When I first began blogging, I wrote about my organization system. Basically, I have a school style 3-prong folder for each married couple. I put about 5 sheet protectors in it to keep hard copies of things I find for that couple. (Anything for the individuals before they were married stay with their parents’ folder.) I keep a 5 gen chart, group sheet and research plan in the front pocket. I keep hard copies of census records (if I’ve printed one) in the back pocket. Other things are kept in the page protectors in chronological order. So if I find marriage info, birth of children, land sales, biographies, death certs, etc. I put those in the page protectors.
Later, I developed a system for keeping my genealogy research with me at school using half-sheet sized groups sheets, notes, research logs, etc. When students are taking a test or I’m sitting in the car waiting for my kids, or any other time I’ve got a few minutes, I can pull out my research planner and jot some thoughts down or make research plans.
So my first edition of 30 Minute Genealogy involves my folders and planner. If I have a short period of time in the evening after grading and planning is finished, I could grab a family folder and check:
- Is the group sheet up to date?
- Group sheet for my planner?
- Can I find the occupation for each person?
- Do I have a source for each fact?
- Is the source in my database?
- Create a list of questions/resources for my research plan
- Are they any new shaky leaves in Ancestry?
- Search Mocavo
- Search FamilySearch
- Create a group sheet for each child
I think I just might grab a folder now!
