Genealogy Chat

I have a dreaded box! In this box I have printouts of information I have found on the pc from Census returns to Web sites and everything in-between. Most of it relates to specific people in my tree. What I did was fold a blank page over them with the persons details on for quick reference. Now I want to file them all and just wondered if anyone had any tips on how they filed all their paperwork.

I have a separate Lever Arch file for each branch of the family and i file it all away in the relavant family. Try to keep it in chronologcal order. with maybe copies of certs where they cross over families cos ,as most have , i have families intermarrying and then belonging to two sides of the family . Have FTM too with uplaoded certs and census on. Doesnt stop a load of paper tho from still floating around!! Shirley

Thanks, I was using one of those expandable files. Had to throw it though as too much paperwork and just found it clumsy to use. I have lever arch files. Obviously keeping Mom's and Dad's sides seperate. Just didn't want to start filing it all one way then finding a better way and have to do it all again!

Lever arch files for maternal and paternal subdivided into family names. BUT main filing system seems to be piles on the floor. When you've sorted yours you want to come and do mine ? Please ?????????????? T.O.R. ;o))

I have several lever arch files for different branches, I have 2 large cert albums for certs and any 'official' documents. But if you have a family tree maker program, a lot of the little scraps of paper can be thrown out cos you can add all those notes and the census images to the program. You back up to internet and/or cd and you have your own home page on the net so you really have belt and braces in saving it all.

Heather, how do you end up with your own home page on the net? I keep paper copies mainly for other family members that don't understand computers! I show them the paper copy, they seem to believe this rather than what I have on my pc.

I scan all paper documents and then attach them to the relevant individual using the scrapbook option that FTM offers. If it is a computer printout that I have scanned then this gets shredded subsequently. If it is an original document (e.g. a certificate) then it gets filed in plastic sleeves in my home office.

Blossom, its easy - if you get the Family Tree Maker 2006 program (and you can get it for as little as a tenner on twr computing or dockland ancestors), you just enter all your info on to it or import a gedcom from the GR tree into it. To make your own home page on the internet, you then literally click on Internet, then create homepage and then you sit there whilst it creates you a website, just clicking on tabs for the background you want and the font you want (and dont forget to click on the 'privatise living persons' box) and thats it - you have your own home page with photos, information, each person has a page of their own with links to ancestors/descendants - you can then keep it private and just give the url (address) to your family and friends or you can add it to google searches which people searching for names in your tree can find and contact you. When you add info or pics or change anything, you just click on the same internet tab and then click update my page and off it goes again all done!

I have changed my system 20 times in as many years, lol, and I don't think there is a single solution. I now use wallets and lever arch files, depending on how much info I have for each generation/name etc. I photocopy certs as soon as I get them, then file the original away in a certificate folder and use the photocopies as working copies. Most consistently useful thing I have found is a personal sheet for each person, and a family sheet. You can download these from LDS, but I make my own up. These work on a simple flow chart system and I file them in strict alphabetical order. Red pen for direct ancestors, black pen outlined in red for their siblings etc, and pencil for anything which is not proven. Relevant copy certs and census etc clipped to the back of each personal sheet. If they get tatty, I rewrite them. It works for me. OC

Thanks Everyone. I have FTM but I didn't know I could have my own page on the web! I am off to play with that now. I will do the filing tomorrow...........

Have you registered your FTM Blossom and is it 2005 or 2006 - I dont think you can do it on earlier ones. As I said, just go to your program, click on Internet at the top and then create page. Let us know when you have done it! They give you a form to fill in for all the people you want to invite to look at it - wont they be impressed!

With great difficulty. I have many files for family names. I have more for possible links to these families as I write to many people (not email) making enquiries. I also have a good filing system on the floor. Certificates are safe and in one place. I have a further filing system on the floor for Passwords, ID, User Names to name a few. Not every site uses the same format which I find frustrating. One thing that does work for me is an index card system. i.e. Card for Ancestry, FTM, GR etc and I put all log in details on them and keep them in a box by my PC - lock them away when I shut down. Margaret N

A couple of questions peeps !! Is Family Tree Maker whereby you can add your own web page? The other one is that I have heard a lot about Gedcom but what exactly is it? If I import/export to Gedcom, will I lose my original work?

Sorry I meant is Family Tree Maker the only software programme that allows you to add a web page?

Andrea I'm not sure if FTM is the only software that allows you to create your own webpage but you can export your gedcom from this site to your own computer and the information will still be here. The gedcom is the file created by a family tree program. Heather

Ok, I have had visitors! But I did manage to open up a web page. It looks so smart - I called it 'I am me because of Thee' However I selected a few long gone ancestors to put on there as just wanted to check how it worked and I cant see anyone! Only thing I have is my first page with my details and the page name. LOL have I done something wrong or does it take time to load?

I do hate smarty pants and organised people!...I hate you all!....(jealous) lol .....back to my piles of papers (on the floor) and my notelets on the notice board........hey! I even got some stuck under the keyboard! (with added biccy crumbs! yum!) ...now where did I put that last note about that flippin Matilda woman?????....did I have a tidy-up?? ...Gerri digs in the rubbish bin.....yet again!.... 2008 new years resolution.......I WILL GET ORGANISED!....one day... Gerri ;-)

Oh Blossom...I don't envy you sorting that lot out! We have 6 separate lever arch files for the branches of mine and my husbands line, each with dividers for the various surnames. In these I keep copies of all census records, details of BDM records that need to be ordered and any other relevant info. Also have FT Maker and I print of the family reports from that too and file it, as this shows the names of the spouses as a cross reference. All BDM certificates are in another lever arch file in plastic sleeves, again with dividers for each surname, current dates first...going back in time. (I like to keep these separate for easy access.) I always file Marriage certificates under the Grooms name as the children's Birth certificates will be behind that. Death certificates are filed behind the birth certificates (both in the same sleeve so that it reads like a book). I find this system the most useful for me to follow. I also have another file where I have downloaded parish records from the internet that relate to some of my family. My dining room now resembles an office..but at least I can lay my hands on everything that I have found. Good luck in sorting yours out...Teresa

Dont know what you did Blossom, if you just clicked on export and went through the process, clicking next a lot, you should see the little upload icon thing bottom left and then it announces to you that its uploaded and off you go to view it. Did you allow it all to upload before exiting? Heres mine if you want to look: http://familytreemaker*genealogy*com/users/Heather-H-Martin/ If you dont get in that way, Just google my name Heather Horstead Martin