Liverpool & South West Lancashire FHS - Forum

I have been collecting information on my various families for quite a bit. When I started to put my information in the folders it appeared to be quite easy, where you had a Family Group Sheet, then sheets for each individual family member. After a divider you then had the next generation with records filed in the same way and so on. Any BMD's kept in a separate folder with their RIN No. on it. (I use LDS site).
My problem is that when you have the family members marrying and having families of their own it makes the original way of keeping the family records more unwieldy.
Now that I have retired and have started to gather more records I would like to find a more efficient way of keeping paper form records.
How have other members solved this problem?
I really need a paper form of record, because recently I lost my hard drive, and sod's law meant that the back up did not work. I had done a lot of research which was lost because I did not have it in paper form.

I have 4 Elba Rado A4 size 4 ring binders with all paper records in individual plastic wallets to preserve them and make them easier to handle. I don't use any dividers I just have a title page for each file ie the surnames of paternal grandfather, paternal grandmother, maternal grandfather and maternal grandmother. I keep the different families in whatever order suits me.

I don't print everything only the essentials. I regularly take out stuff in order to add new stuff. I don't destroy any displaced print outs I keep them in a couple of reserve files. I also keep records in reserve files that I'm not sure about. I have a scan copy of every certificate. I also have 2 pen drives containing all my records just in case I have computer problems.


Blue

Something to invest in is acid free pockets, maybe not for your print outs but certainly for your certificates that have cost you a lot of money.

Thank you for the tips, Mary A and Blue. I definitely have the 4 folders.

My paternal grandfathers' folder is quite empty at the moment because I can't track his family at the moment; whereas my maternal grandmothers' one is bursting all over the place as I have gone directly back to 1600's with lots of branches and twigs shooting out everywhere.

I have recently started to go back earlier than 1700 with my maternal grandfathers records too with wills, 3-life leaseholds, tithe records.
My paternal grandfather came from Wales and I am back to 1800 with those families.

Can I just add some thanks for a link supplied in another post regarding emigration to Australia. I had been looking for my uncles' emigration in 1952. He went to Wollongong, NSW but although I was searching on Ancestry nothing came up. I found it on the Australian site - he had gone to Canberra first. I am not sure now where I saw the post to thank the individual.

Once again, thank you for your help, cheers

Sheila

The post is possibly this one http://www.forum.liverpool-genealogy.or ... 04&start=0 Dickiesam posted a link to Australian Records.

Yes, it was that one, I recognise the address now. It was really helpful. Thank you.

Sheila: Can I just add some thanks for a link supplied in another post regarding emigration to Australia. I had been looking for my uncles' emigration in 1952. He went to Wollongong, NSW but although I was searching on Ancestry nothing came up. I found it on the Australian site - he had gone to Canberra first. I am not sure now where I saw the post to thank the individual.

You are most welcome!