Dear Gang.... Blushing.....Was amazed at the number of people that replied to my idea of the expandable folder (PS...buy the PLASTIC ones...they last longer) and the spreadsheets. Since a couple of people asked if I had anymore ideas, this is how I handle the "notebooks". I keep hearing about everyone keeping stuff in "Folders in files"...well I want it where I can SEE it all.... For my "small" families that fit in one binder, I print out a family "outline" for the first few pages, then print out a family group sheet for each person that I have "notes" on or that have children. (I also keep a copy of those spreadsheets that I made in the folder...for those times that I do take the entire folder to the library LOL) For example....my Spellman family outline prints out to 3 pages (but it includes my main "Cotten" line which is in another book) I put all pages (back to back in plastic protection sheets. (when I reach an area in the outline that is for another line that I am researching, I use a label to "See other Family File" on that group sheet. Okay....My first group sheet has Michael Spellman and his wife and children listed. He is my "oldest" ancestor for this group. The "group page" faces front and on the back is the "Notes" page for Michael Spellman. Then in the following pages, I have a copy of his death cert (Facing front) and a "typed" copy of what it says since copies are sometimes so hard to read (Facing back), a copy of his obit and a typed version of it, copy of his wife's death cert, typed copy, obit, typed copy. Of course, put in Birth certs, land deeds etc.... Next, Michael and Julia had 2 children (aren't I lucky...kind of small family for 1870) I then put a TAB at the side, up near the top of each protective sheet that is the same COLOR (to show they are siblings) I got the kind of tabs that are self adhesive, plastic and comes in colors so that I can use groups of colors for each generation. So Michael and Julia have BLUE TABS at the closest area to the top on the side. I put all their information like I did for Michael's. (If I have information on say a spouse's parents, but not "tracing that line yet", I include it in their group. Now, I flip to the end of the FIRST child's area (leaving the second childs area facing me, but I will be working on the FIRST CHILD'S children and placing their information on top (It comes out like the outline) I use a DIFFERENT color tab for each of his/her children and place it the length of the tab BELOW the area where a first one might have been...this allows you to "see" the second tab below the "parents". For example, John and Mary are Blue, the children of John AND the children of Mary are in Yellow (but are found after each parent's groups sheets and information. In each tab, I put the person's name and Date of birth. and continue like this, after putting in all that person's children, then I flip back to the first person's children and go to the second child he has and put that person's children. This way you KNOW by feeling for the next higher up tab WHO is that person's parents (Or the ones below it that are the children)....the other advantage...it a shows by same color that they were born around same "time frame" and also they are 2nd generation, or 3rd generations etc... There are "Labels" that I use to apply to the front of a plastic protector sheet when I want someone to know that there is additional material elsewhere...for example, in my Spellman book, when you turn to the page where my grandparents are, you will find a label next to my grandmother's name that says: SEE STENGER FAMILY. When you turn to the page with my parents on it, it says next to my dad's name: SEE COTTEN FAMILY. Now, my HINTON family is HUGE! dates back to England in 1070!!! (Sorry gang, didn't find all that research by myself!) I divided this into several books. One book has ONLY the ENGLAND Hinton's. The next book has the American Hintons. (Since I am still in the process of compiling all the information I have on these people, I have a feeling I will be subdividing the American Hinton's into the STATES that these Hinton's were from.) If I haven't received alot of correspondence from people and can keep it in the same notebook, I put the "email letters" that I printed out from ONE person in ONE protective sheet cover and place a "clear colored" tab with their name and connection on it. (In my file cabinet is where I keep the "not related.....YET! letters that I want to hold onto to correspond with later). My Hinton and Guice lines are so huge, that the correspondence and information received goes in one binder by itself LOL Another thing......I have an address book that I made out of a small notebook, that is about 4 X 5 inches and spiral bound. I used "tiny" adhesive tabs to divide it into my "names" and made an address book that includes the person's name, email address, mailing address and phone #, and HOW they are connected. Whew....sorry this is soo long! Lisa