In this video I walk you through creating a folder system on your Mac for genealogy files about places, such as city directories.
In later videos I’ll show you a powerful way to connect the files and folders in this genealogy folder system. It will help you know where to put files as your research uncovers them and to find them after they’ve been stored.
After following along you’ll be prepared to organize the files you have. Don’t worry about doing it all at once if you have a large collection of files about places. Just do a little bit at a time and eventually it’ll be done. The hardest part is getting started.
Download this video to your computer for your private use [available to members only (you choose the amount to donate)].
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- Genealogy File and Folder Organization System for Mac, Part 1
- Genealogy File and Folder Organization System for Mac, Part 3
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m researching family from areas that were part of Hungary before WWI and are now in Slovakia, Romania, and Ukraine. In some cases, there were even more changes (e.g. Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Ukraine). Any suggestions about how to label folders in such situations?
Vivian, thank you for the question.
I have some ancestors that immigrated from Prussia (modern-day Germany) so I understand the dilemma you face. I have created a new post and video to contain my recommendations and walk you through implementing them.
By the way, your site is beautiful!
—Ben
The video on adding folders for places was very clear but what type of a information do you put in the place folders?
I put files that are about the place, say photos of a location
associated with the family. The files can also be about several people
in the same place. Then I use aliases (in a subsequent screencast) to
have that one copy of the file appear to be in one or more surname
folders. For example, I have an excerpt from a 1949 Duluth, Minnesota
telephone directory that includes several of my PUGLISIs. I keep the
one “real” file in the places folder structure and aliases in the
folders of each named PUGLISI.
To me, the file management is always the most important aspect. Having committed to Reunion, I am at the stage of cleaning up the file management. This is my understanding on how the file system works:
Dump all the master pix and documents under the most appropriate people or place folder.
Then, as needed for a source, create a new “alias” file of the original as needed (say for a woman’s married name). This alias file will then have a source number referencing it to the married woman’s name.
Is this correct?
The best part of Reunion, in my opinion, is the support network.
Dawn
That’s right, Dawn. Thanks for the summary.
Hi Ben,
I started watching your video series on how to create files about a week ago and only got through a couple. Today I can’t seem to get them to work. Every time I click on the video link of one my screen just gets a bit darker and nothing else happens. help.
Hi, Veronica.
Thanks for reporting the problem. What browser are you using? What version? Is the problem still occurring?
—-Ben
>@<
I love your site. I wanted to know what do you put in a places folder I can’t seem to get anything anwered on this part.
Hi, Dawn. I think you’ve found that part 6 of this series addresses people and places. —-Ben >@<
no. I found part 2, I am still learning about ancestry and you mentioned a places folder and I want to know what do people generall use a place folder for, I search for an answer nothing definite. What I am asking, basicially is what sort of folders I need like a places, cemeteries, censuses, etc. bow tie charts etc.