What do you do with census returns?

[wheeldon]

I keep mine with Ancestry but the even safer way is to print them off and give them to my Mum   

My Mum then files them, brings them out periodically (when there's nothing on the TV)  studies them and comes up with some brilliant ideas.  I do the same with my Certs, I scan them and Mum keeps the originals.

If I pop round unannounced I often find her sat at the dining table, glasses perched on the end of her nose and all the info spread out 

Mum's great for pointing out the obvious that I didn't see 

[wheeldon]

I keep mine with Ancestry but the even safer way is to print them off and give them to my Mum   

My Mum then files them, brings them out periodically (when there's nothing on the TV)  studies them and comes up with some brilliant ideas.  I do the same with my Certs, I scan them and Mum keeps the originals.

If I pop round unannounced I often find her sat at the dining table, glasses perched on the end of her nose and all the info spread out 

Mum's great for pointing out the obvious that I didn't see 

[julianb]

I'm going to have and go and investigate some other family tree packages. Mine seems very basic compared to some of the others.

Kerry

I recently got Family Historian (latest version) but I have a backlog of updating to do from the data transferred from my old programme (Great Family). Bit I'd endorse what MaryAa has said.  In particular, the gedcom census add-on is excellent because you can attach the actual census images.  Bit it takes time!

On Great Family I had transcribed census data into the "notes" box.  But Family Historian allows for greater integration of the data.

As if you hadn't guessed, I generally download and save the census images (how much longer will I want to maintain an ancestry subscription?).  I also keep hardcopies in binders with associated material - binders for a branch of the family (at great grandparent level), subdivided into generations, with papers for each person in a plastic folder.

Anally retentive, or what?

JULIAN

[kerryb]

Hi Julian

I'm seriously considering Family Historian.  I know Gadget uses it and recommends it   It seems to do a lot of what I want to be able to do with such resources as my census returns. 

I don't keep paper copies of them yet but as I have just put all of my certificates into nice files in order copies of census records may follow! 

Anally retentive - NO, just organised!!!!!!

Kerry

[Headbanger Veron]

Hi Julian

I'm seriously considering Family Historian.  I know Gadget uses it and recommends it   It seems to do a lot of what I want to be able to do with such resources as my census returns. 

I don't keep paper copies of them yet but as I have just put all of my certificates into nice files in order copies of census records may follow! 

Anally retentive - NO, just organised!!!!!!

Kerry

I love Family Historian and would recommend it too. I also use Gedcom Census (which is a free download) to enter the details of census returns, but I love just reading the returns anyway, not just the bit of them that relates to my family. I download furiously whenever I can afford an Ancestry sub, and then read and enjoy at my leisure.

Veron

[kerryb]

Thanks Veron, I think I'm going to treat myself to an early Christmas present!  Either that or perhaps the other half to buy it for me.  But then can I wait another month to play with it!!!!

Kerry 

[JDGen]

I file the images in the same way you do Kerry, and use the census reference in my source data.  However, I find it very frustrating that I can't add an image of the census into my database and then attach all the people featured on that page by their role.
I always have to go back to the image and like other posters have later found valuable information that was missed first time around.

For the opportunity to shape a future software package, have a look here:
http://familysearchlabs.org/em/Main.html

At least we can start to ask for what we want....

Jean

[Clare Fowler]

Hi there,

I'm lucky in that I can log Census records in my family tree software.  However, I keep copies of all downloads (census and Scottish BMDs) on my Mac and keep printed filed copies.  I find that if I go through all my printouts a couple of times a year, I find several pieces of new information that I had missed first (or maybe even second and third) time around.  I don't think I would do this if I only kept them on the computer or never kept the images at all. 

Retaining all the images also gives my husband another reason to think that I am barking mad!!!

Cheers,
Clare

[Elliebob]

I've tided a few up with cropping and enhancing and framing for pressies tho ...

What a brilliant idea newfy - that's my sister-in-law sorted for Christmas!

Ellen