Contributing to the FreeREG Project

How you can Contribute

There are many different ways in which you can contribute to the FreeREG project. You could participate in a technical capacity working to make the project happen, in a co-ordination capacity helping others carry out their work or most importantly as a data provider in the transcription of parish records into a form whereby they can be entered into the database. The first two activities require some technical expertise and a willingness to participate over the longer term. Transcription can involve as much time as you are willing to commit and primarily requires a good eye for reading handwriting and some basic skills with a computer keyboard. It is a function that can be performed anywhere in the world and one that is the base upon which the ultimate success of FreeREG will depend.

As has been shown in the FreeBMD project, the contributions, some small and some large, by thousands of individuals transcribing fractions of the information base has created a database of millions of records that is now an essential and valuable tool to all who research the ancestry in the UK. FreeBMD started small with a few transcribers and has now grown to a truly world-wide activity.

We require the same contribution of as many transcribers as possible willing to put data from the parish registers into FreeREG.

As a result of reading this you have have more specific questions. Some of these will have been addressed already in our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).

How do I become a Contributor?

If you think you might be interested in participating as a transcriber please contact the relevant County Co-ordinator.

If you already have parish data available in computer format and want to make it available please refer to Information for Transcribers.

If you are interested in participating as a county co-ordinator contact the relevant Country Co-ordinator.

If you are interested in technical participation, then contact either - Dave Newbury or - Ben Laurie

Last update
19 March 2008 /DKD