Beginning my Family Genealogy for the Last Time

In the last thirty years I've started my genealogy research at least four times. And for the umpteenth time I’m starting again, but this time I'm planning ahead and organizing as I go.  I'm sure there are myriad ways of doing this but I've found one that works for me. 

Managing a Genealogical Project by William Dollarhide is the step-by-step, practical guide I needed years ago.  This book, along with Genealogy Starter Kit by Dollarhide, is extremely useful for forms, instructions, and research suggestions.

All too often I know I have unique family records....somewhere.

With Dollarhide's suggestions I am organizing those records so I CAN find them when I want them and then easily return them to where they belong.

Not only does Dollarhide's Manage book explain the different types of genealogy projects that can be done; it gives sample forms for each. The most helpful part of the book for me was Section 2: Collecting References and Solving the Paper-collecting Problem. From Dollarhide’s suggestions I created a personalized pre-printed form for every piece of evidence supporting my family research.  I now have a notebook for every family surname and within that the names are sorted by place. Every page has an index number using the Ahnentafel Numbering system (German for ancestor table.) 

I use a pedigree chart with me as #1, my dad is #2, and mom is #3. I then number their parents in the same fashion starting with dad's dad as #4, dad's mom is #5, mom's dad is #6, mom's mom is #7 and so on back through the years. This forms the basis for my Ahnentafel Numbering system for indexing. 

For now, that's enough to get me going again on my family history. If you're stuck or starting over, I highly recommend William Dollarhide's down-to-earth booklets on Managing a Genealogical Project and Genealogy Starter Kit. I found them through my local library.

Use Mid-Continent Public Library's forms

I also recommend downloading Mid-Continent Public Library's genealogy forms.  I've used several different forms through the years but MCPL’s seem the most practical to me.  Download yours free by going to http://www.mymcpl.org/genealogy/family-history-forms.  With Dollarhide’s advice and MCPL’s forms your family research just got easier.