Genealogy Chat

Okay - I've got the software, and lots of stuff on there of course - with links to photographs. But - have a mounting pile of paperwork (like everyone else I expect). So far I have organised it into 4 folders one for each grandparent's family tree. Have organised these by starting with most recent info going backwards, typing up census, adding in a sheet of info on each (main) person in the line. Certificates are here too, in date order (as well as being scanned in to computer). But (again)..what about the rest of it - all the twigs from the tree, associated guff, my Mum's memories about Auntie Glad, printouts from IGI, photocopies of this and that - you know. What does everyone else do? How organised are you.....? I'll check back later to see... Jacquie

Personnally Jacqui, I stick to the main tree, and main branches in my actual files, certs. etc. All the smaller twigs I just add to the family tree chart. I think it's almost impossible to collect all certificates. I don't just collect names, in my fam tree, I collect proof. Denise.

5,500 people on my tree.........no ring binders, no dividers, no charts, no hand written bits on paper! 1 family history program 10 folders on computer containing 852 census images (no hard copies) 3 folders on computer containing 348 certificates about 50 other folders on computer containing other family history stuff.....scanned photos, scanned documents, wills etc etc *** 1 filing cabinet draw containing 3 hanging fils of certs 1 hanging file of wills about 25 headed up with family surnames containing the originals of many of the items scanned in ***, above. That's it! Merry

Hi, Yep, I've done the same, a file each for the main lines, in which I've put family group sheets, certificates, related photos, etc. Then I've got... another file for family tree printouts that are out of date (ie since been added to, but kept in case I need to refer back to them), another file for print outs relating to people Ive not found a connection to yet just in case... another file for any other families connected to mine but not put on my tree as they are too distant... I then have a bag of 'stuff to sort', notebooks for each main name which I take with me on trips to the archive centre, cemetary, etc; an A3 pad for trying to work out those awkward family connections... etc, etc. Arghhh!! I'm usually so organised as well, and now I feel like one of those people who are surrounded by mess and 'just know where everything is'. Lol. Bex

Umpteen Ring Binders Several boxes full of printouts Several boxes full of FH Magazines Shoeboxes full of CDs and microfiche 3 piles of paper under my bed. I need a Secretary!!!!! Or at least a Filing Clerk.

Sorry Jacquie, Mine wasn't much of a tip on organising paperwork was it, lol. Think we could all take a leaf out of Merry's book... if she had any :) Wish I'd asked the same question ages ago, I might be more organised by now. Bex x

I have 2 files: 1 for the census, a - z on surnames 1 for certificates, a - z on surnames Everything else is on the computer (everything from said 2 files scanned into computer) and copies of everything on computer on 2 discs just incase of mishap. Tried doing the old 4 files working backwards thing and it just got too complicated. I know in my head just about who everyone is and where they fall in the family so it was easir by far to simplify things the way I have. Works for me! Snowdrops

I must confess that I'm not very well organized, especially as far as the 'hard copy' documents, notes, photos, etc... are concerned. That being said, I'm a great believer in getting as much as possible in digital form on the computer. Items can easily be transferred or copied from one directory to another, and sent to relatives, other researchers, etc... The best part is that it's relatively easy to back up copies of files onto CDs (or perhaps DVDs if you have as much as Merry). In addition, I try to keep an up-to-date (less than 6 months old) copy at work - that way if there should ever be a fire, flood, etc... at home I won't have lost everything. Tim

Many thanks everyone! Very useful. Tim - Hadn't thought of a DVD - I can do that now I've got a laptop - will copy the database on to one & keep at work. Who said I'm paranoid - I'm obviously not alone. It is probably the best idea to get absolutely everything on the computer - I am a very organised person most of the time but these paper files are something else... Thanks again, Jacquie