Help:Wiki University Appropriate Topics

Appropriate Topics
Just about anything that will give information as to what genealogical records exist in any area of the world and how to gain access to them is wanted in Help: Wiki University.

Limited Topics
It might be well to state what is not necessarily appropriate.
 * History of a place.
 * Geographic information.
 * Military history which influenced the creation or location of genealogical records.
 * Case studies useful for teaching genealogical methodology.
 * Methods of citing genealogical sources.
 * Power usage of an important computer application’s features in finding or analyzing genealogical records.
 * Use of computer hardware in genealogy.
 * Lists of Family History Library materials derived from the Family History Library Catalog (FHLC). The Wiki isn't meant to replicate the FHLC. However, when a FHLC entry fails to provide enough information for patrons to be able to use a resource, the Wiki, like the in-house registries that are found in FHL's can complement the FHLC entry.
 * Information on specific repositories. The Wiki is not intended to replicate the catalogs of other repositories, but it can be helpful to provide a general description of the major collections of a library or archive.
 * Information on genealogical groups, such as genealogical societies, companies or non profit organizations. Although the wiki is not intended to replicate, for instance, the catalog of a genealogical society's library, it can be helpful to list certain facts about a genealogical society. Which facts are appropriate and which are not?

Writings on the topics above can easily become bloated. For instance, while some kinds of geographic information can help genealogists learn where their ancestors may have migrated, others have little or no bearing on genealogy. When writing on any topic the best rule of thumb is to ask: “Have I made a good case as to how this information helps someone find, use, or analyze genealogical records?”

Try these out
 Quick Quiz
 * The history of the Mayflower voyage would be allowed in the Wiki.
 * True
 * False


 * Listing of genealogical items from a catalog is ok.
 * True
 * False


 * The life of Abraham Lincoln would be ok in the Wiki.
 * True
 * False


 * A long history of the Shoshone Indians is not ok in the Wiki
 * True
 * False


 * A brief description of the resources of a local genealogical library is ok.
 * True
 * False


 * It is better to list the items in a local genealogical society than to link to its catalog.
 * True
 * False

Check your answers