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Having a mountain of genealogy records, ephemera, and photos is a nice problem to have. Ever wonder how you could organize your genealogy discoveries without going crazy?
After traveling to Columbus, Ohio for a genealogy trip, I was amazed at the volume of family history I obtained. In 2012, I said I had enough information to keep me busy for years. I was not kidding. Seven years later, I’m still not processing the discoveries.
I know, I know. Many people will say, “If only I had this problem.” Well, this is a blessing and a curse.
Back then, I didn’t know how I would process all of the photos, stories, documents, and new discoveries while keeping up with all the additional information coming in. I still struggle, but there are a few things I have learned about organizing and stopping to breathe every now and then during the avalanche seasons.
What’s Your Genealogy Organization Style?
The question for you will be, how involved do you want your organization process to be? Andy and I differ dramatically in our organizational style.
Two genealogists discuss how they organize their genealogy.
Begin Organizing Your Genealogy Discoveries
The first step to becoming more organized involves labeling photos! I can’t say this enough. Label your photos. I made this video explaining the process if you want to learn more.
Photo organization is essential for genealogists.
Once your documents, photos, and more are digitized, you’ll need to organize that information. I have a digital file organization system that you might like. Check it out here:
Genealogy Software Suggestions
Next, you’ll want to find a genealogy software program. I currently use RootsMagic. Here are a few reasons why:
RootsMagic is my favorite genealogy software. Learn why.
Create and Sync Online Trees to Organize Genealogy Records
If you have never organized your family history information, you’ll need to organize your research using a genealogy program (such as RootsMagic) and online trees (like FamilySearch and Ancestry).
Follow this workflow:
Add yourself to the FamilySearch Family Tree until you reach your deceased ancestors in the worldwide tree.
Download no more than 10 generations. I recommend only six generations so as not to overwhelm my computer. You can always download more later
Upload the file from RootsMagic to Ancestry.com using the Sync feature.
With this structure in place, you can add your digitized home resources.
Discover the process for keeping your online family trees in sync.
You can seamlessly transfer your genealogical information from Ancestry.com to both RootsMagic and FamilySearch. This process is confusing if you have already created a family tree on these platforms. RootsMagic can help you manage your family history research across multiple sites.
Listen as RootsMagic developer Bruce Buzbee explains why syncing between FamilySearch and Ancestry is challenging.
Get Started Organizing Your Genealogy Files Today!
Hopefully, you’ve found nuggets of wisdom to implement into your organizational system. Get started today! You’ll be glad you did.