Getting Organized. Where to start. How to color code your chart 2/10/2016. Ways to organize your paper files, research binders and computer files

Transcription

1 Getting Organized Ways to organize your paper files, research binders and computer files Start with a pedigree chart with you as the beginning of the chart. Where to start How to color code your chart Using the color coding chart below we now color code our pedigree chart. Each lineage has its own color. 1

2 Our color coded chart This is how our chart should look after we color code it. From here we can create a filing system for paper files. How to set up your paper files You will need at least 2 file boxes Manila file folders Colored hanging file folders Colored file folder labels or highlighters Black pens ultra fine, permanent ink or computer Step 1 Using your pedigree chart create labels for your hanging file folders. Avery template 8167 return address labels is a good size for creating these labels. You can handwrite them as well. 2

3 Again using your color coded pedigree chart create file folder labels for each family. Surname capitalized. Then given names. Then year of birth and death. Wife under husband same information. Step 2 Step 3 Put the hanging file folder labels on the left side of folder. Manila file folder labels on the right hand tab of folder. Use the middle tab for children of the couple What should go in each file? A family group sheet should go in each folder. Marriage record, Birth records of children, Death records of parents, any record that pertains to that family. Once a child marries and you create a folder for them the above information now goes in their folder. 3

4 What about records with multiple people on them? Records such as census records with multiple families, death indexes, marriage indexes, birth indexes, etc. can go in a folder by location. Create manila folder labels with places on them and file records by place. Use a second file box for location files. Computer Filing System Again you would have 2 main files Family which would have folders under it for each surname on your pedigree chart. Location saved documents with multiple families on it. You will need to add a folder to your computer Use the windows key and the E key to open file explorer. Hold windows key down and click the E key. 4

5 Decide where you want your folder to be. What drive? Open File Explorer You can pick where you would like your folder. Adding your Folder Once you pick the drive you want your folder to be on, in this example we are using the C drive. Hover mouse over Local Disk (C:) and right click with your mouse. Go down to where it says new and click on folder You should now have a new folder on your C drive. Again, right click new folder and go down to rename. Now give your folder a new name. Renaming 5

6 Adding family & location folders Right click on Genealogy Files and go down to New and Folder Rename as Family, right click on Family go down to New and Folder then rename with one of your family surnames. Open one of your folders to view what is in them. This is a list view. To see pictures go up to View and change to Icon Viewing Files You can view your files in your folder in different ways. Viewing Options 6

7 Family File Family File has any record for an individual or couple, birth, death, marriage. You can include pictures, military records etc. You can view them either as an icon or in a list. Last name first, capitalized, I add record type. Location File Use location file when you have records that cover more then one person such as a census with multiple families on it. Again you can view them with either the icon view or the list view I add the image number as sometimes they take up more than one page Binders What is needed Pedigree chart Family group sheets Dividers either 5 or 8 tab Punch holes in the family group sheets and place them in your binder. One behind each tab. I place them in my binder using the number system on the pedigree chart Pedigree chart either in cover of binder or at the very front before tabs. 7

8 How to use your binder This binder I used 5 tab dividers and highlighted the families in yellow. I used the 8 tab dividers for the children in the family. As I found records that applied to just the children I put them behind their tab. This binder I used 8 tab dividers and color coded my pedigree chart and dividers to match. Best way to use binders The best way to use binders is the way it works for you. No one system will work for everyone. You know your family, your research style. Try a variety of systems until you find one that works for you. 8