Recording Those Important Events...Paper

One of the first things to think about is where to store the items you have collected once you have recorded them.

Over the years I have found that the D-Ring binders are the best for keeping papers and documents without getting crushed as you put them into the binders. They come in various sizes and colors so pick one that you feel will hold the records you have collected.

I use plastic sheet covers for all those important documents and papers. This helps to preserve them over time and will hold up through the various cycles life throws at us like moving, children, grandchildren, etc. 

As you begin, perhaps the first thing to begin filling out is a simple Family Group Sheet that contains all the information about your own family first and then each of you as children for a total of 3 Family Group Sheets. Here is a sample of one.

As Your family grows you can easily add the children, if you are not married, filling one in with you as a child will do followed with one for each of your parents as children. Here is a link to print one out to fill out.  This is from the series Ancestors and it will work just fine for someone starting out and wanting to take the time to get things recorded. Be sure to write down where the information came from right from the beginning, its a habit I wish someone had told me when I first began. There is a notes section on the back where this can be done easily.

The second form worth mentioning is an ancestral chart or a pedigree chart. Here is a sample:

Don't be alarmed at not being able to fill this one out completely...

This is just the beginning of your journey and no one knows all the ancestors when just beginning unless someone in your family has already done some research. 

If that is so, it would be worth your while to get a copy of their information to add to your files.

This achieves 2 things, it lets that relative know that someone else in the family is interested in family history and by providing you a copy, they now have created a back up in case something happens to their records! Kimberly Powell from About.com provides one for easy download here.

These are two most common forms/charts that are used to put family information as you collect it from other documents. 

Hopefully these two forms will help you to get organized as start to build your own family history!

Next article will discuss using software instead of paper, however, it is wise depending on your circumstances to do both.

Comments are always encouraged and welcome!

Building Bridges for All Generations!

Claire (*)
Timeless Genealogies
We're Your Family is "No. 1"

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