Organization Update and Question

Wow! I am so impressed with myself and can not believe how GOOD it feels to accomplish something for ME!

I have made progress! It has only been about four years since his passing but I FINALLY have my biological father's things in order! I have made his own binder and every piece of paperwork is in an archival free protector. He is in my "NEW TREE"on the computer and everything is attached to him and sourced, at least what I have in the computer thus far.

I have also decided to update and re-organize my "genealogy people files"on my computer. I have been absolutely amazed at how many "new" file folders I needed to add. Each folder is getting the exact same folders inside, census, pictures, vital records etc. It has been a lot of work, but I tend to do it in the late evening when I am getting tired and can sit and relax. It is a bit more "mindless" work to do. I have progressed to the family names starting with "He" so I am not quite half way through yet, but I am so happy with the results.

Beginning the new tree is the toughest and takes the longest as that is where I have the most paperwork to organize. I have entered maybe 40-50 people in the new tree, but refuse to add any more until I am sure I have all pertinent paperwork filed appropriately in a binder also. I have several people filed in a binder already, but doing this one just seemed so major for me to do. As I get to other's it shouldn't take as long to go through.

So my process is to enter a person in the tree with all documentation attached and sourced. Then, I make sure documents are in a binder and filed appropriately. I also want to make sure the persons file on my computer is also up to date. It isn't that I wasn't organized before, it is that I hadn't kept up properly with it. I have also added more folders into each person's folder. I see light at the end of the tunnel and am so excited see it completed!

The only thing I haven't decided on is whether to add all photos to the person in my tree, or just a few, or maybe just one for the profile picture. I am currently using Family Tree Maker for MAC.

I am curious what others do, do you add all your pictures into your program? I can see pros and cons both ways. I hope you will comment and let me know what you do!

Thanks for stopping by!

Wishing you success in all of your genealogical treasure hunts!




 Copyright © 2012 By Cheryl Palmer All Rights Reserved

Comments

  1. Good for you, Cheryl! That's a daunting task, no doubt. I keep folders for each couple, but they're not nearly as organized as yours... I imagine they will be one day. As for photos, I keep an "untouched" folder of photos that I've scanned or taken myself, and I move copies into the other folders. Sure, it's duplication, but that way if I mess one up by editing or something, I'll always have a back up. I'm paranoid like that. :-)

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  2. Wow! You have accomplished a lot. As for pictures, I just include one or two in my genealogy software.

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  3. I was doing all in my FTM folder, but then I inherited 550 of them... Too much work! So in my "new" file, I just have one for the profile picture and all the rest are in that person's folder.

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  4. Debbie, I was like you in the beginning. I used to add everything to my program. I have found the more I get, it really is a lot of work. The thing is, if you ever change computers, what are the chances of loosing the connection of the photos to your program? Thanks for your input ladies!

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