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Archiver > APG > 2003-12 > 1070470988


From: CynthiaSwope <>
Subject: Re: [APG] Cataloging Software
Date: Wed, 03 Dec 2003 09:03:08 -0800
References: <FFEBLNNBNENFDKOPJEBPEEPHEDAA.paulharris@nc.rr.com>




"Paul J. Harris" wrote:

> Hello List,
>
> Having said that, I would like to ask a question AND share a discovery.
> What, if any, software have you found to be truly effective in cataloging
> the MANY items that genealogists and family historians deal with, from books
> and manuscripts to artifacts, furniture, etc.?

Paul, long before I realized what a problem it would be, I started cataloging
stuff right on my tree, and I'm glad I've done it in the creative fashion I
used when I first switch to Reunion [i'm a mac user, and I use Reunion. Other
high end programs with large notation capacity and multimedia function can
handle the stuff the way I do on mine on Reunion] . My method works well for
me, and I suspect that it would work well for others too, and can be utilized
seperately from a "root Tree" itself, and given its own Family tree with an
appropriate name. I prefer to have it on my root tree. Either way, the method
allows one NOT to have to access an original transcription , or tome chapter
for a book, from among my piles of stuff, each time I want the information yet
again.

My method gives the Tree Index an unusual look , but it works for me when
particular documents , Chapter entries, and/or my own historical narratives
relate to more than one individual, ie, to a surname line, and / or region of
study, and I have, oh, I don't know, hundreds though of entries I have
catalogued this way, many with extensive information carefully sorted into
their subject category, portions of which may appear in another, seperately
maintained entry.

First, all this stuff that is not related to a person is given a person's place
in the tree, as an "unrelated individual". It's last name is always An
Historical Entry. Its first name is always. History of: _____. Either the first
name is place specific: Ie: History of: Virginia, Powhatan County, Land
Records, oror historically specific, ie, History of: Virginia, Powhatan
County, County Formation /History , or Family Surname ie: History of: Virginia,
Powhatan County, Howard Surname, Known Howards of all Census'. For Books I do
the same, example being . History of: Pennsylvania, York County Relevant, RUPP
, York Pages. Sourcing is completely available this way, as it is for all
individuals in Reunion, at each specific data entry. But it also allows for the
use of Multimedia [similaraly sourceable on Reunion].

As Reunion can handle alot of information in its notation field, I enter the
info there if I've transcribed it and/or cut and pasted it from an online
library [full sources of course are included]. If I scanned it, or If the book
was found in a subscription from an on line library and is NOT cut and
pasteable, then I copy it as an image. I then carefully catalog scans in the
graphics folder , but more importantly I place the scanned images FROM that
graphics folder into the multimedia folder of any entry to which they relate,
and they are easily available to me and indexed at the entry under the
multimedia folder in any of these "historical" entries on my tree.

When I go into the entire tree index by last name, as "An" (the first word in
An Historical Entry which is the used in the Surname field for these entries) ,
the entries appear right up there at the top where I want them, and the
specific content of these "folders" is easily identifiable by the first name
they are given. When perusing the index by first name, I merely go to the "H"s,
and look for all my History of: entries. If I want a book excerpt from
something regarding Pennsylvania, I just go to History of: [first name] and
look at History of: Penna and all my entries under there.

When the information for any individual leads me to want information thus
catalogued, I mention in the individual's "research" line that more
information is available at History of: ____ AN HISTORICAL ENTRY and mention
the ID number assigned to it [as Reunion reads it as a person] along with the
name found in index.

For those who do not want to clog a tree with these entries, a seperate tree
can be created called Sources, Data, Documents, Book excerpts or what ever you
like. I don't see the need to spend the money on some program to catalog; It
works for me to catalog in this way, and I have many book excerpts, bible
entries, deed records, Wills involving MANY persons within it, etc, all
catalouged this way.

Cynthia

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