Genealogy Chat

I put much of my stuff onto floppy disc, but to make quite sure, I also have paper copies of everything! You just never know with computers, do you?!! However, I'd love to know how other people store all this stuff? For example, is it worth buying those special inert certificate sleeves to insert into binders, thus preserving the print on the certificates for just about all time, or do you just pop them into standard sleeves from stationers? Do you have a seperate different coloured files for each family name? Etc etc etc.... I've yet to get the Reunion package for my Mac but as somehow loathe to put everything I've learned into a computer without paper backup. Who else feels the same? Advice and suggestions on this would be very much appreciated. Mary, Dartmouth, Devon

Hi Mary, I have two A3 display folders for both sides of the family, (cost £2.99 each) for easy display of certificates (some are longer than A4) and any photos can be included. Other relevant information is stored on charts I printed off from http://www.ancestry(dot)com/save/charts/familysheet.htm I have yet to download software so its probably a bit primitive for all the other genealogy boffins but suits me for the time being. Marion

I back up my Family History CD=Rom onto floppy disc every once in a while and esp after a busy day! i also have an A4 file full of certificates and print outs in plastic sleeves from Tesco! Alison

Info is on copy disc in fireproof box as well as stored on computer hard drive. Additionally I have huge ringbinders for each branch of my family AND an A-Z hardback book with each relative listed by surname and details of bmds and census refs. All certs are in acid-free plastic wallets - bought vast quantity when on offer in WH Smiths. I am planning this holiday to get to grips with scanner and scan all photos too! nell

I have 2 folders, one for my dad's side of my tree and one for my mum's (these are getting a bit full now so may need separating out further). In these I have forms completed fpor each family - Family Group Records Sheets - along with all relevant certificates and census prints. I also have a box card file with an index card for each family member, with all relevant info for that person on it. I have scanned into my PC all the certificates, plus any old photographs that I have and also keep all census images. Finally, I keep my main tree on FTM2005 and every now and then upload it to this site, I have a copy on Tribal Pages, a website I created through FTM and also my website I created on the free space provided by my ISP. Phew!!! I have my tree in so many places as 1) more people are likely to see it and get in contact (hopefully) and 2) if something terrible happens, there should be a copy on another website that is unaffected! Sam x P.S - And I regularly back this up FTM2005 file to CD, along with the folder containing scanned certs photos etc.

I have all my data backed up on a Flash drive (connects to a USB port). I also have some on CD, and paper copies of all certs. I have 2 folders (at the moment) with all my information in. One is for my side, the other is for hubbys. I separate each surname with a coloured divider. I have a program that I downloaded when I joined Ancestry. I also have the LDS PAF one, so I can use it at work (it's free!).

> You just never know with computers, do you?!! You can back up the equivalent of thousands of pages of paper records in a few minutes with a computer using a CD-R drive (or similar). You can do that sort of backup eveyday if you like... a complete back up of everything, everyday in a few minutes. Send old copies to all you rellies for safe keeping! Do you have *any* paper backup of all your paper records? Cheers, Bill Sydney, Australia

I keep absolutely everything in electronic format. Whenever I get certs from the GRO or parish register photocopies etc, I scan them in and store a JPG version on my PC. They are so much easier to file, cross-reference and to find than paper versions! All downloaded images, such as census pages I also save as JPG files, and never bother to print them out - on the computer I can zoom in to see the detail, and there's no bulky A3 print-outs to store! As mentioned above, if you do go the electronic route then back-ups are vitally important - I back up to CD (forget the old floppy disks as they are next to useless, and a CD burner is really cheap these days in any case). I also regularly back up my entire family tree directory onto my laptop, and have yet another copy on my work PC (don't tell the boss tho!!). Modern-issue certificates are simply photocopies of the original entry and are easily replacable so I don't bother with special sleeves etc - which leaves more cash in the budget for more certs! It's the info on them that's important, not the cert itself. The few historical (original) documents that I have though do get special treatment. Same with old photos, though I even scan in all relevant photos and store them with my other electronic docs. I have an Access database in which I keep track of all these docs - this contains transcriptions of the info as well as the ID numbers for the individuals to which the document refers. I use the same ID number as FTM assigns to each person when they are entered in that program - that way, I can cross-reference each document in my database with the individuals in my tree. I can then see at a glance (almost!) what docs I have for each individual, and what is missing (e.g. census, bmd, etc). Richard

I think my stuff falls half way between many of the other replies above. I have a filing cabinet with, firstly, four files containing, birth, marriage, death certs and wills in alphabetical order. The certs are not in any sort of individual sleeves as that might involve discovering how many there are!! (at £7 each....Aaggggghhhhhh!!) Behind those are folders for different branches of the family. If a folder starts to get fat I just find a way to split it between another two earlier surnames. I never actually look at any of the above as it's all scanned and on my 'puter. The family history program is backed up regularly onto a CD (this is hubby's domain and if he messes up we will just get a divorce!) The only thing I have no hard copy of are census pages. This is because, firstly I'm too tight to spend all that money on ink and secondly, though I have them on the 'puter, all the info from them is also on our family history program and I hardly ever look at them again after that. I've just looked at the census records I have - Well over 600 pages!!! Happy Hunting Sarah

You all seem awfully efficient and organised and I feel a little ashamed to say the least... All my info is scattered haphazadly across my desk, hopefully out the reach of a sticky fingered two year old... Seriously though it is backed up on cd and my dad also has a copy. Sarah