Santa Maria California Family History Center

Map:

 * [https://www.google.com/maps/place/908+Sierra+Madre+Ave,+Santa+Maria,+CA+93454/@34.9402292,-120.4224198,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x80ec6c90d764badd:0x503abc1336d30ed8 Location Map

Address:

 * 908 Sierra Madre Avenue, Santa Maria, CA 93454 United States
 * Entrance and parking are at the southwest corner of the larger church building.
 * Please ring the bell for entrance to the Family History Center.
 * Language: English; Spanish on Tuesdays from 7-9pm.

Phone:

 * 1-805-928-4722

If we don't answer the phone, please leave a message and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.

Email:
ca_santamaria@ldsmail.net

Hours:

 * Sunday: 2:00pm-5:00pm every 1st Sunday of the Month
 * Monday: 10:00am-2:00pm
 * Tuesday: 10:00am-2:00pm and 7:00pm-9:00pm
 * Wednesday: 10:00am-2:00pm and 7:00pm-9:00pm

2020 Holiday Schedule:

 * May 25 (Memorial Day)
 * Sep 7 (Labor Day)
 * Nov 23-27 (Thanksgiving week)
 * Dec 21-31 (Christmas break)
 * Jan 1, 2021 (New Year's Day)

Collections

 * FamilySearch Catalog: The Santa Maria California Family History Center no longer has the ability to order any of the films and fiche available through the FamilySearch Catalog. Many microfilm are digitized now.
 * Reference Library includes many books and periodicals to help with research throughout the world.

Databases and Software
Our Center has access to the Family History Center Portal which offers free access during your visit to premium family history software and websites. Often these sites will charge subscription fees but here in the Center, there is no charge for patrons to use them. The Portal offers the following:
 * 19th Century British Library Newspapers
 * Alexander Street Press - American Civil War
 * American Ancestors
 * Ancestry.com
 * ArkivDigital
 * FamNet
 * FindMyPast.com
 * Fold3 (Military records research)
 * Geneanet
 * Kinpoint (Premium)
 * MyHeritage.com (Library edition)
 * Newspapers.com
 * Paper Trail
 * Puzzilla (Premium)

Hardware and Equipment

 * 15 computer workstations with printer access
 * 1 Lexmark Laser Black & White Printer/Copier (no charge for copies, limited to 10 copies per patron)
 * 2 Northwest Microfilm Readers
 * 1 Microfiche Reader
 * 1 Canon Microfiche/Microfilm Scanner-Copier
 * 1 Epson Flatbed Photo Scanner (scans photos, negatives, and slides)
 * 1 Epson Upright-Feeding Photo Scanner
 * 1 12" Paper Trimmer/Cutter
 * 1 Heavy-Duty 3-Hole Punch (punches up to 130 sheets at a time of 20 pound paper)

Staff Research Specialties
'''We have a friendly, experienced, volunteer staff. Translation help is available in the following languages: Spanish, German and Latin (by appointment).'''

Resources in the Local Area
Santa Maria Valley Genealogical Society

P.O. Box 2147

Santa Maria, CA 93457-2147

The society meets on the 3rd Thursday of each month from 2-4pm here at the Santa Maria Family History Center. They do not meet in July, August or December. The society can be reached for volunteer help through the Santa Maria Public Library: 805-925-0994 or by email at Roots@smvgs.org. If you are just getting started, new to the area, or need something special in your research they can be of help.


 * Santa Maria Valley Historical Society Museum

SMV Historical Society Museum

616 S. Broadway

Santa Maria, CA 93454

Links
Santa Barbara County Research

Santa Barbara County, California

California