Friday, May 30, 2014

5 Simple Steps to Organize Your Genealogy in a 3 Ring Binder

picture from Bowl Full of Lemons website



Wouldn't you love to be this organized! I was on Pinterest the other day and I saw this beautifully organized family history center. When I saw the three ring binders I thought that's what I want my genealogy organization to look like. I know it's going to take some time because I have a lot of information to organize. I know I cannot organize everything at once so I've decided to start with the McIntire's






My goal is to write a family history on my McIntire's so now is the time to get all the stuff I have accumulated on them organized.

I have my research spread out all over the place: on the computer, file drawers and boxes. Just everywhere! I have two family trees for the McIntire's. I have Family Tree Maker which is on my computer hard drive and I also have an Ancestry.com tree. I have photo files of the McIntire's and I have document files for the McIntire's. Some of them are on my hard drive and others are in my file folders.

So it's time to get all the stuff organized!





First I got a three ring binder with dividers. Dividers now come larger than usual so that they stick out beyond page protectors. I love them.

Second I labeled the dividers with the heads of the household starting with my first male McIntire who is Charles J McIntire.

Third I placed the family tree of the McIntire's (the pedigree chart) in the front of the binder.

Forth the first thing in each person's tab is their family group sheet.






Finally I'm going through all of my records and putting them in page protectors and then inserting them behind the correct male McIntire. If a record is only in digital form I am printing it out including photos.
Hopefully when I have this all done I will have a better understanding of what information still needs researching and then ultimately I will be able to write that family history book!

Do you organize with 3 ring binders?  I would love to hear what you have to say about them.  Just let me know in the comment box below.  Thanks.

Until next time, happy hunting!
Kristina

14 comments:

  1. This looks like a great system, my McIntyre family history is in one binder with another for certificates and documents, another with photos

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    1. Thank you lorellemac. How far back have you traced your McIntyres. Mine go back to 1740 with Henry McIntire. I cannot seem to find where he was born or who his parents are though.

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    2. I went back to scotland. I don't think I have a Henry mine are all Duncan, Dougall, James, John. I would have to look up my binder for more details

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  2. Thank you. How far back have you traced your McIntyres. Mine go back to 1740 with Henry McIntire. I cannot seem to find where he was born or who his parents are though.

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  3. Great step by step explanation of your organizing! I use 3 ring binders for recipes, open projects, class notes, garden notes, well - hmm - pretty much anything that has too much "stuff" for a folder!!! Best of luck tracing your history!

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  4. Ah, you are so organized, Kristina! Love how you have explained everything. I have moments that I'm organized on paper but most of my work stays on computer files, as that's where I store most of my ideas. There's a lot to do with that too and I'm so proud when I have clean folders with very specific files I know what they're about :)

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    1. Thank you Delia, my hubby says I'm a little OCD but I enjoy how nice and neat everything is. I love how much your ebook is helping me with my blog. There just so much to learn and so little time. I'm hoping now that summer is here I will have some time to create a more personal looking blog design. Thanks again for all your encouragement.

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  5. Hi,
    Love this setup- looks so much better than my file cabs. LOL!
    Saw that you have McIntires. As a McIntyre- I know the headache LOL!!! If you want... send me what data you do have on Henry & I'll see if I have come across anything. Checked my immediate DB and I only have a Henry at 1798, but I have come across a lot of other family data in my searchings- I have come across so many intertwined McIntyre/McIntire/McEntire families that I started a "One name" study DB. e: @snoolhu3@yahoo.com

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    1. Jeanette I would love to share what I have. Thank you.

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  6. I love organizing (just wish I had more time)! This looks like a great system for organizing your family history. I love all your pictures!

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    1. Thank you Sue. I appreciate you stopping by and sharing your thoughts.

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  7. Well, I really love organizing! I usually use 3 ring binders for recipes,never thought about a family history!

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    1. Yes, Clara it is nice having everything in a nice neat place. Thank you.

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