The Family Research Folder is a manila folder in which research notes and documents are kept for one family. The names of the husband and wife are used on the label. For example: A Family Research Folder for your family should have your name and that of your spouse on it, and in it a copy of a birth certificate or other verification of your birth as well as that of your spouse, and your children. It should also contain a copy of your marriage certificate and any other documents needed to verify the names, dates, and places that appear on your family group record.

In addition to these documents there may also be a copy of your famly group record, a pedigree chart, copies of any letters which you write to obtain the documents needed for verification, and any maps you wish to include. There might also be an Index to Research Findings, a Research Log or Calendar of Search, and an Index to Correspondence in the folder. These three forms will be covered in more detail later on. (see Figure 1)

It is strongly recommended that the Index to Research Findings, the Research Logs, and the documents and research notes be fastened together by the use of some type of metal paper fasteners -- not staples -- so as to avoid losing some of the contents of the folder should it be dropped or tipped. Staples are not recommended because it is harder to add documents to papers that are stapled together than to papers that are fastened together with a metal fastener, and also holes may develop in the papers if they are repeatedly having staples put in and removed.

With all the research notes divided into family folders, each folder having all the notes and documents for one individual family unit, it becomes easier to determine what has been done and what should be done next.