How to Organize your Genealogy Files
Introduction
One of the keys to writing powerful client reports is using variation and descriptive words. Because client projects are limited in time, writing a professional sounding report in a shorter amount of time means more time available for successful research. These synonyms and phrases will help you achieve this. As you write your own reports, add to these lists, especially the phrases you are writing. Many of them can be used again and again, thus saving you time.
Benefits to this organization system
Within 4 quick clicks you can find any document on any person.
When sharing research, it is easy to send the entire surname folder or just an individual's folder.
By naming each file as shown below, the individual files are listed in order, like a timeline, to provide an easy overview.
First Steps
Create an alphabetical folder for each letter you will need.
Create a surname folder for each surname.
Create an individual folder for each person, which includes their birth and death dates, if possible.
Females have their own individual folder, listed under their maiden name.
If you have a marriage certificate or a census record, file a copy under each person listed in the document.
If you have a lot of photos on an ancestor, create a folder called "Photos" in the individual's folder.
Next Steps
Label each individual file as follows:
Surname, First Name (Birth Year) Year of Event, Event Name.
If you want a file to stay at the top of the directory, begin the file name with a "1-
Extra Tips
Create additional folders, such as "_Localities" or "_Conferences" or whatever else you need.
The underscore "_" puts the file at the top of your directory.
This digital organization system can be used for your paper files by utilizing binders for each surname, or if needed, for each individual.
