Difference between revisions of "Family Tree Forum's Reference Library"

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This wiki is Family Tree Forum's Reference Library. A repository for reference information and research advice that has previously been stored within the threads in our forums.  
 
This wiki is Family Tree Forum's Reference Library. A repository for reference information and research advice that has previously been stored within the threads in our forums.  
  
The majority of these pages are constantly evolving and are freely available for editing by all registered members.  
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We want this to be a safe, enjoyable and friendly environment for all of our members. We don’t pre-screen material contributed to the site and are reliant on our members to point out anything that doesn’t conform to the '''Terms and Conditions''' of the site.  
  
We want this to be a safe, enjoyable and friendly environment for all of our members. We don’t pre-screen material contributed to the site and are reliant on our members to point out anything that doesn’t conform to the [[Terms and Conditions]].
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To begin, please read the sections below. They should lead you in the right direction. You can click on any of the links below to take you to a section within The Reference Library.
<br><br>
 
'''Please ensure that you read our [[Terms and Conditions]] and the [[Copyright Guidelines]].'''
 
<br><br>
 
<table align=center><tr><td>
 
{| height:35px" border="5" cellpadding="10" "color:white" bgcolor="LightSteelBlue " |'''ENGLISH COUNTIES'''
 
!|<span class="plainlinks"> [http://www.familytreeforum.com/wiki/index.php/Special:Allpages http://www.familytreeforum.com/wiki/images/thumb/2/2c/Ind33.jpg/150px-Ind33.jpg] </span>
 
!|<span class="plainlinks"> [http://www.familytreeforum.com/genealogy-general http://www.familytreeforum.com/wiki/images/6/65/Research333.jpg]</span>
 
!| <span class="plainlinks"> [http://www.familytreeforum.com/family-tree-forum-community-boards http://www.familytreeforum.com/wiki/images/3/34/Commun2.jpg] </span>
 
!|<span class="plainlinks"> [http://www.familytreeforum.com/wiki/index.php/Help:Notes_for_Users http://www.familytreeforum.com/wiki/images/thumb/9/95/Help33.jpg/150px-Help33.jpg]</span>
 
|-
 
||{{clickpic|Records_Office_Guide|http://www.familytreeforum.com/wiki/images/e/e0/Recguide_fr.jpg}}
 
||{{clickpic|Certificate tutorials|http://www.familytreeforum.com/wiki/images/3/34/Certs2_fr.jpg}}
 
||{{clickpic|Census_Search|http://www.familytreeforum.com/wiki/images/4/48/Cens_fr.jpg}}
 
||{{clickpic|Creating Your Family Tree|http://www.familytreeforum.com/wiki/images/5/5d/Tree_fr.jpg}}
 
|-
 
||{{clickpic|Online_Research| http://www.familytreeforum.com/wiki/images/c/cf/Online2_fr.jpg}}
 
||{{clickpic|World_Index_Page| http://www.familytreeforum.com/wiki/images/3/3c/Windex_fr.jpg}}
 
||{{clickpic|The_British_Isles| http://www.familytreeforum.com/wiki/images/0/01/Bisles_fr.jpg}}
 
||{{clickpic|Surname_Directory| http://www.familytreeforum.com/wiki/images/f/f7/Surn_fr.jpg}}
 
|-
 
||{{clickpic|General_History| http://www.familytreeforum.com/wiki/images/6/6c/Hist_fr.jpg}}
 
||{{clickpic|Big_Book| http://www.familytreeforum.com/wiki/images/b/ba/Book_fr.jpg}}
 
||{{clickpic|Maps and Photography| http://www.familytreeforum.com/wiki/images/3/34/Maps3_fr.jpg}}
 
||{{clickpic|FTF_Online_Magazine| http://www.familytreeforum.com/wiki/images/thumb/5/53/Mag333.jpg/150px-Mag333.jpg}}
 
|}
 
</td></tr></table>
 
<br><br>
 
==Starting Out on Your Research ==
 
  
The '''County Records Office''' is the place where you will find your primary evidence - a myriad of documents which will be useful in your research. This '''[[Records Office Guide]]''' will explain what is likely to be found there and how it is going to be useful.
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'''Please ensure that you read our [http://www.familytreeforum.com/content.php/3-Terms-and-Conditions Terms and Conditions] and the [http://www.familytreeforum.com/content.php/5-Copyright-Guidelines Copyright Guidelines].'''  
  
