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Question: What genealogical filing system do you use/recommend!?
I want to give each of my relatives an I!.D!.# for filing and organizing hard copies of their data and cross-referencing, but I haven't found a ready made organization system I like!. Ahnentafel is fine for ancestors but hard to use for steps/siblings/half-siblings, etc!., though I do use a modification I've made called "Marital Ahnentafel" with a sort of decimal/letters type classification system (based on the SuDocs call numbers for government docs if you're familiar) that works pretty well, but before I adapt that I'm curious if there's a better one already out there!.
Thanks for any suggestions!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
I found Ahnentafel to work for me!. You sound very informed, and well read on the subject!. I read some books before coming across Ahnentafel and wasn't impressed by any of them!. Maybe you should publish your addendum!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
I use PAF software (Personal Ancestral File)!. Each ancestor is assigned a RIN (Record Index Number), each marriage a MRIN!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
I use the simple numbering system, where a person is #1, his/her father #2, the mother #3 and so on!. This would work well with step- or half-siblings, as you could use a number to indicate who belongs to whom!.
I have so many ancestors that I call doubles, triples, etc!., meaning that they had more than one child or grandchild who became an ancestor; one I really liked, a g-g-g-g-g (!?) grandmother, married, had several children (2 who became ancestors), her husband died, she re-married, had several more children, 3 of whom became ancestors!.
Another fun example: 2 g-g-g-g-g (!?) grandmothers had the same name, born the same month and year!. One married and moved to Germanna, Virginia; the other remained in Germany, but, boy, did it confuse me for awhile, same name, same birth date and place of birth!.
I type all of mine into a wordprocessing document, as none of the programs I have found allow for folks to have different surnames from their father, let alone a different surname than their brother, or for no surname at all, or will handle those situations above, or go back more than 100 generations!.
I type in name, generation number for that branch, date/place of birth/baptism/whatever/marriage/death and notes, such as occupation, title, etc!., for the father, then sources, then the same for the mother, with the children listed after the mother's info!.
By using the numbering system, it is easy to see such situations as my grandmother who married twice (all of her children would be step-siblings, such as you mentioned!.
P!.S!. Ahnentafel is a German word for ancestors; I use that term for going up (that is, father to grandfather, etc!.)Www@QuestionHome@Com
Suggestions may be a different direction than you expect, however for the sake of thinking-
the best system, in my opinion!.!. is one that any reasonable person can understand almost immediately, if you are not there to explain!. If you have to explain it!.!. or if you suddenly were hit by a car!.!. it is too complex!.
ALL my files are in standard format, ie family group sheets!. Filed alphabetically per the husband's last name!. Cross references are where the parent's names are shown, and names of spouses for the children!. 3 ring binder!. If it makes it easier to use one binder for Mom's ancestry, vs Dad's ancestry!.!. that is cool!. For me, "binder 1" is from MY KIDS!.!. with a pedigree chart serving as the index/ table of contents!. Once it goes to the 4th generation, that person branches into their own notebook, assuming I have enough info to justify it!. As for showing 1/2 siblings or step siblings on pedigree charts or desc!. charts!.!. no, it does not do that!. Simply because they are not designed to, and I am not trying to create a chart showing each person in my files!. Nothing stops me from maintaining a family group sheet for someone unrelated, where these kids show up!. If I need a separate sheet for notes/ sources!.!. the person's name is enough for me!.!.!. but normally, notes relating to a family group sheet are at the bottom!.
IF a document includes info to more than one family member!.!. I can id the record by surname and consecutive numbers!. All documents then can be filed as well in a binder, and in order!. The document name/number is the note id on the group sheet!.
You mention hard copy!.!. but I personally think Personal ancestral file is a very reliable program!. It assigns numbers!. I don't even use those numbers!.!. but you could use those, if you had the program!.
If you are the analytical type who likes to design a system!.!. then you can do that, because it is what you enjoy!. My point of view comes from emphasis on the content of the records, AND using a system that is lowest common denominator, so to speak!. We all do what fits our needs!. Just thought I would share my approach!.Www@QuestionHome@Com