In chapter 2 of my guide, Planting Our Trees, I briefly share how to physically and digitally organize all those wonderful sources: documents, photos, trees and so much more that you gather along the way.
Why should you even bother to organize?
It makes it much easier to go back to find what you’re looking for your research and also to share it with other people.
When you know where things are placed, you signal to your body that you’re safe and reduce your stress and cortisol levels even for something as small as organizing documents (how often have you misplaced place your glasses or keys only to feel a surge of stress)?
It’s all about creating a sense of ease even in something as mundane as organization. And once you do it, it starts to get easier like anything else.
While it’s important to tay organized, I also think it’s also important you do it in a way that feels good and organic to you. All of our brains work differently. I don’t want you to feel like you have to be put into a box.
What I’m sharing is a simple way to get started with organizing. Like any good creative, it’s important to know some of the basic rules before you can break them ;-)
Having both physical folders and digital ones ensures that your documents are more safe, PLUS, it makes retrieving what we want to get that much easier. Focus on one method to get started. No need to overwhelm
Physical Folders
This is great especially when you’re handed tons of documents from other family members or you unearth your grandfather’s oath of citizenship. You can also print and store what you’ve found online during your research. Start simply with a manilla folder or filing system, using one folder to one family. This includes parents & children (not cousins or grandparents, etc.)
Inside you can include, but not limited to:
Family Trees
Photographs
Original or photocopies of records
Notes
Letters
Digital Folders
Keeping a digital store system creates a secure and easy way to track and store all those amazing things you are unearthing, especially when you find documents or photographs online! Less printing, more unearthing (and better for our environment!) It’s helpful so you can scan older documents and preserve them longer digitally. You can use platforms like Google Drive or Dropbox.
Once you’ve decided on what platform to use, this is where you can create the different folder
You can break it down using this system like in the image below or make up your own. Whatever feels organic to you! But you can use this as a starting point.
Just like the physical filing system, you can work with the onefolder-for-one-family system.
But as you get deeper into your roots, the more families there are and the more folders there are. This can get a bit tough to keep track of. If you get to that point (and if you do, way to go! Keep going!) I’d suggest starting with your parents’ surnames or of the surnames of the family or families you’re researching.
For example, your mom’s side are the Cohens & your father’s side are the Goldbergs. Name one folder “Cohen” and another “Goldberg". Any folder you make, big or small, create the additional sub-folders you see in the image to the right. As you go deeper into the tree, you can create more folders for those other families on that side of the family. ‘
That’s all!
It’s as simple as that. Start with ONE method that feels good for you, the one that makes you feel the least stressed and the one that helps you to focus on sharing your ancestors’ stories more. I hope this little quick tip was helpful for you, and that you move forward with your research with a sense of ease.
If you want to go deeper with your research and create a sense of wellbeing while doing it, I invite you to check out my guide: Planting Our Trees, on Amazon.