Long paper genealogy sheets; what to do with

Belva Wood

I've acquired from both my deceased parents all of their paper, long (yellow work sheets and white ones) genealogy sheets. I think they total a couple of inches thick!

My question is this: once I have made sure everything they have on these papers is entered into Family Search, should I keep these "once" important papers or can they now be shredded. My parents and their families were greatly dedicated to genealogy. It seems a shame to shred these papers, but then if it isn't necessary to keep they, why keep them?

Thanks for your help on this matter. Belva Wood

(Truly, I have my work cut out for me. This is NO small project to double check all these names and families!)

MNuttall

Hello, @Belva Wood.

You have posed a question about a topic that many of us are facing -- what do we do with all the paper now that we have a way to digitize everything?

There really isn't a once-size-fits-all answer. You may find as you go through the family group sheets one by one that all the information is in Family Tree. If all the details match up, you will have to decide if you can "live" without the paper copy. On the other hand, you may find the information in Tree differs from what you have in hand on the paper. Then you'll have to decide how to reconcile and proceed. That, in itself, may turn into a research project that you hadn't counted on having to conduct.

Another option would be to scan the paper and save to your computer or a thumb drive. Then, the paper could be destroyed. Of course -- what's going to happen with the scanned information? You may never look at that digital information.

So, the matter rests with you! Sorry, we're not much help here! Maybe you could enlist other family members to help with the checking? Divide and conquer?

Good luck and best wishes!

Sanra

Hi @Belva Wood

Another thought about those long genealogical record sheets. Someone down the line may be interested to know the work that their ancestors did for them, and how much easier it has become. It might help them to appreciate the ancestors efforts. Or maybe adding the information about those efforts in a Life Sketch would be an easier way to keep their additions to Family Tree noted.

Lots of choices involved in each of our family history journeys.

Much success in your comparing, and updating process.

Belva Wood

Thank you so much for your quick responses. You gave me several thoughts to ponder and ways to accomplish. I really do need to involve other family members in this project. They in turn will be blessed as well.

Thank you. Belva Wood

dontiknowyou

Another consideration is that the stack of papers likely contains two kinds of records:

1. Original works. Transcripts or notes about oral history conversations with older members of the family; photocopies of original documents examined that are not available in FamilySearch, or extracts or notes about them; personal letters, family newsletters, etc.
2. Derivative works. Anything extracted from a genealogy index, publication, or website. It includes most pedigree charts, trees, printouts from Find A Grave memorials written by others, etc.

Original works should be saved, perhaps by depositing it in the genealogy archive of a local history museum or archive. Derivative works probably can be discarded unless they are very high quality or have special meaning to you.

Dennis J Yancey

Have you considered scanning it?

and then uploading the scanned image to FS Memories?

Belva Wood

Thank you for your many ideas and suggestions!

MJ Enders

I personally like a paper/photo archive. But I also have a digital archive, online at FS and another cloud location, on hard drives, on thumb-drives, on computer. The beauty of digital is that fire, water and mold are usually not an issue.

Original paper copies are often more easily read than digital, that often has to be move and adjusted for viewing. There is something reverent about handling a written record penned by a parent, grandparent, great-grandparent that begs me to preserve it.

If you do choose to preserve paper records, talk to your local or state historical societies or state library about tips for conserving well. It makes no sense to store something so badly that it is destroyed.

I believe we all face this dilemma!