So you’ve been researching your family for awhile now and the copies of records and notes are piling up. So what do you next? Maybe you’ve entered what you found into a genealogy program, but that doesn’t make the paper trail disappear. There are several ways to deal with the overwhelming amount of copies, documents, and pictures you amass while researching. Some people like to scrapbook their findings. This is a great option if you want to share your findings with others and also lets you tell a story through text and image. Another option is to scan each item into your computer and eliminate any originals you do not need. Many genealogy software programs now include the option to upload images and media. This method can directly tie items to the ancestor they relate to.
A third method, and the one I attempt to use, is filing each item. There are several ways to file the documents you have found. Documents can be filed by surname, family or couple, or event. Then records can be further divided by location or type. I currently file by couple/ family. Each marriage or partnership creates a new file. The records of children who do not marry remain in their parents file. I have my files divided by family in order by generation. This system works for me because it is easy for me to find who I am looking for and the files are not too large to search through. I did and still do have problems deciding where some records should go. For example, I keep records such as birth with the individual so a birth record will not be in their parents file unless this individual did not marry. Because census records contain many different individuals I make copies so that each census a person appears in, even as a child with their parents, is in their file. Currently my files are in a filing cabinet, but I would like to transfer them to binders. I like to share my research and taking a binder to a family reunion is much easier than carrying several files and chancing losing some papers or files. The best way to conquer filing all of the papers you collect is deciding what system to use and create rules so when a decision needs to be made there is a set standard for you to follow. Check out this article that further details different organizational options; Binders, Notebooks or Folders? - Organizing Your Genealogy Files by Kimberly Powell.
How do you present your research?
What kind of filing system do you use?
Feel free to share any practical tips you have learned.
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