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

5 Important Things to Remember When Filling Out Your DAR application.

So you have been invited to join Daughters of the American Revolution but you are not sure what is involved or what you need to do.  First of all congratulations!  DAR is not just a lineage society.  It is an organization that started over one hundred years ago to honor and preserve the legacy of our American patriots.  Today we continue this legacy by actively supporting historic preservation, promotion of education and patriotic endeavors.  But before you can join you must prove you are a direct descendant of an American patriot.

Upon your initial invitation you will receive a worksheet and booklet giving you all the instructions to complete your application.  However it is all kind of overwhelming if you have not done any genealogy before.  So here is a quick short list to help you get started.

1 Write down everything you already know.  You are the first generation on the worksheet.  Write down your birthday and place of birth and if you are married include your husband's information. Continue with your parents and then your grandparents.  Continue through the generations until you reach your patriot.

2 Ask your family (mother, father, aunt, grandmother, cousin) They are the most logical ones to help you fill in any missing blanks you may have. Don't forget to ask them if they know anyone else in the family that might know some of the answers too.  You never know mother may have a crazy aunt who loves genealogy!

3 You must have proof.  Just because mom says it's true doesn't make it so with the verification committee in Washington DC.  You need to not only prove where your different relatives were born and died but you also need to prove how the different generations are connected.  Most of the time it only takes a birth certificate, death certificate and marriage licence however if those are not available you can use other sources such as US census records, wills, land deeds or any other document that is on the approved sources list.

4 If you need help, please ask.  Each DAR chapter has a lineage research committee whose sole purpose is to help potential member fill out their application.  They won't do the work but can lead you in the right direction to get those proofs.  With today's technology a lot of these proof records can be found online and a member of the committee can help you search that way too.

5 Be mindful of the time. Once you have been invited to join DAR the National Society allow two years to complete an application.  However a time extension of one year may be granted if the applicant requests it.

The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution has a wonderful website too with a lot of answers to help with the application process.  You can find their site HERE.

Again congratulation on deciding to join one of the greatest patriot societies ever!

Until next time, happy hunting!
Kristina

My Ongoing Never Ending Family Tree Chart

Do you have a paper family tree chart hanging on the wall in your house?  I think seeing a beautiful family tree in a home really shows how important family history is in that home.  For all the genealogy research I have done I have to say I've always wanted a nice framed family tree in my living room. However my perfectionism has gotten in the way.  I do have a nice large family tree I've been working on but it is not finished.  I have not had it framed because I would have to take it out of the frame to add to it.  When people walk in my home I want them to know my family and its history is my passion.   So I am going to have it framed with an easy to remove frame.

My first introduction to genealogy was from a second grade school project.  Our class assignment was to fill out a family tree chart.  I still have that chart with my father's careful handwriting.  It is fun to look back at it and see how much I have learned since then.

If family history is a passion for you I want to encourage you to hang a nice chart on a wall in your home for all to see.

Here is a link to a company that I have used often and below that a picture of the tree I'm working on and the one my father filled out for me in the second grade.

Paper Tree at grillyourgranny.com

I am not sure why this last photo loads upside down, I have tried to turn it but keeps uploading upside down.  Crazy.

Anyway until next time happy hunting.
Kristina