INOWEN-L Archives

From: "Debbie Jennings" <>
Subject: [INOWEN] Organizing your Mail Files and Information
Date: Sat, 12 Aug 2000 16:36:28 -0500

I operate alot with floppys in addition to my paper files.
I have mail folders divided with each major surname and then one for
miscellaneous to catch all the smaller lines.
Then I have a few other mail folders:
1. General Info--this is for all those postings of an informational nature
as in where to find this or that, and info regarding old occupations,etc.Any
reference material I might recheck.
2. Tidbits--this is for any items of an unusual nature such as websites with
chronicles of pioneers, age calculators, any out of the ordinary stuff.Any
worthwhile tips for research I find go in here.
3. Lookups--this is for anyone who has done lookups for me in certain areas.

I have a mail folder for non-connecting persons, ( at least at this point in
time).
I have a mail folder for queries I have sent and then I delete them once I
recieve a satisfactory response.
I repost them later if I don't get a response,this way they are all typed
up.

NOW, with this all said....
As I read my mail or scan it, all the mail can be placed into the
appropriate file folders.Some I answer right then, others I just put in the
folders.After I have gone through the mail (about 250 a day) then I go back
an answer any unanswered ones.
About every other day, I sit down and go through all those folders.
I have floppys for each family surname(all of them not just the main ones);
one for info,one for tidbits,one for nonconnecting; then I maintain some for
persons I correspond with on a regular basis.
I also have a floppy for each state that I do alot of research in--this one
I use for any county info or maps,etc.
I have floppys for the following categories:
burials,marriages,maps
I then take all those mail folders and place the items on the correct
floppy.I in that way can:
1.Keep my items in categories
2.Not waste ink printing
3.Get it off my computer in case of a crash.
About once every week or so, I take the box of floppys and go through them
and place the data from the onto my familytreemaker file where it
belongs.Whatever I can't place remains on the floppy.
As I check one I then return it to the box,UPSIDE DOWN
so I know I did that one.
I am fortunate enough to have a zip drive and periodically transfer items to
a zip disk. (I am working on obtaining a CD writer).I thereby empty those
floppys to reuse.
You would be amazed at the items that seemed so vital upon receipt, and then
when you look again just really don't fit.Now if I think they "might" later
I put it on the floppy for "non-connecting".
Ever so often I just get BRUTAL. I go through my floppys with the attitude
"I either place it or dump it".
This system may sound difficult but really isn't once you get the hang of
it.Once I set up the original amount of floppys within the categories I
mentioned above I never have to buy new ones as they recycle.
All the burials or marriages are on their own floppy so if I am searching
for one I don't have to think "who" as I know "where".
Next time:
The value of Non Connectiing Files


Debbie Jennings

"Following the footprints through time"

This thread:

• [INOWEN] Organizing your Mail Files and Information by "Debbie Jennings" <>