If this is your first attempt at cataloging history, gather any hard copies of works, records or family history that you may have. This historical information can be in the form of family photos, postcards, diaries, newspaper clippings and legal certificates for marriages, births, deaths and other events. Develop a working draft family tree, which will help outline and direct your research.
Decide how thorough you wish to make your history catalog. Review some catalogs that are already built and maintained by reputable sources such as genealogical libraries, local libraries and historical societies. Viewing other catalogs will help you decide how deep you want to go with your catalog and choose appropriate angles for referencing and highlighting important individuals or family names. Your history catalog can focus on single family branches, important eras such as the Great Depression and actions of specific historical individuals such as presidents.
Be determined to double-check information for credibility before adding it your catalog. Because bias, human emotion and human error can be prevalent, you may come across information that is not legitimate. For example, details that are uncomfortable to remember, such as deceased infants or children of rape or incest, may not be recorded thoroughly. Use sources such as the U.S. Government Federal records center, which has copies of all census records from 1790-1920. Social Security records can be helpful and, if possible, visit cemeteries where historically important individuals are buried. Photograph tombstones or check with the groundskeeper to review cemetery records to verify birth and death dates. You may be able to identify more relatives by the tombstones and records. As you find new individuals in your family history you can search for copies of their birth, death, and marriage records to grow your history catalog.
Complete your catalog. Gather all of your records, resources and citations and organize them using the method of your choice. Organize your research alphabetically by surname, or chronologically by year.