To be 99% sure that you are researching the correct people, you are going to have to get Birth, Marriage and/or Death '''Certificates'''. These pages will help you find out '''[[All About Certificates]]''' and how to go about obtaining them.
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__TOC__
  
Alongside the personal details of your families, one of the most useful sets of documents for you will be the '''Census Returns'''. The '''[[Census Search]] Guide''' will give you more information on using these valuable sources of evidence for your research.
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==Help using the Wiki==
 +
The '''[[Help:Notes for Users|Help Pages for Users]]''' will help you find your way around the Wiki.  
  
==Online Research==
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To start exploring an area of the site, you can click its link, or use the search function at the top of the screen.  
These days, the advent of the Internet and digital resources has enabled family historians to carry out much of their initial research online. The '''[[Online Research]]''' pages give an outline of the main resources available and "Hints and Tips" based on how some of the members have carried out their own research online.
 
  
The '''[[World Index Page]]''' is a collection of hundreds of hyperlinks to websites which the members of the Family Tree Forum have found useful. They are categorised by '''Country''' and then by '''County'''. The recommendations range from official County Council websites to small privately run village sites which give you a flavour of the area where your ancestors lived.
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Don't worry if you get lost, just click on the Family Tree Forum logo at the top of the screen to return to this page.  
  
One of the most exciting and enjoyable aids to genealogical research is making contact with others researching the same family as you. The '''[[Surname Directory]]''' is a selection of the surnames being researched by the members of  the Family Tree Forum.
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To return to our Forums, please click <span class="plainlinks">'''[https://familytreeforum.com/ Here]'''</span>. <br><br>
<br><br>
 
  
==General Reference==
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You may also find these quick guides useful:
The pages in the '''[[General History]]''' section of the Wiki contain links to many websites which will not only help you place your ancestors in context historically, but may contain links to further your research.
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* '''[[Searching the Wiki| Quick Guide to Searching The Wiki.]]'''
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* '''[[Navigating the Wiki| Quick Guide to Navigating The Wiki.]]'''
  
The '''[[Big Book]]''' of '''Genealogy''' is a collection of the jargon and vocabulary which you may come across in the various sources you will encounter.
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==Starting Out on Your Research==
 +
===Records===
 +
The '''County Records Office''' is the place where you will find your primary evidence - a myriad of documents which will be useful in your research. These  <span class="plainlinks">[https://reference.familytreeforum.com/index.php?title=Records_Office_Guide '''Records Office Guides''']</span>  will explain what is likely to be found there and how it is going to be useful.
  
To enable you to place your ancestors in context geographically, you might like to explore the links in '''[[Maps and Photography]].''' These pages contain links to sites with historical maps and photographs from all over the British Isles.
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===Certificates===
<br><br>
+
To be 99% sure that you are researching the correct people, you are going to have to get Birth, Marriage and/or Death '''Certificates'''. These pages will help you find out about <span class="plainlinks">[https://reference.familytreeforum.com/index.php?title=All_About_Certificates '''All About Certificates''']</span> and how to go about obtaining them.
  
==Help using The Wiki==
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===Census===
 +
Alongside the personal details of your families, one of the most useful sets of documents for you will be the '''Census Returns'''. The <span class="plainlinks">[https://reference.familytreeforum.com/index.php?title=Census_Search '''Census Search''']</span> will give you more information on using these valuable sources of evidence for your research.
  
