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Topic: How do you organise your family history research? (Read 4287 times)
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Rachel W
RootsChat Member
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Posts: 120
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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When I started looking in to my family tree I never realised what a huge project it would turn in to.
As a result I have a ring binder bursting with printouts and certificates, in a rough chronological order and sorted by different surnames. Then on my computer I have bits and pieces saved all over the place. 
I keep coming up with ways to organise it that get very complicated very quickly!
So how do you all look after yours? I'm ready to pinch any tips! 
Rachel
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Waite, Marchant, Nash, Goddard, Pocock, Hiles, Switzer, Larondie, Harris to name just a few!
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AnneMc
RootsChat Veteran
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Posts: 899
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Hi Rachel:
I think everybody has their own ideas how they keep track of all their information. For myself I have each family in a binder (that's my paper trail) then I use the family tree maker program to keep track of everything on the computer. If use use a program on the computer be sure to make back ups. Helps when your comupter crashes!!!
But I must say I have a table that is loaded with bits of paper and my note books I keep all my full note books and I found I am always going back to them to check information out. Even though my desk is a mess I know where everything is.
Not sure if I have been any help. Enjoy doing your research, I think this is the best hobby there is !!
Merry Christmas
Cheers
Anne
Canada
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Yorkshire - Thompson. Savage, Morris, Richardson, Frankish, Mintoft, Myers, Barker, Hotchkiss
Shropshire - Hotchkiss
Derbyshire - Hardwick, Barker, Marples
Lancashire - Winstanley, Morton
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Lemontree
RootsChat Member
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Posts: 232
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Hi
Organise?  paper trails in ever increasing folders as each part of the trail splits yet again into more branches....
I shall be watching this thread for ideas.
Lemontree
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Iria
RootsChat Aristocrat
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Posts: 1683
Love Life and Life Loves You
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Hi Everyone
I Also Keep mine in Diffrent Ring Binders am researching a Number For My Husbands Side of the Family and a Number for Mine..I have been reasearching now for Approx 10 years.. and have had to redo my trees a number of Times.. Family tree software i carn't seem to get a Grip of..Maybe its because i Like having scrapps of paper all over the Place
Regards
Iria
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Harold Liverpool and Warwickshire Slater Liverpool Murray Liverpool Garner Liverpool Lister/Lester Liverpool and Cambridgeshire Norris Liverpool and Ireland Census Information is Crown Copyright From: www.nationalarchives.gov.uk |
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Essex export
RootsChat Member
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Posts: 231
My first bike
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Hi Everyone.
Organized? I've only been at this researching lark for about a year but I already have over 1600 names of people I am related to or descended from. Most of the detail is entered on software (GSP) and backed up but I have only recently realized it would have been a good idea to include GRO index nos etc right from the start.
As to keeping notes on paper, it's no good for me 'cos the only system I seem able to operate is the random system. That way if it gets knocked off the table, it's still in order!!!
Regards
Andy
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Ketch, Catch - Warwickshire. Elliott, Dawson, Armstrong, Rigg, Wass, Gargett, Wilson - Durham. Fishburn - Durham & N. Yorks Gibson - Whitby, N. Yorks Kellett - Yorkshire Eaton, Horner, Gisby, Cotgrove, Emery - Leigh, Essex Eaton, Horner, - Australia Census information is Crown copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk |
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mc8
RootsChat Veteran
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Posts: 757
Vandecasteele 1932
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truthfully?
badly
I've found that although I am a linear thinker, I am a holistic visual recorder.I like to drill down into detail to hunt for info and occasionally come up for air and try a scattergun apprach. I bought a family tree programme when the details became too complex for notebooks, but I haven't got on with it well as I find it rather disjointed. The reference I use most is a huge chart ( a couple of flip chart pages) which allows me to see all the links (an admittedly small tree of 200 names) at a glance-I put references, wild cards and hunches on it too
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Essex export
RootsChat Member
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Posts: 231
My first bike
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Hi mc8
I used to have a printout chart of my tree, as it grew, pinned up on the wall and put post it notes all over it with anything of interest or needing further research.
I recently printed out my maternal side for an uncle who wanted proof that he was related to the man who built Captain Cooks ship, HMS Endeavor.
When the chart was stuck together it measured approx 20 feet wide by 4 feet long!!!
Don't think I'll be doing a complete print!
Regards
Andy
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Ketch, Catch - Warwickshire. Elliott, Dawson, Armstrong, Rigg, Wass, Gargett, Wilson - Durham. Fishburn - Durham & N. Yorks Gibson - Whitby, N. Yorks Kellett - Yorkshire Eaton, Horner, Gisby, Cotgrove, Emery - Leigh, Essex Eaton, Horner, - Australia Census information is Crown copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk |
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TaffyBlue
RootsChat Senior
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Posts: 286
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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!!!
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DICKIN - Shropshire, FLOWERDEW - Norfolk, GUERIN - London, HAMER - Wales, INGLEBY - Wales/Yorkshire, NOBBS - Yarmouth, Norfolk, WAGGETT - Liverpool/Yorkshire, WILLIAMS - Caernarfonshire, WILSON - Glasgow, WOOLSEY - Norfolk Census Information is Crown Copyright from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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bitty_matriarch
RootsChat Member
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Posts: 149
What good is information if not shared with others
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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.
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CAWTHORN, SCOTT & DeSilva PALMER from Cambridgeshire & West Norfolk [and beyond ] DAWSON from St. Ives, Hunts; WEATHERSTON from Berwick Upon Tweed & South Shields; SCALES, DILLEY, HAWKINS & SMITH from Herts; ****************************************** Census information is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk |
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behindthefrogs
RootsChat Marquessate
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Posts: 3163
EDLIN
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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.
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Living in Berkshire. Origin Northampton & Milton Keynes DETAILS OF THE FOLLOWING NAMES CAN BE FOUND IN SURNAME INTERESTS AT FOOT OF PAGE Wilson, Higgs, Buswell, PARCELL, Matthews, TAMKIN, Seckington, Pates, Williams, Webb, Arthur, MAYNARD, Caves, Norman, Winch, Culverhouse, Drakeley. Johnson, Routledge, SHIRT, SAICH, Mills, SAUNDERS, EDLIN, Perry, Vickers, Pakeman, Griffiths, Marston, Turner, Child, Sheen, Gray, Woolhouse Census Info is Crown Copyright from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk |
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Sylviaann
RootsChat Aristocrat
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Posts: 2486
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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
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Census information is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.ukNorfolk: Gooch, Loveday, Lake, Betts Suffolk: Gooch, Crosby, Turner Hampshire: Laws, Burrows Kent: Beer Jersey: Barette, de Gruchy East London: Middleton, Gower, O'Farrell, Smith, Weston |
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kerryb
RootsChat Marquessate
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Posts: 8834
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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
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Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.ukSearching for my family - Baldwin - Sussex, Middlesex, Cork, Pilbeam - Sussex, Harmer - Sussex, Terry - Surrey, Kent, Rhoades - Lincs, Roffey - Surrey, Traies - Devon & Middlesex & many many more to be found on my website .... www.kerrysfamilyhistory.co.uk |
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Sylviaann
RootsChat Aristocrat
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Posts: 2486
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Here is one link
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,62980.0.html
Sylviaann
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Census information is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.ukNorfolk: Gooch, Loveday, Lake, Betts Suffolk: Gooch, Crosby, Turner Hampshire: Laws, Burrows Kent: Beer Jersey: Barette, de Gruchy East London: Middleton, Gower, O'Farrell, Smith, Weston |
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