> What is the "standard" for the filing system to genealogy paperwork? > > I know that when a woman gets married, you still maintain copies by > her maiden name. So then, how do you file them - by the initial of > her maiden name or with her husband's name? Perhaps you make 2 > copies - one for her and one for the husbands file. Also do the > children get filed with their parents even after marriage or do they > get a separate file? Hoping for an easy solution :o) > > (nothing is easy in genealogy tho) > > Nancy <nposs1936@yahoo.com> Yes, the bottom line is 'do what works for you,' but I suspect you'd like some ideas about what others do in order to select what might work. My cousin keeps all the copies of her census records by year and alphabetical by family surname within that year. I prefer to keep my census with the head of household name and a copy in the files of others in the home if I think I might not connect them with the head of household (m-in-law for example). I use a color for the family and am as consistent as possible with my notebooks, file folders, etc. I also color code in my database. When I get rather far back, it is hard to find enough colors, so I've had to repeat, but I started with warm colors for Mom's side and cool colors for Dad's side and I try to follow that. Not perfect and maybe a little obsessive, but it helps me to visualize where things might be. As I move further back in a line, I keep the papers in the file with of my direct line to those parents and include the sibs until I get enough to start their own family folder. Then I move the sibs into the parents' file unless I'm interested and have enough to give them their own file. Basically, I'm organizing the way I think about my lines and trying to keep the tools (like folders color coordinated) working to reinforce the way I see the line in my minds eye. What I am thinking of doing is writing on the front of every file what I have found and notes of what I need to look for so that I can tell at a glance where I'm at. Wish I had thought of that when I started. OH, and within each folder I try to keep the papers in the same order, birth certificates first etc., and will include sub folders for each immediate family member. I fail at this a lot. Not very scientific, but I thought I'd share how I made my choices. I still struggle sometimes with where to put something and, when in doubt, make copies to include in my alternative choices. Hope this helps some SHARON Zingery <szingery@sbcglobal.net>