Richland Washington Family History Center

The Richland Washington Regional Family History Center serves about 250,000 people in the Tri-Cities, Washington Area along with the Kennewick FHC. It is located at 1314 Goethals in Richland, Washington in a separate Red Brick Building behind the Jadwin LDS Chapel at 1321 Jadwin and across Jadwin Ave from the Uptown Shopping Center in Richland, Washington. The Richand FHC is home to the Tri-City Genealogical Society and we share resources with them and house their records.

Center Contacts and Hours
Location &amp; Map:

Address: 1314 Goethals Ave, Richland Washington
 * The FHC is an independent building from the Jadwin Chapel. Both are Older Red Brick Buildings. Chapel parking is available to the FHC. The building is easily assessable to handicapped individuals. See photo.
 * Map to Richland Family History Center

Phone: (509) 946-6637

Open Hours:
 * Monday: 9 AM - 5 PM
 * Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday: 9 AM - 9 PM
 * Friday & Saturday: 9 AM - 5 PM

Holiday Schedule:

Closed for most Holidays and on Conference Saturdays. Call for specific details.

Class Schedule
Classes are taught bimonthly. Call the FHC for specific dates and times. The current list of class topics include:


 * New Family Search Program - How to use and prepare names for the Temple
 * Beginning Computer Genealogy - Using PAF and other computer genealogy programs
 * Using US Census Records
 * Introduction to Family History Research - How to begin
 * Advanced Computer Genealogy - Using advanced features in PAF and other computer genealogy programs
 * Introduction to Internet Research

Individual training is provided as requested by patrons.

Staff Training Meetings
Staff Training Meeting are held on a monthly basis. Contact the FHC for current details.

Collections

 * Family History Library Catalog: The center can teach patrons how to do online-ordering for any of the films and fiche available through the Family History Library Catalog.
 * The Tri-City Genealogical Society (TCGS) library and FHC library houses a collection of local and international resources that includes 2,900 books, 450 periodicals, 200 CDs, 3000 microfilms and thousands of microfiche. See the TCGS website (under links) to see the full catalog and to search for specific topics or details.
 * The TCGS collection includes microfilms of the Tri City Herald (a local newspaper) from January 1970 through January 2001.

Databases and Software

 * FHC Portal: This center has access to the Family History Center Portal page which gives free access in the center to premium family history software and websites that generally charge for subscriptions.
 * Hardware and Equipment


 * Seven computers with internet access and dedicated printers
 * Photocopier
 * Microfilm readers
 * Digitizer for microfilm and microfiche
 * Scanners for paper and photos



Staff Research Specialties

 * Swedish Research - Wayne Ross
 * German and French Research - Ray Baalman

Resources in the Local Area

 * Richland City Library - has internet access to Ancestry.com and Heritage Quest. It also has significant history of the local area and the developments at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation.
 * Important facts for conducting research in Benton and Franklin Counties: ■ Some Benton and Franklin County records are available at the Washington State Digital Archives. ■  Some Benton and Franklin County records have been archived at the Washington State Archives Central Regional Branch. Visit this site to determine what you can access at the archive and what you must access at the county courthouse.

Links

 * Tri-Cities Genealogy Society including Richland Family History Center Catalog
 * Washington State Archives

Volunteer at the Center
Individuals interested in learning about genealogy can serve at the center with more experienced staff and learn through experience. Staff librarians are always needed.

We have also begun a program to digitize some of our holdings to make them more accessible and to reduce their volume. Help is needed to continue this effort.

If you are interested in helping, please contact Richard Allen, the Family History Center Director, at the FHC or at 509-946-6020.