Storing BMD certificates

[chrisg]

Just wondered whether we can share our experiences of storing copies of certificates - everyone will have different ways of keeping a catalogue but wondered how to reference them once they have been obtained

Its something we all do and perhaps we have never discussed it before

Do you give them a reference code, keep them in clear plastic sleeves, scan onto your computer etc. I suppose the same goes with access to Census and Wills

Well, lets have examples of good practice please:)

Chris:cool:

[maggiefishblue]

Hi Chris,

I'm not sure whether what I do could be constituted as 'good practice' :rolleyes:

Anyway, here goes:

# BMD certificates are stored in plastic wallets in a large file - I have sectioned the file into Birth, Marriage, Death and I put the certs. in order according to family names and then ages within the names (if that makes sense!!)

# Photos are stored in a rather 'posh' album - parents first, then grandparents etc. - this is still a work in progress because I am still trying to identify some of my photos :D

# I have begun to draw up Family Trees of the basic family - one for each branch - I intend to reference them later so that I can draw the branches together - these are in a different folder from the certs.

# I have a FT disc onto which I add everything as I find it - similarly this is transfered to my Tribalpages tree on the web

I intend to write up my findings for my grandson - when I ever stop finding stuff ;) although I've come to the conclusion that that will be never and I should begin the writing process before I begin to lose my faculties :o

I'm looking forward to hearing how other folks store theirs :)

Maggie

Oh and I forgot to say - I have loads of bits of paper with stuff jotted down and a notebook with same - all waiting to be sorted ....

[kaye]

Hi Chris,:)

I don't go to too much trouble , mainly because I'm always searching and never seem to be able to allocate the time needed to catalog etc.

Basically every person has a folder, certificates, census and anything that is relevant, including history, gets scanned to my PC, printed off, noted on my Gedcom and any other tree I have online, then goes into it's owners folder.
(Certificates go into archival sleeves first)

That way I don't have to go through lists of certificates etc all I have to do is find the right folder and everything is there at my fingertips.

Wills and Military Records are large, can't scan them, but do get extra copies done, mainly for my sons.

My eldest son has a rather posh PC photograph program, so he does nice things with my photos, then sends them back to me, the originals are wrapped in archival paper (individually) because of our very high humidity here and only ever get checked out now and then.

Thats about all I do, one day I hope to complete the brief histories on direct ancestors that I started ages ago....really have to do something about that. :(

Kaye. :)

Oh yes, like Maggie I have far too many scriblings and notes that one day will have to be sorted, actually mountains of them, all shoved in a big box, with the lid tightly in place !

[chrisg]

Hi Kaye:)

many thanks for the information - really gives me clarity on approaches to take

-- not thought about looking for Wills - are you able to recommend a good web site?

Chris:cool:

[maggiefishblue]

Hi Chris,

A good place to begin when looking for wills is this one:

www.a2a.org.uk (http://www.a2a.org.uk)


Maggie :)

[kaye]

Hi Chris, :)

As Maggie said, A2A is an excellent place to start looking for Wills (lots of other things too)

I also have had great success by contacting the Local Studies of where the person died...they have always been so helpful, if they don't have the record of Probate, they usually tell you where you can get it.

I should imagine that your solicitor/lawyer ancestors would have made Wills.

Some info....After 1858

Postal searches cost £5 for a four year search and a copy of the will, with £3 for each extra four year period you want searched.

Postal searches can be made through the Postal Searches and Copies Department, The Probate Registry, Castle Chambers, Clifford Street, York, YO1 9RG.

Yesterday a contact that I have through GR, sent me a copy of an MI...Monumental Inscription...another way of 'finishing off' an ancestor.

Kaye.:)