HISTORY OF THE FAMILY HISTORY LIBRARY

The Genealogical Society of Utah immediately began to organize and maintain a library, to distribute information about genealogy and genealogical research, and to acquire genealogical records. Funds were raised by membership dues and research fees. Limited office and library space was provided at the Church Historian's Office, located at 58 East South Temple Street in Salt Lake City.

The Genealogical Society and its library collection grew slowly at first. Between 1910 and 1920 organized genealogical efforts were begun in most Church congregations. The first issue of the Utah Genealogical and Historical Magazine (a quarterly) was published in 1910. The first research guide, Lessons in Genealogy, was published in 1912. The Genealogical Society moved to new quarters in 1917: the entire fourth floor of the recently completed Church Office Building at 47 East South Temple Street. In 1919 the Genealogical Library contained over 5,000 books.

Between 1920 and 1940 the Genealogical Society saw unprecedented growth. Needing additional space for library holdings, patrons, researchers, and office staff, in 1934 the society moved its offices to the Joseph F. Smith Memorial Building at 80 North Main Street. By 1937 the library housed over 19,000 books and was counted among the top five genealogical libraries in the country.

In 1938 the library began to make use of a new records technology: microfilm. In that year the Genealogical Society raised money to purchase records already on microfilm and in October 1938 purchased its own microfilm camera. The society's extensive microfilming program is renowned worldwide, and its microfilm collection (more than 2.4 million rolls in 2004) is now unsurpassed anywhere.

In 1944 the Genealogical Society of Utah celebrated its 50th anniversary, and its original Articles of Incorporation expired. In November of that year, the society ceased to operate as a public organization and became a Church corporation called the Genealogical Society of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The annual membership fees were discontinued, and the society's operation was then fully funded by the Church. The society's work continued to expand with additions to its library collections, instructional programs, and genealogical conventions. At that time the library contained 42,000 volumes and 2,000 rolls of microfilm. Nearly 14,000 patrons used the library that year.

In the late 1960s computer technology began to impact record keeping and information processing. Church leaders studied emerging computer capabilities, and in early 1961 they authorized the hiring of computer experts and purchase of a computer for the Genealogical Society. Computer technology has revolutionized genealogical record keeping and made individual family history research much easier.

As the library and its functions expanded, the need for more working space became acute. In 1962 the society moved into the former Montgomery Ward building at 107 South Main Street. It also acquired some space in the Beehive Bank Building. The number of library patrons doubled between 1961 and 1969 (from 300 to more than 600 daily).

As the library's microfilm collection grew, suitable long-term storage space became an issue. In late 1963 the Church completed construction of the Granite Mountain Records Vault, located in Little Cottonwood Canyon, about 25 miles southeast of Salt Lake City. This facility was literally tunneled into the mountainside and provides a safe repository for camera masters of the precious microfilmed records.

In 1972 the Church completed a 28-story office building at 50 East North Temple Street. The Genealogical Library occupied the entire four floors of the west wing of the new building, along with additional office space in the central tower.

The Genealogical Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was created in 1975.  The new department took over most of the functions of the Genealogical Society of Utah including operation of the Genealogical Library.  The society continued to operate as a record collection and preservation organization.

As the library's extensive record collection continued to expand and the number of patrons visiting the library increased, even more room was needed. Plans to build a new library were announced at the 1980 World Conference on Records held in Salt Lake City. The formal groundbreaking was held in 1983, and the completed library was opened to the public in 1985. At that time the library contained 160,000 bound volumes and 1.5 million rolls of microfilm and accommodated approximately 2,000 visitors daily.

In 1987 Church leaders announced another change. The Genealogical Department would be called the Family History Department, and the name of the library would be the Family History Library. It was hoped that this more "user friendly" name would encourage more people to pursue their own family history research.

Another change was made in June of 2000 by combining the Church's Historical Department with the Family History Department. The new name for the department is the Family and Church History Department.

The world famous Family History Library is located at 35 North West Temple Street in Salt Lake City. Its extensive record collection is available to professional genealogists and amateur researchers alike. On average, some 1,900 visitors use the library each day.

Source: Hearts Turned to the Fathers: A History of the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1894-1994, James B. Allen, Jessie L. Embry, Kahlile B. Mehr, BYU Studies, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah 1995.