Fresno California Family History Center/Links

National Government Genealogical Resources

 * The National Archives: Resources for Genealogists
 * Guidelines for Using Historical Records in the National Archives
 * Using Civilian Records for Genealogical Research in the National Archives Washington DC Area
 * National Archives for the United States
 * Regional Archives, Pacific Region, San Francisco
 * Request for Military Records
 * US Military Pension Record Applications
 * Digging for Ancestors at the Bureau of Land Management Website
 * Overlooked Clues in US Census Records

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
A little known program of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) provides genealogy information that may be difficult or impossible to obtain elsewhere. The records include naturalization files, visa applications, and citizenship tests, and may reveal family secrets and mysteries. In addition to relatives, historians or researchers can also request files.

Under the USCIS Genealogy Program, which started in 2008, requests are usually completed within 30 days. The government will run a search of the name, as long as the person is deceased. If there are records available, the government charges additional fees for the files. The fee for a record copy from microfilm identified as (M) is $20 per request. The fee for a copy of a hard copy file identified as (HC) is $35 per request. More information about the fees associated with each file series may be found at USCIS Government History Genealogy Records.

The documents typically include immigration information, often (but not always) including exact hometowns in their ancestors native countries. The files often have information on brothers, sisters, aunts, and uncles. Many times it is useful to obtain the records of your uncles, aunts, and cousins who also immigrated from "the old country."

If the immigrant applied for American citizenship, the details are also included in these files. For anyone of Japanese, German, or Italian origin who lived in the United States during World War II, the documents often include FBI reports about the person's activities, including friends, family, and political activities.

For more information about the program, check out USCIS Government Genealogy.

FamilySearch Hispanic Research Resources

 * Relatives Masked in the Indexes of Ancestry (English) taught by Debbie Gurtler, AG and Katrina E. Morales (Video, 40:21) Click here for a 4-page Handout (PDF)
 * taught by Debbie Gurtler, AG (Video, 50:44)
 * taught by Katrina E. Morales (Video, 45:39)
 * Online Resources for México (PDF)
 * Improve Your Search results in FamilySearch Hispanic records by Debbie Gurtler, AG (PDF)

Family History Learning

 * Family History Learning, presented by Oakland Family History Center with an emphasis on being easy and logical so you can quickly become proficient in basic techniques and thus move towards becoming an advanced researcher. In addition, consultants, staff and teachers will find new and useful tools that will help them with their own teaching and research techniques.

BYU 48th Annual Conference on Family History and Genealogy

 * View syllabus for the July 26-29, 2016 Conference - 644 pages  View syllabus for the July 26-29, 2016 Conference 644 pages (PDF)

"5 Minute Genealogy" Video Series

 * These are no longer available in the Learning Center. They may now be found in the Gospel Library app, under Temple and Family History, as Beginning Research.

48 Ancestry.com Research Tips

 * "48 Ancestry.com Research Tips" from Family Tree University at: Free e-Book: 48 Ancestry.com Search Tips

Making Family History Fun for Children

 * Family History Fun - Friend, February 2011
 * Extra, Extra! - Friend, March 2012
 * FamilySearch Sleuth - Friend, July 2013
 * Grandma's Trunk - Friend, May 2006
 * My Family Tree - Friend, October 2009
 * Seek and Find - Friend, March 1982
 * Sharing Time: "The Heart of the Children" - Liahona, August 2002
 * Build Your Family Tree now! - Family Tree Kids Magazine

The Family History Guide
What is "The Family History Guide"? The Family History Guide is a new website that represents a best-in-class learning environment for family history. Its scope is broad, but its focus is narrow enough to help you achieve your goals, step by step. Whether you're brand new to family history or a seasoned researcher - or somewhere in between - The Family History Guide can be your difference maker. Check out the website at: The Family History Guide

Unique features you'll find on the site:
 * Over 350 Goals for learning, supported by over 600 flexible Choices


 * Step-by-step instructions to make learning easier
 * Links to over 1,000 videos and articles from FamilySearch, Ancestry, and more
 * Quick-links to search records from multiple sources
 * Project Tracker sheets and Classroom materials for self-study or group instruction

Tour the Boards: Finding Clues in Genealogy Forums & Message Boards

 * Message Boards