How do you organise your family history research?

[TaffyBlue]

Only been doing my tree for 11 months, so I haven't really got myself into a routine yet.

I use RM2 software for my tree, and have notes attached to each entry of where I found the info eg. census. 

My printouts, jotted notes and certificates are all lumped into one huge file, which to the untrained eye is complete chaos, but makes perfect sense to me as I know where everything is.  I am also fortunate enough to have a photographic memory and can remember every detail of each member in my tree (1450 entries).  My aunt calls me "the computer" because I can just reel off facts instantly.

Think I need to get out more!!!

[bitty_matriarch]

I use "Brother's Keeper" so that I can keep tabs on everyone on my computer; BUT I also have many ring binders and folders with print outs, certificates, census info, photos, ets, etc.  BUT most important of all, I save AND print all emails with new information - I've had too many hard disk failures and lost too may important emails in the past.

The dining table is covered in binders and folders, but is in reach of my computer desk should a new contact email me via my website, whatever, so that I can grab the relevant folder.

Trouble comes when I have to clear the table and tidy up - it takes me about a week to sort out everything again!

When you're following many different lines, as I am, organisation can be tricky, especially as the day job gets in the way  I very often have to break off on an interesting line of enquiry about 10 minutes before I leave the house at mid-day to go to work.  

One day, I'll get seriously organised, but I like the chase too much  

Cheers,  Ann.

[behindthefrogs]

I gave up trying to use a family history program to drive my filing system vey early on and adopted the following system.

Each different surname from which my son is directly descended is allocated a letter.  I am heading for trouble because I have used all the upper case and most of the lower case.  Working backwards through time each person is allocated a number after that letter.  I delay that untilI think I have the generation complete but can use another letter after the number to fill holes.

Thus I am A1, my wife B1 and my brother A2 and my father A3, my mother C1 etc. 

Where I trace families each generation starts a level of subsection.

My son is thus A1.1 and my grandson A1.1.1.  Complications like wives, second wives, step children etc are handled by adding an extra letter.

Thus my eldest son's wife is A1.1W and all her family would work back from there using the same rules.

Every piece of paper is indexed and filed with these numbers and unlinked information is filed under the letter with no number.

Well you did ask, and it is complicated but it does work and I have never in twenty years had to renumber except on the fringes where I am first establishing a generation.   

[Sylviaann]

I don't use a data base any more.  I found non researchers did not understand the printouts.  I just use Word.  I have a page for each person.  Then I can send it out to anyone interested and put them all together in a book for relatives.  I have trees in Word which can be extended when necessary.

I keep a paper file for each branch of the family.  It takes up a lot of room and I'm thinking of gettig a cupboard to put them all in.  Then I can shut the doors when anyone needs the bedroom for sleeping!

We have had this question several times before but I can't find the links.  A search might turn them up.

Sylviaann

Sylviaann

[kerryb]

How this for recycling:

The envelopes that contain the certificates I have ordered from the GRO I reuse - one per surname to keep all certificates, printouts and other bits of paper in.

Kerry

[Sylviaann]

Here is one link
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,62980.0.html

Sylviaann

[Lady Di]

I use exactly the same system as Sylviaann. Use WORD all the way - it's great for all the photos and graphics as well as telling the family stories.

I printed it all out once and I have what appears to be a family history book of (too many) pages and it actually looks like a "real" book as each person has their own story.
I then keep all my research in a separate folder for each family, then a plastic sleeve for each member of that family.

I would love to do a proper family tree - with little boxes etc but I think the 20ft long tree sounds like one may need a new house to show it off - or a VERY large wall.

Happy hunting

[salamanda]

      I don't!!     I'm afraid if I get too organise I'll never find anything.  As it is I know where to find just what I want.....in a big box....


I do use Family Historian on line and keep it up to date where it's easy to send to anyone that needs info on my tree..

[Quinn]

Organized?  What's that?

I started with my dad's paternal side.  No problem - 1 3 ring binder, the big one.  Then I moved on to my paternal great grandfather's wife's family.  For this one, I made a labeled hanging folder and cleared an area in a file cabinet.  That was 12 years ago.

Now, I am deeply involved in researching EVERY main branch of my father's family and my mother's family.  This is at the bare minimum (!) a total of 12 names.  That doesn't take into account other extended family names that have great bearing on the research.

What I did was allocate one filing cabinet strictly for family history.  EACH family branch has a hanging file folder labeled with the surname.  (In some cases, it's two folders which are labeled for example: QUINN - A  QUINN - B.)

I also use the Legacy computer program.  Slightly confusing until you learn it, but it works for me.

One burp in all of this was the day I received what I thought was going to be maybe 10 pages of family information.  What I got instead was way over 100 pages of lineage, going back to 1435!  It filled a 3 ring binder!

What I did with this was label the binder, put everything in there and it now sits directly behind the hanging folder in my cabinet.

That's my method.  Not the greatest, but it works for me.

Patty