Genealogy Chat

Top tip - using the Genes Reunited community

Welcome to the Genes Reunited community boards!

  • The Genes Reunited community is made up of millions of people with similar interests. Discover your family history and make life long friends along the way.
  • You will find a close knit but welcoming group of keen genealogists all prepared to offer advice and help to new members.
  • And it's not all serious business. The boards are often a place to relax and be entertained by all kinds of subjects.
  • The Genes community will go out of their way to help you, so don’t be shy about asking for help.

Boards

Quick Search

Single word search

Tools

Findmypast DNA Banner

Icons

  • New posts
  • No new posts
  • Thread closed
  • Stickied, new posts
  • Stickied, no new posts

Organisation of notes & bits of paper

Login to Add Reply Watch This
ProfilePosted byOptionsPost Date

Jill 2011 (aka Warrior Princess of Cilla!)

Jill 2011 (aka Warrior Princess of Cilla!) Report 29 Dec 2009 15:57

I try my very hardest to keep it all tidy. I have my A-Z cardboard wallety thing and a file for most of the lines so no excuses, BUT, I am a dab hand at making notes on odd bits of paper - especially if I'm not here at the computer with the files to hand.

Today (at the risk of advertising here) popped into P*p*rch*s* - that stationery type shop with lots of lovely colours. Found a Travel Journal. Spiral bound, A5 size. Several sections - lined paper, plain paper, checked paper plus lots of wallets - paper and plastic to catch all those scraps.

There's a general lined section at the front then a checked paper section (perfect for mini tree workouts) then two distinct sections with lined and plain paper - perfect for my tree and OH's tree ... I am chuffed to bits with it!

Jill

Researching:
London: Faber, Haysey, Spicer ...

Carter

Carter Report 29 Dec 2009 16:49

sounds like a great buy, i know just what you mean about bits of paper and you can guarantee the the vital piece of info is on a tiny scrap of paper that was here just a minute ago !!!
linda x

brummiejan

brummiejan Report 29 Dec 2009 17:21

Anything helps - and glad it's not just me who does this!! I try to put scribbles on A4 paper and file separately in my folders. But I have now resorted to a box!!
Jan

Researching:
Myatt, Hanks, Eccleston, Powell, Clungunford, Birmingham

Madmeg

Madmeg Report 29 Dec 2009 23:55

Well I am glad you have found something that works. I am still trying after 5 years. The pile gets higher, the disorganisation gets worse and the frustration mounts.

I am now up to 3,000 names and have commandeered a drawer of our general filing cabinet which we bought nearly 40 years ago. I have set up pockets for all the main names and the intention is to deposit all those scraps of paper in them. Only problem - two main surnames are empty!

My husband's surname and his mother's surname. Not a scrap about them.

Hope your system works. I have tried at least 20 systems, and they have all failed for me.

Krissie

Krissie Report 30 Dec 2009 15:16

I've got notes on bits of A4 paper too and a couple of exercise books as well as files storing all my official info and certificates.

I started typing out a summary of basic information about each ancestor [birth, marriage, census info, death, etc] on an A4 which is quite handy.

However this is quite impersonal so I intend to flesh it out by writing this info up as a narrative, really telling the story of the people involved.

The only snag is time! I work for most of the week and I have a family to look after so I haven't even got started yet.
A project for my retirement , in 10 years time!