You will need to setup an organizational system in whatever way works best for you and your research behavior. In fact, it’s best if you have copies of all your records in both physical format and digital format. We suggest having them make both a digital copy and a physical photocopy. You may have to bring items that are difficult to copy yourself, like bound journals or scrapbooks, to a professional copy center. I’ve found people are much more likely to let you make a quick copy while in their presence than to let you take a precious photo or family document. My preferred method is the mobile scanner, as you can make digital copies on the go (with a laptop) without having to borrow documents. Invest in a flatbed scanner / printer, or a mobile scanner, or take your documents to a copy center or library with a copy machine. Even if you were able to keep the original file, like your parent’s marriage certificate, you’ll want to make a photocopy that you can easily reference during your research and keep the original safely stored to prevent damage. Now it is time to make copies of all the records you have found so far. If you do not have any records in your home or your relatives homes, skip ahead to step 4. Ask for help identifying everyone in photographs, and keep detailed notes about what you find and who to contact if you have more questions, or if you need to return anything later. As you look through the records, do your best to keep the originals in the same condition or better.
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