The '''[[Help:Notes for Users|Help Pages for Users]]''' will help you find your way round the Wiki.  
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===Creating your Family Tree===
 +
Before you can start constructing your tree, you need to find the branches and twigs to populate it. <span class="plainlinks">[https://reference.familytreeforum.com/index.php?title=Creating_Your_Family_Tree '''This page''']</span> will give you advice on how to go about it and where to find the information, together with hints and tips on deciding whether they are "yours", using pages from The Reference Library and external links.
  
To start exploring an area of the site, you can click on any of the pictures on this page as well as the hyperlinks to the pages.  
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==[[Online Research]]==
 +
These days, the advent of the Internet and digital resources has enabled family historians to carry out much of their initial research online. The Online Research pages give an outline of the main resources available and "Hints and Tips" based on how some of the members have carried out their own research online.
  
If you get lost, you can find your way back to this page by selecting '''Main Page''' from the menu on the left of the screen.  
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===[[World Index Page]]===
 +
The World Index Page is a collection of hundreds of hyperlinks to websites which the members of the Family Tree Forum have found useful. They are categorised by '''Country''' and then by '''County'''. The recommendations range from official County Council websites to small privately run village sites which give you a flavour of the area where your ancestors lived.
  
You should also consider using the search box at top left. Press '''SEARCH''' and if the text you enter into it is present on the Wiki it will be found.
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===[[Surname Directory|The Surname Directory]]===
 +
One of the most exciting and enjoyable aids to genealogical research is making contact with others researching the same family as you. The Surname Directory is a selection of the surnames being researched by the members of Family Tree Forum.
  
'''ONLY''' members that are logged in/registered will see the '''GO''' button.
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==General Reference==
 
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===General History===
'''N.B.''' If you press '''GO''', the search engine will try to find a page with the title of exactly what you put into the search box.
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The pages in the <span class="plainlinks">[https://reference.familytreeforum.com/index.php?title=General_History '''General History''' ]</span> section of the Reference Library contain links to many websites which will not only help you place your ancestors in context historically, but may contain links to further your research.
  
To help you explore the depths of the Wiki, you could try to answer the questions  from our Quizmaster on '''[[Find Your Way Around The Wiki]]'''.
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===The Big Book of Genealogy===
<br><br>
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<span class="plainlinks">[[The Big Book of Genealogy|'''The Big Book of Genealogy''']]</span> is a collection of the jargon and vocabulary which you may come across in the various sources you will encounter.
  
To return to Family Tree Forum please click '''[http://www.familytreeforum.com/ Here]'''. <br><br>
+
===Maps and Photography===
 +
To enable you to place your ancestors in context geographically, you might like to explore the links in <span class="plainlinks">[https://reference.familytreeforum.com/index.php?title=Maps_and_Photography '''Maps and Photography'''] These pages will lead you to links to sites with historical maps and photographs from all over the British Isles.
  
 
==Adding Content to The Wiki==
 
==Adding Content to The Wiki==
 
 
All Family Tree Forum members have the ability to add content to the Wiki.  
 
All Family Tree Forum members have the ability to add content to the Wiki.  
  
These creations and amendments will be tracked by members of the '''S'''ite '''C'''ontent '''A'''nd '''D'''evelopment team to ensure conformity with layout as well as preventing undesirable content from appearing on the site.  
+
These creations and amendments will be tracked to ensure conformity with layout as well as preventing undesirable content from appearing on the site.  
  
 
If you wish to create content, please read the '''[[Help:Notes for Editors|Help Page for Editors]]''' first to familiarise yourself.  
 
If you wish to create content, please read the '''[[Help:Notes for Editors|Help Page for Editors]]''' first to familiarise yourself.  
  
You should also bear in mind that all text is published under the terms of the [[GNU Free Documentation License]]
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You should also bear in mind that, unless otherwise specified, all content is published under the terms of the [[GNU Free Documentation License]]
 
 
'''''Any content not formatted to the style of the rest of the site will be amended.'''''
 
 
 
If anyone feels that we need a new page or section, please let us know.
 
  
<br><br>
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'''''Any content not formatted to the style of the rest of the site will be amended.'''''
  
