Keeping Records in ring binder

[Northern Lass]

Hi can you just advise me please.

Just sorting out my folders and if I have my Ring Binder A-z of families
under each surname Tab eg FAmily of Rose

would you yourself put the Rose Family from the youngest to the oldest
or oldest ancestor to youngest.

For eg in the Rose family I have my Pedigree chart // and my Family group charts (for each family)
at the moment it is from my Oldest ancestor down
But wondering if it should be from youngest down.

So at mo I have...
ROSE FAmily
-Print out of Rose tree (pedigree chart/ancestor) showing ancestors from my G.mother back to Wm Rose
Then I have the various families and their group sheets
-Wm Rose b 1800
-Samuel Rose b 1828
-Wm Rose b 1852
all the way to
-Jessie Rose b 1913

should it have the first family as Gmother b 1913 in ring binder not Wm Rose b 1800

or is it just personal pref

advice please

[Rob]

Not like you to be indicisive Jan. Personally,and i think this is a purely personal choice,i'd go youngest down.
I'll have to get me a ring binder for all my notes.At the moment they are in a box next to my fez by my pc.
I'll be watching with interest what other people on this site think about filing youngest to oldest or vice versa.

[Northern Lass]

:o Not like you to be indicisive Jan. Personally,and i think this is a purely personal choice,i'd go youngest down.
I'll have to get me a ring binder for all my notes.At the moment they are in a box next to my fez by my pc.
I'll be watching with interest what other people on this site think about filing youngest to oldest or vice versa.

Get your records all sorted Rob
Back up your info if it is on computer in a gedcom.
But have hard copies in a file or ring binder.

So what do others think Please.

[snoopysue]

I've got mine from youngest to oldest, the same direction as you move when researching ie back in time.
I'm also in the process of writing it all up in a more interesting way - long process I'm afraid!

[Northern Lass]

I've got mine from youngest to oldest, the same direction as you move when researching ie back in time.
I'm also in the process of writing it all up in a more interesting way - long process I'm afraid!

I think that is what I will swap to snoops makes more sense.

Do you have a pedigree chart for each surname (ie at the beginning of the surname ie Rose and do you have one for each ancestor/family member
with his name as no 1 then the chart from him going back thru his ancestors?

I was just going to have the chart at beg of that surname for all of them

[gardener]

Just to try and make the choice harder...

it depends where you think future additions will be - recent branches or going back further. If you don't plan to add pages for the more recent generations then there is not much point having to flip their pages over to get to the spaces behind. Reduce wear on the punched holes. That is why you file stuff in reverse date order for taxes etc., fill from the front.

(But since my filing system consists of various boxes and plastic bags I am not the person to advise - ironic to think that I have a qualification in records management!)

[Northern Lass]

hmmm that is a point.

So it is a personal pref really....no right or wrong way.

What do you all do your sections like in your folders or ring binders.

I have A-z
Then a tab for each surname
Then in each surname I have a family tree
so eg for the Rose one

You go to R
then you find the Rose tab
Then first thing is a Rose family tree complete (or at least up to where I am up to with it)
Then into the first family (be that youngest or oldest ancestor.......personal pref it seems)
Then a pedigree/ancestor chart for that person in there in front of the family group sheet
Then that family has a family group sheet
Then the info on that ancestor-birth marriage death docs census info etc
Then a source chart
Then a research log/calender......for any that I have to chase still find.

anyone do things differently?

Anyone use the Pedigree Charts numbered ie chart no 1/2 etc

I know you can print them off on sites with it all filled in from say ftm but wanted to try it
using the charts you can download and print off..........but very time consuming.

So my G.mother Jessie Rose would be on chart no 2 as no 1 but is also no 7 on chart no 1
which is the first chart with myself on
Then chart no 3 would have ancestor no 1 as Samuel Rose and a note that he is no 8 on chart no 2

anyone else do this?

[AndrewA]

Most of my records are held on computer, but I have also created ring binders with printed records. I have folders for each family name, for example HEATH, DUMMER, SMITH. then organise each member of that family name by birth in alphabetical order. I then place any spouses records after the person they married, so William James HEATH (remember him?) -married Elizabeth Mary (SMITH) If the spouses are to be included in other family groups names, such as Elizabeth, then to avoid having duplicate data, In one of the folders I will simply make a note in the SMITH folder under ELizabeth saying " MArried to WIlliam James HEATH, please refer to this folder for data".

I did think adding the Childrens names after parents names, but I found this became too confusing, especailly when coming to add the children of these children! I can not remember everyone and If I wanted to quickly look up say an Emily Heath who I had no idea whom she was the child off, it would be a frustrating search,but alphabetical order solves this.

If I need to work on the whole family, then of course pulling sheets out of folder or simply temporarily moving them next to the parents is not that difficult to do, just remember to put them back again after is problem !

I have a thin index tab card for each person, then a thick card personal profile sheet with all other paperwork behind it . At end of day you know its a personal choice, all systems have draw backs.

[snoopysue]

Do you have a pedigree chart for each surname (ie at the beginning of the surname ie Rose and do you have one for each ancestor/family member
with his name as no 1 then the chart from him going back thru his ancestors?

I was just going to have the chart at beg of that surname for all of them

I don't have a name specific chart, but several so all ancestors are covered, but I should do som descendent charts for each couple too - as I'm doing a concise (ha) family history I'll have charts in a seperate file.
All my BMD certificates are in a seperate file, filed according to date rather than family name - I find it easier to find them when required. I've tried giving people reference numbers, but that doesn't seem to work for me. When I've got the time I'll do a chart for each married (or not) couple, showing their DOB's, DOD's, parents, children etc, not sure how I'll file those - maybe after generation and then marriage date.
I've also got plans to do a couple of index's - one for occupation and one for addresses they've lived in with dates. Lots to do, and not enough hours in the day! This thing called work keeps getting in the way!!

[mjay]

I've got a folder for each family
Started with my son and worked back
Each folder has poly pockets for each person, & in each one has a front sheet with Name, DOB, marriage,date & where. DOD where buried etc
Partners name
Father, mother
Children

Then censuses, regiment info and any photos in each persons file.
I should really save myself time and put it all on computer package I have instead of writing it down but This helps me find stuff quickly when you guys work your magic lol

Also started a list of addresses where relies lived and if address are still there. Would love to find photos of address then and now, This is going to be ongoing
Also started a list of churches where relies got married and if the churches are still there, another ongoing thing

Want to start a list of what regiments in ww1 & ww2 that relies were in.

Recently did a list of family names for mine and Paul's families, amazing how the same names appear a lot yet we not related yet!,

Mandy

[Northern Lass]

Thanks everyone

It is really individual preference it seems

[snoopysue]

Thanks everyone

It is really individual preference it seems

You're right - I think the main thing is to have the data in several forms to guard against fire, or IT failures! Other than that it comes down to what your interests are!

[AndrewA]

Another thing is that you should be consistant, once you develop a system, stay with it otherwise confusion reigns supreme with different filing and recording methods.