Organization is one of the key elements of a good genealogy research. However, most are guilty of not adopt a filing system right at the very beginning simply because there are not much data to organize. What happens is, when genealogy research data start to pile up, you begin to get confused and find it hard to locate a particular file you need. How then are you going to gather research and not lose it?
This may sound “clich-ish” but it is really important to adopt an organization system that works for you. While there are many methods to use, most of them are confusing, time consuming and even complicated. To make things easier, use this simple and effective filing system.
Start by gathering all your genealogy stuffs (in filing cabinets, shoe boxes and crates) and line them up where you can work without any destruction in your bedroom or on the dining table. Get a pen, a marker, binders or folders and a notebook.
Sort all your files according to family line (main surname line, secondary surname line, common-named lines, other lines, etc.), place where the information came from (a family line from a particular state, country, country, etc.), both surname and location, date you have researched the data, miscellaneous information, or depending on what suits you or what applies to your current researched data.
In a notebook, log all the documents that have been sorted. This is a crucial part of the process since you don’t want to dig through your entire file once they are placed in a folder every time you want to retrieve a document. Logging makes it easier for you to find exactly where documents are filed. On each sorted file, you may have several types of document like certificates, deeds, records, photos, etc. – use tabs or page dividers for quick reference. Your log should have its tabs as well so that you know which page you are going to look in the folder.
Insert each sorted file in binders or folders. Mark them individually with corresponding titles. For example, the file for your direct family line is marked with your surname. Afterwards, store it in a safe place. Use your boxes, crates or file cabinets. Now it is properly filed. When additional data come in, use the same process. Log it, place it in its corresponding folder, and store it!
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