Santa Margarita California Family History Center

We are a locally operated Family Search Training Center sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Located in the City of Rancho Santa Margarita, California, our center is hosted and housed in the Santa Margarita Stake Center of the LDS Church.


 * Our center's services are free and open to the public.
 * We invite all who are interested in family history to visit our center.
 * Our center has microfilm and a microfiche readers for patrons use.
 * The films can be ordered on-line for delivery to our center for your use.

Family History Center volunteers can show you how to use the center’s resources. To make your visit most effective, collect and organize the information you already have. Bring as much information as you have about the ancestor you wish to research, including available birth, marriage and death information. FHC staff can help you use that information to begin creating a Family Group Record.

High-quality videos are available for the rookie genealogist and the seasoned veteran alike. The Genealogy in 5 Minutes playlist demonstrates how, in just a few minutes, individuals with little or no genealogy experience can make some headway on their family’s history. Getting Started Family Search on YouTube

Center Contacts and Hours
Location &amp; Map:


 * 30422 Via Con Dios, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688
 * Map directions: Santa Margarita California Family History Center
 * For entrance to our center park on the west side of the building and enter the double doors at the center of the building. After entering the building go left down the short hall. We are adjacent to the stairs for the stage.

Phone: 949-766-7826 (Call during business hours or leave us a message)

E-mail: [mailto:ca_santamargarita@ldsmail.net ca_santamargarita@ldsmail.net]

Open Hours:


 * Tuesday, 6 pm - 9 pm
 * Wednesday, 6 pm - 9 pm
 * Thursday, 6 pm - 9 pm (2nd Thursday of each month closed for staff meeting)
 * Sunday 9 am to 5 pm
 * Additional houes TBA

Holiday Schedule: (We are closed on the following days)


 * September 11               Stake Conference
 * October 2                      General Conference
 * November 22-29           Thanksgiving
 * December 20 -- Jan. 3  Christmas

Collections

 * Family History Library Catalog: This center has the ability to order any of the films and fiche available through the Family History Library Catalog. To have your films sent to our center, locate the "Santa Margarita California Family History Center" and then select our center for delivery of your films when ordering. You will recieve an e-mail when your film(s) arrive at our center

Databases and Software

 * FamilySearch is the online web site which hosts: • The Ancestral File. • The International Genealogical Index. • The Pedigree Resource File database. • US Social Security Death Index • Vital Records Index • 1880 United States Census • 1881 British Isles Census• 1881 Canadian Census
 * 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 including: 19th Century British Newspapers Alexander Street Press (American Civil War Collections) Ancestry.com (Family History Library edition) FindMyPast Footnote.com Genline FamilyFinder (Swedish) Godfrey Memorial Library Heritage Quest WorldVitalRecords.com

Hardware and Equipment


 * Computers, five (5)
 * Printer for computers only
 * Microfilm Readers (2)
 * Microfiche reader (1)

Staff Research Specialties
Through Family Search our center has access to on-line training videos on specific research tools and techniques from countries located thought the world.

Links

 * Why Family History is Important
 * California
 * Family History Centers

Volunteer at the Center
All who are interested in family history, including all community members, are invited to volunteer. All you need is a willingness to learn and must follow the LDS standards of conduct while at our center and must abide by our centers policies.