In this modern world of electronic genealogy research and record keeping, it may seem strange to say that low tech methods of keeping records are still needed. It’s true, though. You should always have backups of your research in places other than your computer. What would happen to all of your research if your computer crashed due to a virus, electrical surge, or mechanical issue? Would you be able to get all of that valuable data back? Keeping your data regularly backed up onto an external hard drive ensures there is always an electronic copy available. But even that isn’t enough to keep the integrity of your research secure. You might not always have access to a computer to plug the external hard drive into, or the grid might go down for who knows how long. By using low tech methods of record keeping alongside your electronic ones, you can always be sure your valuable genealogical research is safe.
Here are some of the most effective and organized methods of using low tech record keeping in your genealogical research...