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There are as many ways to organize your file as there are researchers. Each person develops his own system over time. The purpose of this article is to suggest a simple system that can be adapted to a wide variety of situations as your experience grows. | There are as many ways to organize your file as there are researchers. Each person develops his own system over time. The purpose of this article is to suggest a simple system that can be adapted to a wide variety of situations as your experience grows. | ||
== Value of Organizing Your Files == | == Value of Organizing Your Files == | ||
Being organized helps you to better collate sources, compare them, evaluate them, identify discrepancies, and make reasonable conclusions. Well-documented family group records are the best source of ideas for research objectives. Up-to-date family group records also help you judge the reliability and fit of newly discovered sources with what you already know. The main value of organized research logs is to show all the sources you have searched, and help you recall your search purposes and strategies. Good logs help you resume research after a pause, and avoid re-using sources already tried. Too many negative searches on a research log show it is time to search in a different way. Being well organized saves you time, and it contributes to better research and results. | Being organized helps you to better collate sources, compare them, evaluate them, identify discrepancies, and make reasonable conclusions. Well-documented family group records are the best source of ideas for research objectives. Up-to-date family group records also help you judge the reliability and fit of newly discovered sources with what you already know. The main value of organized research logs is to show all the sources you have searched, and help you recall your search purposes and strategies. Good logs help you resume research after a pause, and avoid re-using sources already tried. Too many negative searches on a research log show it is time to search in a different way. Being well organized saves you time, and it contributes to better research and results. | ||
== Organizing Principles == | == Organizing Principles == | ||
*'''''[[Document AS YOU GO!|Organize and document AS YOU GO!]]''''' Before you start research have a research log and well-documented family group record in hand. After research do not lay your head on your pillow until you have finished your paper work and filing. | *'''''[[Document AS YOU GO!|Organize and document AS YOU GO!]]''''' Before you start research have a research log and well-documented family group record in hand. After research do not lay your head on your pillow until you have finished your paper work and filing. | ||
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*'''''Research the easiest events first.''''' What you learn from easier documents will help you find more difficult to locate sources. | *'''''Research the easiest events first.''''' What you learn from easier documents will help you find more difficult to locate sources. | ||
*Do NOT reorganize the way described below until you pick up research on a family—no mass reorganization of all files at once. | *Do NOT reorganize the way described below until you pick up research on a family—no mass reorganization of all files at once. | ||
*Do not be discouraged if | *Do not be discouraged if your filing system is not perfect. We get better with experience. | ||
== Easy System: One Family = One File Folder == | == Easy System: One Family = One File Folder == | ||
This system is based on creating one file folder for each family you research. | This system is based on creating one file folder for each family you research. | ||
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#[[Copying Sources|photocopies of source documents]] (required) in order by your document number. | #[[Copying Sources|photocopies of source documents]] (required) in order by your document number. | ||
== Setting Up an Organized System == | == Setting Up an Organized System == | ||
{| cellspacing="1" cellpadding="6" border="2" align="right" width="274" | {| cellspacing="1" cellpadding="6" border="2" align="right" width="274" | ||
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#File the source photocopy. | #File the source photocopy. | ||
== Document Numbers and Filing Order == | == Document Numbers and Filing Order == | ||
Write a document number that you create on the back of each document photocopy, and put the same number on your research logs. File documents in order by that number within the family’s folder. These will make your research logs a table of contents to your source copies. | Write a document number that you create on the back of each document photocopy, and put the same number on your research logs. File documents in order by that number within the family’s folder. These will make your research logs a table of contents to your source copies. | ||
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'''''Individual folders and locality folders.''''' Some researchers like to expand the basic one family = one folder system by also creating a folder for selected individuals, or sometimes all the people in one locality. These are options, but doing this creates questions about which folder gets which sources. | '''''Individual folders and locality folders.''''' Some researchers like to expand the basic one family = one folder system by also creating a folder for selected individuals, or sometimes all the people in one locality. These are options, but doing this creates questions about which folder gets which sources. | ||
== Links to Other Sites about Organizing == | == Links to Other Sites about Organizing == | ||
=== FamilySearch === | === FamilySearch === | ||
*[http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/RG/frameset_rg.asp?Dest=G1&Aid=&Gid=&Lid=&Sid=&Did=&Juris1=&Event=&Year=&Gloss=&Sub=&Tab=&Entry=&Guide=ALL_REF_DOC_-_Basic_Paper_Filing.ASP Organizing Your Paper Files]. How to collect and sort genealogy materials from your home and family.Ideas on how to store in plastic tubs and use paper files and documents in relation to a computer genealogy management program. | *[http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/RG/frameset_rg.asp?Dest=G1&Aid=&Gid=&Lid=&Sid=&Did=&Juris1=&Event=&Year=&Gloss=&Sub=&Tab=&Entry=&Guide=ALL_REF_DOC_-_Basic_Paper_Filing.ASP Organizing Your Paper Files]. How to collect and sort genealogy materials from your home and family.Ideas on how to store in plastic tubs and use paper files and documents in relation to a computer genealogy management program. | ||
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*[http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/RG/frameset_rg.asp?Dest=G1&Aid=&Gid=&Lid=&Sid=&Did=&Juris1=&Event=&Year=&Gloss=&Sub=&Tab=&Entry=&Guide=ALL_RefDoc_-_Organizing_with_Binders.ASP Organizing Your Paper Files Using Binders (Notebooks)].After you set up a basic filing system to organize your family lines, you may want to supplement the basic system with binders for various special needs. | *[http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/RG/frameset_rg.asp?Dest=G1&Aid=&Gid=&Lid=&Sid=&Did=&Juris1=&Event=&Year=&Gloss=&Sub=&Tab=&Entry=&Guide=ALL_RefDoc_-_Organizing_with_Binders.ASP Organizing Your Paper Files Using Binders (Notebooks)].After you set up a basic filing system to organize your family lines, you may want to supplement the basic system with binders for various special needs. | ||
=== Other Sites === | === Other Sites === | ||
*[http://www.cyndislist.com/organize.htm Cyndi’s List: Organizing Your Research]. Links to dozens of Internet sites about organizing genealogical research files. | *[http://www.cyndislist.com/organize.htm Cyndi’s List: Organizing Your Research]. Links to dozens of Internet sites about organizing genealogical research files. | ||