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Archiver > AUS-VIC-WESTERN-DISTRICT > 2006-12 > 1165021243


From: "Julie M Hopper" <>
Subject: Re: [AUS-VIC-WESTERN-DISTRICT] Good advice for family historians
Date: Sat, 2 Dec 2006 12:00:43 +1100
In-Reply-To: <001c01c71591$d06994d0$0d8806ca@deborahly2acqi>


Vicki, I could not agree more with your advice re keeping records.

When I first started family history research about nine years ago, I didn't
have any computer programmes to use, so I started by setting up a 'steam'
filing system. I just had to, as the notes and other papers that my mother
left when she died were in a state of total chaos. I had to sort things out
so that I had some idea of what was actually there! My mother's idea of
filing was to put things into old handbags and shoeboxes and shove them away
in the back of the wardrobe. I guess I should count myself lucky that she
even did that much...



The whole process of filing and sorting is tedious, I grant you, but making
the effort does pay off in the long run. Your precious items are stored
safely, and a workable filing system means you save time when you want to
look up some information.



Two things I have learned:

1. No matter how much information you have now, you will accumulate more -
never underestimate how much more.

2. If you find out something about an ancestor, write it down, make a note
of where you found it, and when - never overestimate your memory.

Good luck with the organising, but fear not, it does get easier as you plug
away at it - one thing you can do is start by organising everything broadly
according to surnames, starting with the earliest names you have, and
listing marriages under your family surname. Then you can refine the list
according to generations, and go from there. Some people say you should
start with yourself and work backwards, but I have found that the reverse
order worked best for me. My suggestion would be to sort out as much of this
stuff as you can before you attempt to put it into your software.

Cheers

Julie.



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