki• Research guidance
– Where to find records – Record contents– How to use various records – How to sort findings into family groups
• 59,000 articles. Growing by 50/day.• 100+ countries.• Not about specific ancestors.
New York Census
FINDING THE WIKI
at FamilySearch.org
FAMILYSEARCH FORUMS
Asking questions & getting answers
FamilySearch Forums
• Purpose: Ask questions & share expertise
• Scope: worldwide• Ten languages coming• Most questions get multiple answers• Mostly advice, but sometimes
lookups• Topics: Research, software,
contributing to the wiki
FAMILYSEARCH FORUMS
Live demo
WHAT DO YOU NEED TO KNOW?
Learn from the research coursesSearch the wiki
Ask in the forumsLeverage the Power of We
GIVE BACKLEAVE A LEGACY
Contribute a research courseContribute to the wiki
Answer questions in the forumsBuild the Power of We
What we did today
• Noted the watershed genealogical event of this era & another event it is sparking
• Introduced three tools:– Research Courses– Research Wiki– Forums
• Learn about ways you can give back and leave a legacy
