PERSONAL GENEALOGY STYLE SHEET
----EXAMPLE---Gold Standard is equal to original record; no transcription, abstract or index entry
STYLES
 MONEY: Show amounts with $0.00, $6700.00; English pounds = 5-pounds
 NUMBERS: 1-10=spell out; 11 on=express as number
 CODES:
o About or circa = c or s; No apostrophes in plurals of years- 1890s, not 1890’s
o bpt = Baptism
o b = Birth Date
o bp = Birthplace
o bu = Burial
o Cem = Cemetery
o Country: ire = Ireland; it = Italy; GER = Germany; US = United States
o State = two digit postal code
o Co = County = co
o twp = Township
o Sr = Senior; Jr = Junior; No periods
o e = edited, retouched, enhanced, changed
o c = cropped, zoomed in portion of document
o w = resized for web
o t = thumbnail
o n = notation added (arrow, circle, name – person, place)
o m = master; original; archive
o e = edited, enhanced
o c = cropped
o x = copy
o w = web
o t = thumbnail
o n = notation added
o f = front
o b = back
 DATES: Genealogical style = day, month, and full year, 05 Jul 1916
 NAMING CONVENTIONS: Documents, Photos
o Use spaces, hyphens, underscore
o Capitalize first letter of names, locations, records
o Run words together
o Use abbreviations: co, twp, cem, dist, IRE
o Use sequential numbering schemes: p1, p2
o Avoid useless repetitive words: photo, census
o DO NOT USE / \ : ; ? % * # “ < > .
 INTERPRETATION & ANALYSIS: [name correction or relationship description]
 PAGES: p = page
 SCANNED IMAGES: 300 dpi for .tiff; 600 dpi for .jpg
 WORKING PROCESS
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Decide on folder/file naming scheme
Record on personal Genealogy Style Sheet
Scan all of paper records - file format, resolution
Archive paper records
Delete, filter, prune irrelevant files
Organize what’s left
a. Backup scanned images – Master/original
b. Extract information from image/add to genealogy program
c. Attach the images to facts in genealogy database
• Use tools like Evernote or OneNote to capture notes, ideas, or to-do lists,
correspondence, requests, etc.
• Repeat steps 3-7 for photos
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Record Sets
Resource List
Cemetery, Burial, Funeral Home
Bibliography, Articles
Census
Book Notes
Church, Baptism, Christening
Correspondence
City Directory
County/State History
Local History
DAR
Court
DNA
Family History
Forms
Maps
Genealogy Research for Others
Land, Property, Deed
Genealogy Societies
Letters
Maps
Employment
Oral History Questions
Immigration, Naturalization, Passenger List
Research h Calendars
Military and Pension
Seminar, Presentation, Webinar Notes
Newspaper
Surname Notes
Obituary
Timelines, Chronologies
Probate and Wills
Vital Records: Birth, Death, Marriage
Voter Registration
Tax List
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BIRTH File Name
Farthing, William_b24Aug1889_Bethany, Harrison, M
Farthing, William_b1838_Pittsylvania, VA
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BIRTH - NEWSPAPER ANNOUNCEMENT File Name:
Farthing, William_b24Aug1889_Bethany, Harrison, MO
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BIRTH – FAMILY MAILED ANNOUNCEMENT File Name
Farthing, William_b24Aug1889_Bethany, Harrison, MO
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BAPTISM: File Name
Parker, Sean Patrick_20May1914_bpt
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CENSUS
1810-1830 Census:
William Stratton, listed as head of household, was living in Scottville township, Powhatan
County, Virginia. The area is near the James River, east of present day Richmond. His household
included:
Free White Males - Under 10: 1 [Robert Stratton]
Free White Males - 10 thru 15: 2 [Matthew and Thomas Stratton]
Free White Males - 16 thru 18: 1 [Peter Stratton]
Free White Males - 16 thru 25: 2 William and James Stratton]
Free White Males - 45 and over: 1 [William Stratton]
Free White Females - Under 10: 1 [Anna Stratton]
Free White Females - 26 thru 44: 1 [Sarah Stratton]
Number of Persons - Engaged in Agriculture: 12
Slaves - Males - Under 14: 6
Slaves - Males - 14 thru 25: 1
Slaves - Males - 26 thru 44: 3
Slaves - Females - Under 14: 3
Slaves - Females - 14 thru 25: 2
Slaves - Females - 26 thru 44: 2
Free White Persons - Under 16: 4
Free White Persons - Over 25: 2
Total Free White Persons: 8
Total Slaves: 17