How do you organise your family history research?

[julianb]

You inspired me to count my binders: much to my surprise, I have 29 binders of varying sizes.

Do I feel a Lighter Side thread coming on - Have you got more than 55 binders?

JULIAN

[Josephine]

"Do I feel a Lighter Side  thread coming on - Have you got more than 55 binders?"

LOL, Julian, please post a link if one is started! 

Regards,
Josephine

[KathMc]

So I have a dumb question for those who use binders: Do you use pockets in the binders or hole-punch the records?

Kath

[Josephine]

Kath,

I hole-punch them but I never put original, official documents in binders:  I only put photocopies of those in binders. 

This is what I put in binders, organized by family group:
- census records
- parish records that I've found online at Medway Ancestors (baptisms, marriages & a few burials)
- photocopies of official documents that I've paid big bucks for (birth, death and marriage certificates)
- family group sheets and person sheets generated by my genealogy software program
- correspondence (but I'm lazy about printing it out)

I would never punch holes in something for which I've paid between five and thirty dollars!

Regards,
Josephine

[erin21]

Izabel
If you want to try a free programme for your family research then go to the 1881 census family search you can download a free one from there does everyhthing you want.
Sue.....

Sue
could you elaborate please  step by step just for me !!!!

Erin

[Berlin-Bob]

His name's not Sue, but he answered the same question on another topic:

Hi Lemars

There is always PAF (Personal Ancestry File) from the LDS.

As it is free you have nothing to lose by trying it out.  It has a lot of useful features such as printing a book-style report.  However, you will need to obtain their color chart printing software which as an add-on package.  Details from: http://www.familysearch.org/ and scroll down the yellow column at the bottom right hand corner of the screen.

Also note that you can create a website with this software, which is useful for storing your data offsite.  That way you do not need to worry about whether your backups work in future.

downside

[aghadowey]

Kath- I use clear pockets for family trees which I've printed out, etc. and if get new information, have a query or want to check something at a later date I stick a note in the clear pocket with information for that family/person.
One problem with ring binders is that some of my information from US and Canada comes on different size paper. If I can't trim pages down to fit in clear pockets I put them into filing cabinet.

[KathMc]

I think I am leaning toward ring binders. This sounds very handy. I like the color-coded aspect also. That makes things very visible. I think a binder for each surname will be the route I will try, with the clear pockets. Ah, hubby is going to love this.  Now I really need to get the bookshelves built in my office.

Thanks everyone. 

Kath

[erin21]

His name's not Sue, but he answered the same question on another topic:

Thanks  done it

looks like a lot of concentration is ahead !!!!

Erin