Managing a Genealogical Project Updated Edition

by William Dollarhide

This work focuses on a particular method of organizing research materials. Its unique system of organization takes you from the preliminary stage of your research to the final presentation of your work as a report or a book. The system, an outgrowth of the Dollarhide System of Genealogical Records, enables you to manage a genealogical project with maximum ease and efficiency. The first section of the book covers the three basic types of the projects--pedigrees, lineages, and descendancies. The second section tells how to organize notes and keep paperwork to a minimum, while the third section shows the various methods of cross-referencing notes for purposes of retrieval and evaluation. Section four describes ahnentafel numbering, and section five descendancy numbering and the merits of the three main numbering systems--the Register, Record, and Henry systems--plus Dollarhide's own combined Ahnentafel/Henry numbering system. Then there is a section on the applications of computer software to the project and a section on diagramming techniques and methods of presenting a pedigree or descendancy in polished form. Finally there is a set of nine master forms to be used in this work, and they can be easily photocopied and used as often as needed. Updated in 1999, this edition of Managing a Genealogical Project features new material on computer software and CD databases.

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference

100 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1999

Reviews

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

William Dollarhide bridges the gap in this book between genealogical approaches that are too simple to account for all the collateral family members researchers are now admonished to document, and the frustration of trying to organize one's resulting massive paperwork without any logical system at all. He suggests coupling the Ahnentafel numbering system with the Henry numbering scheme as the way to keep all persons who are researched individually identified. Thank you Mr. Dollarhide. That hybrid, coupled with Sharon DeBartolo Carmack's 3x5 index card system and her simple color scheme separating each portion of the paternal and maternal families (and in my case including an adoptive branch as well) has energized my reorganization of genealogical materials. Carmack's ORGANIZING YOUR FAMILY HISTORY SEARCH does not review favorably Dollarhide's hybrid numbering system, but no one gets everything right all the time. Her book is equally invaluable in clarity and usefulness. Dollarhide lists 4 simple techniques for better organizing one's research results, concentrating on ones documents and notes first of all: Use only 8 1/2 x 11 sheets of paper in your files; separate everything by surname of interest; and then separate by surname and source location of the document or information found; and fourthly, "give every sheet a number so that an index to the records can be made." Best to read his book for his clarity of approaching what can be a most complex accumulation of documents, notes, and leads.

[Missy LeBlanc Ivey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some people might consider this a bit outdated, but, personally, I love this book. The blank templates at the back of the book are well worth any price today. Print off one and use as a template to print 100 more copies to write out your genealogical information the old-fashioned way. If this is your preference, then this book is definitely for you. This guy is one organized genealogy guru.

I'm still undecided. I love organizing my files and printing everything under the sun, and I know right where everything is. If you are a part of my family, I have a file on you...(lolol). But, I also am starting to computerize my documents. This doesn't mean I'll be throwing out my original documents...or any other documents for that matter. I simply don't trust a computer to never crash. And I don't trust backup drives because I lost two different drives AT THE VERY SAME TIME once. So, I'll keep my two 4-drawer filing cabinets. Thank you.

[Jerry Jares · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having done genealogy (off-and-on) for 35+ years, I have an unmanageable amount of paper; the file drawers, boxes, cases, bookshelves and rolling carts of documentation have taken over our home. Without a better system, I will never be able to organize the hundreds of thousands of bits of information into a story of our family.

Over the years, I have adopted a number of genealogical organization systems that seemed great at the time. However, my tree is now heading towards 10,000 members; previous schemes are unable to handle the load.

Thus, I eagerly paid for a copy of William Dollarhide’s book on genealogy organization.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Parts of this were potentially helpful, but parts of it were outdated enough that they were really not worth reading.

[Kim. E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anyone who has conducted genealogy research over the years quickly realizes that help is needed to organize the materials. Organization is needed to plan for a trip to the courthouse, historical archives, churches, etc. Catching names is not helpful if one doesn't know how that name plays a role in ones own research. Otherwise time is wasted. This book is one example of organization for genealogy. There are others and I would suggest reading several before settling on a system that works for your situation. I have combined suggestions from several authors, then made up a few forms that brought the best from others.

[mbm · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just reviewed this book and realized that he had some great ideas to help me look at my DNA matches. With DNA matches you are looking at your pedigree chart. Otherwise I do descendant research.

Look at Randy Seaver's blog for ideas on creating a DNA research plan and then create an ancestor table going back until you have your 32 grand parents (great, 2x great, 3x great). On the table add their locations and years and you will have a wonderful tool to research your DNA!

Old school meets new school

[Pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Getting genealogy files in a manageable system is a very difficult process for those new to Genealogy. This book is helpful in discussing different ways to manage the information but it still is challenge for me.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this quite helpful, particularly the suggestion of a mixed numbering system which works rather well.

[Phil James · Rating 2 out of 5]

Note: published 1988-1995. Fairly basic, at this point.