Genealogy Research Cards: A 3x5 and 4x6 Card System for Family History

Genealogy research cards turn family history work into a neat card system. Instead of yet another full page workbook, each ancestor, search and record gets a card of its own. Cards are sized exactly to 3 x 5 in and 4 x 6 in index cards, with crop marks. Across 30 undated pages you get nine designs in both sizes, lined backs, 30 questions for interviewing family and six dividers by record type, all as US Letter and A4 PDFs.

It is an instant download. Nothing is shipped, so you print and cut the cards at home.

How genealogy research cards keep your findings organized

Every person has an Ancestor card for birth, marriage, death, places, parents, spouse and children, and every couple has a Family group card with room for up to six children. A single ID number ties them together. Ahead of a research day, plan on a Research to do card. Record each search on a Research log card, including the empty ones, and give each record you find a Source citation card noting the archive, call number, page and names mentioned.

Tough puzzles go on a Brick wall card listing what you know, what you have tried and ideas still to test. Family interview cards save older relatives' stories before they fade. Kept in a card box, everything can be sorted by surname and rearranged as new facts appear, and you reprint only the cards you use.

Who these family history cards are for

• Beginners building a family tree who want a simple system from the first ancestor on
• Family historians with notes scattered over notebooks, printouts and sticky notes
• Anyone hoping to interview parents or grandparents and save their memories
• Researchers who would like a card box they can carry to libraries, archives and courthouses

Card sizes, design and printing

• A quiet, minimal style: white backgrounds and gentle blush pink touches that are easy on ink
• Wide margins all around so a home printer does not trim anything
• Crop marks show the exact trim size: the 3 x 5 in card (7.6 x 12.7 cm) fits three to a page and the 4 x 6 in card (10.2 x 15.2 cm) fits two, on either US Letter (8.5 x 11 in) or A4 (210 x 297 mm) paper
• Undated, so the cards work in any year
• The lined backs match the fronts when printed double-sided with flip on the long edge
• This is a sortable, portable card system, separate from the full page Family Tree Workbook also sold in the shop

Inside the 30 pages of genealogy research cards

1. 1Cover and contents
2. 2Guide to the system in five steps (start with you, group, plan, search and log, cite), a chart of what each card is for, how to number ancestors, how to set up the box, a checklist for each research day and helpful rules
3. 3Printing, cutting and setup in four steps, the two card sizes, a list of supplies and a page finder
4. 4 to 12Nine designs at 4 x 6 in, two on each sheet with crop marks. Ancestor card: full name, birth, marriage, death and burial with places, job, both parents, spouse, a second spouse, 5 children and ticks for proof found. Family group card: two partners, each with birth date, birthplace and death, the wedding, and 6 children with birth, death and who they married. Research log card: 8 rows recording the date, the place you searched, which record, the result and notes. Source citation card: title, 8 record types, archive, call number or film, author, page or item, record date, place, names in it, a summary and format. Research to do card: your goal and 7 tasks, each with a place to look, something to ask or order and a done box, plus fees and follow up. Brick wall card: the question, solid facts, attempts so far, ideas to test, possible helpers and status. Life timeline card: 8 rows for year, age, event, place and source. Surname index card: surname, spelling variants, origin and 7 people with birth, death, parents and ID number. Family interview card: the person, how they are related, date, place, the question, their answers, names mentioned and follow up
5. 13Lined back for 4 x 6 in cards with lines for source and ID
6. 14 to 22All nine designs again at 3 x 5 in, three to a sheet with crop marks
7. 23Lined back for 3 x 5 in cards
8. 24Three interview cards at 3 x 5 in holding 30 questions on childhood and home, names and family, and work, life and moving
9. 25 to 27Six tabbed record dividers at 4 x 6 in: vital records, census, church, military, immigration, land and wills
10. 28 to 30The six record dividers again at 3 x 5 in

Files you download

• US Letter PDF of the Family History Research Cards, 30 pages
• A4 PDF of the Family History Research Cards, 30 pages
• Read Me First, a short PDF printing guide

How to download and print

• Check out with PayPal, a debit or credit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. Your download page opens as soon as the payment goes through.
• We email the same private download links to you, so you can download your files again later.
• Open the PDF in a free reader such as Adobe Acrobat Reader and print at 100% or Actual size.
• Print only the pages you need, as often as you like, for your own personal use.

Good to know

• The cards are a PDF for printing and cutting at home. No printed cards are sent.
• It is a digital download only, so no physical item is shipped.
• Printed colors may differ slightly from your screen.
• Personal use only. The files may not be shared, resold or passed on.
• Digital files cannot be returned. If one does not open or print correctly, email us and we will help right away.

How this was made

Designed and written by PetiteDiary. AI tools helped draft parts of the text, and some background scenes in the preview images were created with AI. Every page was designed, reviewed and checked before release.

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