FreeCEN : UK Census Online Project

Transcriptions In-process

Active County Projects

FreeCEN are always looking for help .
This could be to help as a Coordinator, Transcriber or Checker.

To help with FreeCEN volunteers will need:-

A computer and some spare time.
A spreadsheet program. (Excel, Works, Open Office etc)
You can help with a County of your choice.
See the individual County Status pages to see what area's are available.
We Transcribe and Check from CD's supplied to you.
The software, instructions and lots of help and advice is also on hand at all times as well as by the individual County Coords.
The software is designed to make the task as easy as possible.
Although the software is designed for PC/Windows machines, arrangements can be made to accommodate Linux-based PCs and Apple computers.
There are also dedicated mailing lists where you can post questions or queries on and to receive advice in all aspects of FreeCEN.

Project Phases

There are four phases that we go through before the DATA gets uploaded to the Online Search facility.

Transcribing
Checking
Validating
Post Validating.

Phase 1 : Transcription

We transcribe into a specially designed Spreadsheet from the CD.

The first couple of pages are done to start you off.

You are supplied with the Images from which you will Transcribe
for the PIECE you have chosen. This is normally on a CD.

We have a program called CSVCHECK that you can use yourself or your C Coordinator will run the spreadsheet through it for you.
This produces a report that will ultimately help you as well.

Phase 2 : Checking

Each transcribed piece will be checked by another volunteer using a FreeCEN program called WINCC.

We also have what we call the Visual Checking method from the Transcribed Spreadsheet.
This is more for those that have the new Windows 7.

Phase 3 : Validation

A validation will be carried out using local knowledge of the county to assist particularly in the validation of place names.

This is mostly done by the COORD or their designated volunteer.
We use a FreeCEN Program called VALDREV for this purpose.

Phase 4 : Post Validation.

Finally Phase 4 is normally done by the County COORD prior to the PIECE being uploaded to the ONLINE DATABASE.

How to Volunteer

You can contact the individual COORD from the active County list on the left hand side of this page.

Alternatively please contact Brenda by clicking on her name.

Transcriptions Already Done

Transcriptions are accepted by FreeCEN, either from its own volunteers, or from independent transcription projects, only on the understanding that FreeCEN will then have the right to make these freely available on-line, for non-commercial use. This will be an exclusive right in the case of transcriptions made wholly under the auspices of FreeCEN, using its standards and technology. FreeCEN has no intentions, and will have no rights, to attempt to benefit commercially in any way from such transcriptions, or from those obtained from independent transcription projects.

If you have already done a transcription
of ANY large census area (in the U.K.) or year, then please contact me to discuss how we might use your considerable effort in conjunction with the FreeCEN project.

Background to the FreeCEN Project:
The FreeCEN project was initiated in July, 1999.
One of the main instigators was Brian Randell (GenUKI, Devon)

If you would like to help with FreeCEN in any way or form, please link on one of the committed County Projects, (see left column above) or email Brenda Bowers

To Search the FreeCEN Database click here

FreeCEN Chairperson: Brenda Bowers

County

Coordinator

Link to Status Page

ENGLAND:
See below for more Counties
1841 1851 1861
1871 1891