Help Resources
Everything you need to make the most of When It Was. Guides, tutorials, FAQs, and support—all in one place.
Whether you're just getting started or looking for advanced tips, we have resources to help. Browse by category below or use the quick links to jump to what you need.
Popular Help Topics
Getting Started
New to When It Was? Start here to learn the basics of exploring local history on our platform.
Exploring the Map
Learn how to navigate the interactive map, search for locations, and discover historical businesses in your area.
Read Guide →Using the Timeline
Master the timeline slider to travel through decades and see how your city transformed over time.
Read Guide →Viewing Locations
Understand location detail pages, browse business histories, view photos, and read community stories.
Read Guide →Mobile & Desktop
Get the best experience on any device—phone, tablet, or desktop computer.
Read Guide →Contributing Content
Help preserve local history by contributing your knowledge, photos, and memories.
Contributor Guide
Step-by-step instructions for submitting locations, businesses, photos, and stories to our platform.
Read Guide →Verification Process
Learn how we verify submissions to ensure accuracy and maintain high quality standards.
Read Guide →Research Tips
Effective strategies for uncovering historical information using archives, directories, and newspapers.
Read Guide →Get Involved
Discover all the ways you can participate and contribute to preserving local history.
Read Guide →Platform Information
Learn about When It Was, our mission, and how the platform works.
About When It Was
Our story, mission, and vision for preserving local history across America.
Learn More →How It Works
Technical overview of our platform, features, and how we organize historical information.
Learn More →Our Commitment
Our dedication to accuracy, privacy, accessibility, and serving the community.
Learn More →Our Community
Meet our contributors, read community stories, and see how we're building together.
Learn More →Support & Troubleshooting
Having issues? Find solutions to common problems and learn how to get additional help.
FAQ
Answers to frequently asked questions about using the platform, contributing, and more.
View FAQs →Troubleshooting
Solutions for map issues, login problems, upload errors, and other technical difficulties.
Get Help →Contact Support
Can't find an answer? Reach out to our support team for personalized assistance.
Contact Us →Community Guidelines
Rules and expectations for contributing content and participating in our community.
Read Guidelines →Historical Research Resources
Educational content about researching and preserving local history.
Researching Local History
Comprehensive guide to conducting local history research using various sources and archives.
Read Article →Dating Historical Photos
Learn to date photos using architectural clues, vehicles, fashion, and other contextual evidence.
Read Article →Preserving Photos
Best practices for storing, scanning, and protecting historical photographs for future generations.
Read Article →Community Archives
Why local archives matter and how they help preserve the history of our communities.
Read Article →Legal & Privacy
Important information about your rights, our policies, and legal terms.
Important Documents
- Privacy Policy - How we collect, use, and protect your personal information
- Terms of Service - Legal terms for using When It Was
- Community Guidelines - Rules for contributing and participating
Still Can't Find What You Need?
We're here to help! If you've searched our resources and still have questions, there are several ways to get additional assistance.
Ways to Get Help
- Email Support: Send detailed questions to our support team via our contact form
- Check the FAQ: Many questions are answered in our comprehensive FAQ section
- Report Bugs: Found a technical issue? Let us know through the contact page
- Suggest Improvements: Have ideas for new features or better help resources? We want to hear them!
Support Response Times
- Technical Issues: Usually within 1-2 business days
- General Questions: Within 3-5 business days
- Contribution Questions: Within 2-4 business days
- Urgent Issues: Mark as "urgent" in subject line for faster response
Help Improve Our Resources
Found a help article that was confusing or incomplete? Notice a broken link or outdated information? We appreciate feedback that helps us improve our documentation for everyone.
Send suggestions to improve our help resources through our contact form. Let us know which guide or article needs work and how we can make it better.