Genealogy Chat

Well well well I am new to this my mind is boggling, I am sinking with scrappy bits of paper & certs not yet filed already so I have taken on board what you have all been advising. What a joy this adventure is going to be!!!!


Barbara

A word of advice. If anything like me you jot anything anywhere. Set aside a few minutes each week to re-organise your files - it will really pay off.
I agree about the lever-arch files, I have one and it's a pain. Also a good tip to keep certs separate, indeed I think I might do that for all stuff I only look at occasionally. Then you can have an "active" file to update with new stuff.
Now, where did I put that obscure IGI reference ...................
Jan

Keep my main family tree with all details on an offline package - copy on my USB stick so I can take it to work if I want to check something at lunchtime.

I have an A4 file for each main name - don't use Lever Arch as they are too heavy and drive me mad. As the files fill up I split them a bit more.

In each file I have a printout of each direct ancestor with their family record sheet behind that. So, in one of the files I have a tab for Adams with the direct ancestors going backwards. (Those little sticky notes are handy as well as I can then do a little tab for each direct - just forename and yob.) Behind that tab there is an "Adams relatives" tab where I can hurl any odd bits of info on siblings etc, plus any notes of the ones I'm not sure of etc.

I keep the certificates separate. Trying to file those in some sort of logical order this afternoon but at the moment they are in a tidy heap in a folder!

I keep the printouts of the different branches in the front of my skinny A4 "workbook" and highlight the names where I have the certs etc so I make sure I don't order duplicates!

I also have one of those cardboard A-Z index thingies (about £3 to buy) where I can lob any odd bits of paper alphabetically by surname. That keeps the heaps of paperwork down a bit and means that when I'm working on, say, the Adams file I can check through the A-Z thingy quite quickly for any odd bits of paper relating to Adams or their rellies. If I'm feeling really well organised I spend an hour or so filing all the bits of paper away but that doesn't happen very often!

Good luck - it will only get worse if you let it so try to tackle it sooner rather than later!

Jill

I have one file for certificates. They are stored A-Z by surname and in the case of marriages, under the husbands surname.
At the front of this file i keep two basic family tree diagrams (one for each side of the family, showing only my direct ancestors) so i can see how people are related at a glance.
These sheets are also colour coded to show what certificates i have for each person (pink for birth, yellow for marriage, green for death.)

I then have a file for each side of my family which holds (again in alphabetical order by surname) census returns.

Next come two more files (one maternal, one paternal) in which i have seperated the main surnames by dividers. In this file i keep any other papers relating to the family ie, army records, court records, emigration etc...

I then have a final file where i store any odd pieces of paper for families where i think i may have a connection, but cannot link them into mine yet.

It sounds like a lot of files, but i can lay my hands on any piece of paper within a couple of minutes.

I also keep my family tree on the computer so that day to day i can just refer to family tree maker rather than having to go searching through files.

Gem

I use plastic document wallets and have at least two for each surname I am researching. In one I keep certificates and in the other any other information I have on the family - Census printouts, photographs of houses, notes, baptism records etc. For some surnames I have even more wallets as I have some army records and other information which won't fit in the other wallets.

I keep most of the information on my FTM2005 software so if I want to look up dates etc. I look there instead of looking through the paperwork.

I must admit I also have bits of paper all over the place as well as these document wallets, so I'm not the best person to give advice, lol.

Kath. x

Maybe not the best advice, but I have 4 files! I each for my and my husabnds' maternal and paternal lines. Also keep a lot on computer.
Jan

Can anyone help with the some tips on the best way to file the printed documents, although relatively new to this I am sinking under paper work. I have started a file but as I am adding g.parents, then ggparents and so on I am getting myself in a pickle. Sounds a silly question but some help would be appreciated. I never knew that so many people could have the same names!!!! hope you can help thanks.