How to organize all we have found

[HeatherH]

Hello all,
I've mentioned a few times my near calamities due to compter crashes and what not . I will now confess that mostly due to this my records are in a real mess .Half is on my computer in my Legacy software and half is on paper in my files which have grown considerably since I started just over 2 years ago .
So I'd like with your kind indulgence to revisit a topic from TS in the early days based on how we do what we do and organize it all .
( If you are interested in a wee stroll down memory lane you will find the posts in Cyber Seance CS1 )
With a tree that will shortly reach 2000 names I really need some advice .

HeatherH

[Liz Turner]

Hi Heather

I have to admit to a similar type of problem. I've got my PC stuff on FTM, but I've also got loads of stuff on paper - despite beginning to organise it all back in the summer following a meet-up with Russell. I really must get back to it ....

Liz

[sheilajim]

Hi Heather

I too have a similar problem. I have my paper files, which I keep in a large ring binder. I will soon have to buy another one of these binders as this one is getting pretty full.

I have Family Tree Maker which so far I only have put names in, and I have not as yet backed it up on disk.

I think the ideal solution is to have both paper files and computer files.

One of my New Years Resolution is to put my certs and what pictures I have in Family Tree Maker. I think that I can do this on that program. Then back everything up on a CD.

Regards

Sheila

[AnnieMack]

I have my stuff in a selection of folders - 4 main ones for my maternal and paternal lines split into maternal/paternal lines broken down by year. I file the printed documents by year - Birth/Marriage/Census/Death and I have another file for miscellany.

I then work through the info putting it on the pc. But it is a never ending process!

Annie

[Russell]

Hi Liz

I heard my name being mentioned and, having been laid low for the past 5 or 6 weeks, I thought it time to face the world again. Will be in touch.

Hi Heather and Sheila
I use FTM but I enter every possible fact I can into it including which sources I have found. I always save a document or picture into a family file on the computer before adding it to the individual's Scrapbook in FTM.
That way you can access it and save a whole collection of family photos to CD (Must think about DavidWW's external Hard Drive ideas though).
My paper copies are all grouped under the family name in extra large lever arch files and an outline family tree is at the start of each group. This tree is in pencil so that changes can be made as new info comes in.
I keep all BDMs for an individual together but censuses which relate to the whole family are at the end of the family group.
We're now up to 7 large lever arch files to hold both sides of the family which is now at 2,000 + individuals.
Correspondence, newspaper cuttings, college certificates, driving licences etc are stored quite separately in box files but referred to in the 'Notes' part of FTM so a link is maintained.
You must set aside time regularly to update files, that way you keep track of which certificates you have searched for on SP and a quick check in FTM tells you which certs you have already. This is double checked by looking at the pencil outline too. Saves MONEY as well as time.

Russell

[Linda Malpass]

Hi Heather, I think I do something similar to Russell, I use FTM and PAF, I type all my certificates word for word in the notes section, so at a glance I know what I have and what I need to get ....... its a easy reference, rather than looking through paper files.

Now the paper files, certificates etc, I file by family group in two large three ring binders with family names on tabs, I file birth, marriage, death and census of each family by dates with a family group sheet at the beginning of each family (although this always needs updating) and also have a tab for Immigration, notes, letters etc at the back of the binder. I must say paper filing is WAY BEHIND .....

I haven't figured out what to do with pictures yet, I was thinking about doing a Memory Book, a lady at my family history group has done this, and its quite lovely.

I back up my trees on CD, Flash Drives, and Floppy Disks, keep a collection at home, one in the car glove compartment and one at my daughters, you can never be so careful. I back up all my certificates this way as well.

Hopes this helps somewhat

[StewL]

I cant say that I am very organised at the present. I have good intentions, but intentions dont get it done does it

I have begun the process by getting a large lever arch file and will begin putting in hard copies of all certificates that I have collected over the 3/4 years that I have been hooked on this lark.

I havent decided yet as to which format I will keep the hard copies, I am tossing between dates, alphabetical or family grouping.

Like Heather I use Legacy and will probably print out copies of family groups to head the sections if I decide to go via family grouping.

As far as my computer files are concerned, they are split into individual family groups and a main certificate folder which is split into the two main lines I am researching. Then all is backed up on a CD held just for family history. Which I will also back up with a spare. I got caught out badly a while back when I fried my hard drive and lost everything, at the same time I had erased my back up CD to change the way I was saving things.

Heather
Glad to hear that Rob is well and managed to sweet-talk his mother with cups of tea.