==Here be Dragons==
 
  
 +
==Further Info==
 
The pages below should be considered as reference points for creating pages, any information held within them should not be considered as verified from a genealogical standpoint
 
The pages below should be considered as reference points for creating pages, any information held within them should not be considered as verified from a genealogical standpoint
  
*[[The Playground]] use this page to practise the coding ...
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* '''[[The Playground]]''' Use this page to practise the coding ...
 
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* '''[[:Category:Help|The Wiki Guide]]'''
*[[Authoring|Authoring Suggestions]] - Please read before creating content on the Wiki
 
 
 
*[[Counties Page Template]] - Please stick to the conventions laid out in this template
 

Latest revision as of 11:28, 12 September 2022

This wiki is Family Tree Forum's Reference Library. A repository for reference information and research advice that has previously been stored within the threads in our forums.

We want this to be a safe, enjoyable and friendly environment for all of our members. We don’t pre-screen material contributed to the site and are reliant on our members to point out anything that doesn’t conform to the Terms and Conditions of the site.

To begin, please read the sections below. They should lead you in the right direction. You can click on any of the links below to take you to a section within The Reference Library.

Please ensure that you read our Terms and Conditions and the Copyright Guidelines.

Help using the Wiki

The Help Pages for Users will help you find your way around the Wiki.

To start exploring an area of the site, you can click its link, or use the search function at the top of the screen.

Don't worry if you get lost, just click on the Family Tree Forum logo at the top of the screen to return to this page.

To return to our Forums, please click Here.

You may also find these quick guides useful:

Starting Out on Your Research

Records

The County Records Office is the place where you will find your primary evidence - a myriad of documents which will be useful in your research. These Records Office Guides will explain what is likely to be found there and how it is going to be useful.

Certificates

To be 99% sure that you are researching the correct people, you are going to have to get Birth, Marriage and/or Death Certificates. These pages will help you find out about All About Certificates and how to go about obtaining them.

Census

Alongside the personal details of your families, one of the most useful sets of documents for you will be the Census Returns. The Census Search will give you more information on using these valuable sources of evidence for your research.

Creating your Family Tree

Before you can start constructing your tree, you need to find the branches and twigs to populate it. This page will give you advice on how to go about it and where to find the information, together with hints and tips on deciding whether they are "yours", using pages from The Reference Library and external links.

Online Research

These days, the advent of the Internet and digital resources has enabled family historians to carry out much of their initial research online. The Online Research pages give an outline of the main resources available and "Hints and Tips" based on how some of the members have carried out their own research online.

World Index Page

The World Index Page is a collection of hundreds of hyperlinks to websites which the members of the Family Tree Forum have found useful. They are categorised by Country and then by County. The recommendations range from official County Council websites to small privately run village sites which give you a flavour of the area where your ancestors lived.

The Surname Directory

One of the most exciting and enjoyable aids to genealogical research is making contact with others researching the same family as you. The Surname Directory is a selection of the surnames being researched by the members of Family Tree Forum.

General Reference

General History

The pages in the General History section of the Reference Library contain links to many websites which will not only help you place your ancestors in context historically, but may contain links to further your research.

The Big Book of Genealogy

The Big Book of Genealogy is a collection of the jargon and vocabulary which you may come across in the various sources you will encounter.

Maps and Photography

To enable you to place your ancestors in context geographically, you might like to explore the links in Maps and Photography These pages will lead you to links to sites with historical maps and photographs from all over the British Isles.

Adding Content to The Wiki

All Family Tree Forum members have the ability to add content to the Wiki.

These creations and amendments will be tracked to ensure conformity with layout as well as preventing undesirable content from appearing on the site.

If you wish to create content, please read the Help Page for Editors first to familiarise yourself.

You should also bear in mind that, unless otherwise specified, all content is published under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License

Any content not formatted to the style of the rest of the site will be amended.


Further Info

The pages below should be considered as reference points for creating pages, any information held within them should not be considered as verified from a genealogical standpoint