San Jose California Family History Center

The San Jose California History Center serves all of metropolitan San Jose and surrounding communities.

>>>> The San Jose California Family History Center is closed as a result of the COVID-19 virus pandemic. <<<<
"The information below is historical, and reflects our normal operation. We expect to resume normal operation once the virus situation is past. Once we resume normal operation, this Closed notice will be removed from this web page.  Once the Center reopens, the class schedule will be announced here and through our email list."

Center Contacts and Hours
Location Map: Location Map

Address: 4977 San Felipe Road, San Jose, CA 95135 United States


 * Use the parking lot closest to the road
 * Walk up the central walkway to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and look for the FHC Sign on your right.


 * Language:English

Phone: 1-408-274-8592

E-mail: CA_SanJose@familyhistorymail.org

Open Hours:


 * Tuesday: 9:00am-3:00pm
 * Wednesday: 7:00pm-9:00pm
 * Thursday: 9:00am-3:00pm
 * Saturday: 10:00am-1:00pm

We are closed Sundays, Mondays, Fridays and most holidays.

Holiday Schedule and Closures for  2020 

Jan 1 (New Year's Day)

Apr 4 (General Conference)

Apr 11 (Sat before Easter)

May 23 - 30 (Memorial Day)

Jun 27 - Jul 4 (July Fourth)

Aug 22 (Stake Temple Day)

Sep 5 (Labor Day)

Oct 3 (General Conference)

Nov 21 - 28 (Thanksgiving)

Dec 19 - Jan 2 (Christmas and New Years)

Family History Classes
Spring 2020

Classes taught at the San Jose Family History Center (English only)

Wednesdays, 10:00-11:30 a.m. – Individual help available until 1 p.m.

Free - No need to register – just show up!

4977 San Felipe Road – 408-274-8592

March 18        Using Family Tree in FamilySearch

March 25        General Scottish Research

April 1            Using Newspapers in Genealogical Research

April 8            Irish Research

April 15          English Research

April 22          Research in an 1800s German Community in Kansas

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The schedule for Fall 2020 classes is currently being developed.

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 * Family History Class Handouts

Center Resources
Catalog


 * Our catalog is located at FamilySearch.org Click search, then Catalog
 * Under “Search these Family History Centers” select San Jose California Family History Center
 * The catalog allows patrons to:
 * Search by Places, Surnames, Titles, Authors, Subjects or Keywords
 * Broaden a search to other local family history centers or to the holdings of the Family History Library in Salt Lake City
 * Have a direct link to the growing collection of online resources at FamilySearch.org and elsewhere Direct link to the FamilySearch Catalog :FamilySearch Catalog  Link to an Introduction to the FamilySearch Catalog:Introduction to the Catalog 

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.

Websites available as of 11 January 2020 are:


 * 19th Century British Library Newspapers 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 - Library Rights.
 * Ancestry.com - Institution Versions: US, Australia, Canada, Germany, Sweden, United Kingdom.
 * ArkivDigital - Swedish Church Records.
 * FamNet - A place to tell our family stories.
 * Find My Past - Institution Version: 1.7 billion international family history records from the U.S., Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand and beyond with records going back to 1200. New collections are added every month.
 * Fold 3 - provides convenient access to US military records, including the stories, photos, and personal documents of the men and women who served.
 * Geneanet - a contributive, collaborative and freemium website.
 * Kinpoint Premium - Makes it easier to find your Family History
 * MyHeritage - Library Edition - More than 10 billion historical ​records from all over the world.
 * Newspapers.com - Thousands of newspapers from the USA, England, and Canada.
 * Paper Trail - a guide to overland pioneer names and documents.
 * Puzilla - Premium Services - Find research opportunities on descendant lines in FamilyTree.

Hardware and Equipment


 * The Center has: 12 computers, 8 Microfilm Readers, 2 Microfiche Readers, 1 Microfilm Scanner and 1 Microfilm Printer

Center Services
Staff Research Specialties

Resources in the Local Area

 * The Santa Clara Genealogical Society is a local public family history organization that works out of the Santa Clara City Public Library. They focus on the history and genealogy of Santa Clara County.


 * The Santa Clara Valley Computer Genealogy Group is a local organization that focuses on the use of computers to aid in genealogical work.

Links

 * Genealogy Classes
 * SJ FHC Class Handouts


 * A complete list of online genealogical and research resources for Santa Clara County and the State of California can be found HERE.


 * A complete list of websites to all Family History Centers in California can be found at the link "Category: California Family History Centers" below.