Now that you have completed your filing of materials that were directly related to a particular family group behind those specific Family Group Record numbers, you can file any miscellaneous completed Research Planners, abstracts, notes, copies, etc., that do not tie in at the moment to a specific family group under either surname, locality, or miscellaneous tabs.

These surname, locality, or miscellaneous tabs may be filed either behind the numbered tabs, or in a separate three-ring notebook. If you file them behind the numbered tabs currently, as your records expand, they can easily be removed from the main notebook and put into a separate notebook or two. One notebook could then be labeled "Locality Files" and another notebook could be labeled "Surname Files."

Eventually many of the papers in the locality and surname files transfer over to an family group numbered tab as you determine how those people relate to your family. They also represent documents you have already searched so you don't need to redo those records again for the same surname. Sometimes you determine you need to study them because you have learned of a new spelling variation.

If the locality tabs become too big to look through in a matter of a few minutes, then subdivide the locality. For example, you might start with a Virginia file. But soon it might take many minutes to go through every paper. Divide it by "Virginia, Census indexes", then "Virginia, Land Records", and then "Virginia, Biographies" if those sources contain multiple surnames in the same index search.

If those Virginia sources were all for one surname, they can be filed under your surname tabs with record type subdivisions, if there are too many to place under one surname. You can modify the filing as you wish, but be sure to set the rules, put the rules in the front of your notebook, and follow your rules.

Below is a sample of surname tabs for Lovell, Lowry, Lynch, Markland, and Martin Families using the beige archival tabs. Below that is an example of the Brown Family subdivided by localities using plastic colored tabs:

		BROWN—VA, Henry Co
	BROWN—OH, Warren Co
BROWN—CA, Monterey Co

Remember this Rule of thumb:

Break down documentation whenever you cannot find something quickly.

Mixed surnames on the same page of a compiled history, a census or book index, and other combined locality sources would be kept under tabs by locality, so you could also have colored (or beige) tabs labeled, for example:

VA, Pittsylvania Co
				VA, Henry Co
			OH, Warren Co
		OH, Hamilton Co
	CA, San Joaquin Co
CA, Monterey Co

Once an item has been determined to apply solely to one Family Group Record, however, file that item behind the specific family group record number so you can find the source documents on each person quickly.

By setting up such a computer-indexed notebook, your genealogy computer program and your filing system will help in your analysis. Your computer program cannot assist in your analysis if it doesn't have all the facts. Therefore, don't forget to add everyone to your database from your family materials. Do not just limit your database to those people you have proven. Let the program help you find the missing clues.