Surrey British Columbia Family History Centre

Location and Map

 * 6270 126th Street Surrey BC south side of building. There is a buzzer just to the left of the main doors to be buzzed.
 * Parking is free for our patrons.
 * Location on Map

Contact Information


Phone: 604 597 9695

E-mail: surreyfhc@gmail.com

SUMMER HOURS 2020 July 7th through September 7th
Tuesdays 10 am to 9 pm

Thursdays 12 Noon to 4 pm

All other visits must be by appointment - contact surreyfhc@gmail.com to request a visit

Current regular hours
***During inclement weather call ahead to be sure the center is open.

• Tuesdays 10 am to 9 pm • Wednesdays 11 am to 3 pm • Thursdays 2 pm to 9 pm Hope to see you there.

Holiday Closures 2020
Closed all Statutory Holidays

Summer closure June 19th through July 6th 2020

Christmas Closure December 18th 2020 through January 4th 2020


 * Please contact our centre to get up to date closures, to check our hours, or to arrange group visits or arrange special help.

Calendar and Events
All classes will be held at the Surrey Family History Center or in a room in the same building.

6270 126 Street

Surrey BC

Watch here for upcoming classes
NO CLASSES UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE - COVID CLOSURE

***Museum Display Discover Your Family: We Can Help - Exhibition Details
Website Link: https://www.surrey.ca/culture-recreation/31171.aspx

Featuring stories discovered by family researchers, this all-ages exhibit explores the resources available to Surrey families so they can build their own family trees. While the museum is temporarily closed, displays and interactive elements will be shared via Facebook and Instagram for museum-goers to experience from home.

The exhibit is a collaboration between the Surrey Family History Centre, The BC Genealogical Society and Surrey Libraries—Family History. View a printable information sheet about all three.

Every Object Has a Story
The objects on display are more than simple things with describing place cards. Each object tells a story about a family's history, inviting 'visitors' to reflect on their own family mementos. Expect to see a range of displays, including military items, old fashioned toys, historic photos and documents, musical instruments and unique handmade belongings.

There are seven themes in the exhibit. Each week, we will add a video of a profiled theme below. Check back weekly to see new highlights.


 * Occupations and School

Get Interactive from Home
Complete the printable pedigree chart. Use it as a starting point to chat with family members. You may even wish to take it a step further by following up with our community partners to continue your research. This is a great activity for all ages! Feel free to share your findings with us on social media.

Each week, we will share photos and stories of the objects on display on our social media. We invite you to join the conversation by commenting with your own like-minded photos and stories about your family.

The exhibit includes a dinner table selfie station where you can become part of a vintage family! Send us a well-lit photo of yourself sitting in a chair in front of a solid coloured wall. We will put you in the pictures and send it back to you to share with friends.

Finding Your Roots Conference - an annual event - CANCELLED FOR 2020 - COVID
2020 CONFERENCE IS CANCELLED - HOPE TO HAVE ONE OCTOBER 2021

Collections

 * FamilySearch Catalog Films: We have many films and fiche on extended loan. So even though film ordering has ended you can still access these resources at our center.
 * Index of all the extended films/fiche in our center is available on our computers.
 * Thousands of books dealing with research from all parts of the world. An index of these books is available on our computers.
 * Film indexes for Ontario.
 * Icelandic Census books

New Book Acquisitions
June 2019

We have acquired a large collection of Ukrainian and Polish research books. They are not yet catalogued but are available for using at the centre.

Databases and Software

 * FHC Portal: This centre has access to the Family History Centre Portal page which gives free access in the centre to subscription websites.
 * Premium Databases Include the following
 * 19th Century British Library Newspaper Digital Archive
 * Alexander Street Press• The American Civil War: Research Database, Letters and Diaries, Images, Photographs, Posters, and Ephemera, Social and Cultural History, Women and Social Movements in the United States
 * American Ancestors
 * Ancestry.com - Institution version
 * Archive Digital
 * FamNet
 * Findmypast - Institution version
 * Fold3.com
 * Geneanet
 * Kinpoint - premium
 * MyHeritage - Library Edition
 * Newspapers.com
 * Paper Trail
 * Puzzilla.org - Premium Services
 * We also have database programs for information storing of your genealogical work such as Legacy, Roots Magic, and Ancestral Quest. We have the deluxe paid versions at our center. You may download the basic free version for use at home.

Hardware and Equipment
Our centre has 12 computers, 2 printers, 3 fiche readers, 4 film readers including 1 high magnification readers, 1 digital film/fiche reader and a multi functional digital copier/scanner/printer.

Center Services
Group Visits - youth groups, adult groups, children's groups and family groups.

Email: surreyfhc@gmail.com on what types of instruction are available, etc.

NEW SERVICE: One on One Assistance - to book this email surreyfhc@gmail.com and you will be contacted with times available. Often individual assistance is available from regular staff without an appointment. However, if you wish to be sure there is a knowledgeable staff member available you can book an appointment.


 * 1) Patrons can scan photos to memory sticks and upload them to the FamilySearch Family Tree site.
 * 2) Patrons at the center have free access to 12 premium databases including Ancestry and Find My Past. We can help you get the most out of these
 * 3) Our friendly staff can assist with uploading images and doing research using FamilySearch and the Premium Databases
 * 4) We offer monthly seminars during the winter months to help patrons learn new skills and these are free and open to the community.
 * 5) We book group appointments to help youth groups and families learn more about their ancestors.
 * 6) We teach individuals and groups how to do FamilySearch Indexing, how to research using FamilySearch, how to complete the My Family booklet and enter data in Family Tree.
 * 7) We can help you create fan charts, photo pedigrees, etc. using Treeseek
 * 8) We can help you use the Premium versions of Puzzilla to find more cousins.

Executive Committee:  Director: Jeannie Vance Assistant Director: Sara Herrington Patron Services Coordinator: Jeannie Vance Technical Coordinator: George Caldwell

Training Coordinator: Jeannie Vance Scheduling Coordinator: Barbara McMullin

Associate Administrator: Jacquie Jarvis

Specialists: (other consultants may also have knowledge for researching in these areas)

Scotland - George Caldwell

England - Marilyn Ponting, Jeannie Vance

Ontario: Jeannie Vance, Sharon Russell or Terry Rogers

New England: Terry Rogers

FamilySearch - Jeannie Vance