Hi, UncleClyde and Tom —
UC, this from TextEdit's
Help »» "stationery" —>
"You can make a file work like a kind of template or 'stationery.' When you open a stationery file, an untitled copy of the original is opened. You can edit the copy and save it, but the original file remains untouched.
In the Finder, select the file and choose File > Get Info.
Select the Stationery Pad checkbox.
If you want to change the original, deselect the Stationery Pad checkbox and open the file to make changes. After you have made the changes and saved the file, you can designate it as stationery again using the Info window."
Also potentially of interest are the options available in
TextEdit »» Preferences »» New Document. Type "preferences" into TextEdit Help if you want to learn about the nuances here.
I hope this helps . . .
Regards,
Dean