Gresham Oregon Family History Center

Family History Center Information:
SPECIAL NOTE: after an 18-month vacation, our printers are not working and some shifts are not open. PLEASE call us to see if we are open before traveling to the center at 503-665-1524.

The Gresham Family History Center is now open. Out of concern for the health and safety of our guests and volunteers, masks and social distancing are required. If you are coming from a long distance, please check in with us to find out our current status before coming in as things can change from week to week. You may call us at 503-665-1524.

Location Map:


 * Location on Map

Address:


 * 3600 SE, 182nd Ave Gresham, Oregon, 97030 United States
 * Across from Centennial High School, park in the north parking lot.
 * The entrance is on the north side near the rear of the building, but the actual door faces west, towards the street.


 * Language: English

Phone:


 * 503-665-1524

Email: OR_Gresham@familyhistorymail.org


 * NOTICE: We are closed until further notice due to the coronavirus. Please check in with us to find out whether we have reopened before coming in at 503-665-1524.


 * Tuesday: 10:00am-6:00pm
 * Wednesday: 10:00am-6:00pm
 * Thursday: 10:00am-6:00pm
 * Saturday: 9:00am-5:00pm: We are closed the first Saturday in April and in October.

We are closed all major holidays and General Conference weekends (the first weekends in April and in October and can be watched on https://www.byutv.org/ or https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org).

Upcoming Holiday Closures:

 

Inclement Weather: In case of inclement weather, please be sure to call the Family History Center to see if it is open. The number is 503-665-1524. As a general rule: if the schools are closed then we are closed.

What To Bring
If you are new to family history or genealogy and don't know where to start, start by gathering the information that you do have and know. Even a few names, places, and/or dates can give you a good place to start searching. Bring this information with you when you come and we can help you get started on your family research.

In addition to a mask, you might also want to consider bringing the following:


 * 1) a notebook or steno pad to make notes
 * 2) pen or pencil
 * 3) a USB stick/flash drive/thumb drive, etc. to save information that you find
 * 4) computer glasses if you use them
 * 5) change for any copies you may make. Copies are 5 cents each on the black and white copier; 10 cents on the color copier.

Class Schedule:

 * Currently classes are taught through the individual wards or congregations. Please contact your ward to find out when the next family history class is scheduled to start. To find your ward go to lds.org and click on Meetinghouse Locator.
 * You can also learn online by searching the Wiki pages found under the Search button at the top of the page or by visiting our Family History Center and using our computers.

Staff Training Meetings:
There are no staff meetings scheduled at this time.

Collections

 * We have the complete 1850 Census records and several others. We have vital records on microfiche for Oregon, Washington and Oregon.  We also have the IGI for the United States and several other countries.

Databases and Software

 * FHC Portal This Portal allows you free access to many subscription databases including Ancestry, Heritage Quest, World Vital Records and more.  A partial list and description follows:


 * Alexander Street Press, American Civil War–Research Data: Contains indexed, searchable information on over 4 million soldiers and thousands of battles, together with 15,000 photographs. Letters and Diaries: Contains approximately 100,000 indexed pages of diaries, letters, and memoirs, including 4,000 pages of previously unpublished manuscripts, such as the letters of Amos Wood and his wife and the diary of Maryland planter William Claytor. Images, Photographs, Posters, and Ephemera: Provides a vivid history of the American Civil War with over 1,400 images.


 * Ancestry.com has billions of genealogical records from around the globe along with millions of family trees posted Ancestry is a great research resource.


 * Fold3.com This is a wonderful collection of original military records . If you have any ancestors who served in the military, this collection can allow you to access records for them and their families.


 * findmypast.com-Find My Past makes it easy to research your UK ancestry and create your family tree. Search census records and trace births, marriages, and deaths to bring your family history to life.


 * My Heritage- More than 5 billion historical ​records from all over the world including: The USA federal census (1790-1940) and the UK census (1841-1901) with images​ - 1.5 billion exclusive family tree profiles from MyHeritage and Geni - 816 million US public records - Hundreds of millions of Nordic records - More than a hundred million tombstone photos - More than 80 million historical photographs - Military records, immigration records and passenger lists - Citizenship &amp; naturalization records - Directories, guides, references, biographies and yearbooks - Government, land and court records - Wills and probate records - Exclusive databases such as the Jewish Chronicle historical newspaper - Additional content under license including Tributes obituaries, WikiTree, Billion Graves, Canadian Headstones and many others. 200 million additional records added on average every month!
 * My Heritage- More than 5 billion historical ​records from all over the world including: The USA federal census (1790-1940) and the UK census (1841-1901) with images​ - 1.5 billion exclusive family tree profiles from MyHeritage and Geni - 816 million US public records - Hundreds of millions of Nordic records - More than a hundred million tombstone photos - More than 80 million historical photographs - Military records, immigration records and passenger lists - Citizenship &amp; naturalization records - Directories, guides, references, biographies and yearbooks - Government, land and court records - Wills and probate records - Exclusive databases such as the Jewish Chronicle historical newspaper - Additional content under license including Tributes obituaries, WikiTree, Billion Graves, Canadian Headstones and many others. 200 million additional records added on average every month!


 * Newspaper Archives– NewspaperArchive.com is the world's largest online newspaper archive . Featuring billions of articles from historical newspapers around the U.S. and the world. Discover obituaries, birth announcements, sports articles, comics, and more—to fill in the life stories you are interested in. All of the historical newspapers are full-page and fully searchable.


 * The 19th Century British Library Newspapers digital archive–Gale Cengage Learning This fully searchable database of the British Library's newspaper holdings provides a complete run of 48 national and regional Victorian British newspapers for the 19th century from 1800 to 1900. These support the study of colonial history, genealogical research, politics, urban studies, and media courses.


 * Paper Trail–Provides access to 19th-century westward American migration documents.


 * ProQuest Obituaries-The ProQuest Obituaries collection is a premier resource for genealogical and historical research. You can use the collection to search obituaries and death notices from prominent newspapers, such as The New York Times (dating back to 1851). The collection includes both famous and lesser-known individuals and can be searched by name or by keywords appearing in the body of the article.


 * World Vital Records–Access to birth, marriage, and death records; Social Security Death Index; family trees; census records; immigration records; court, land, and probate records; military records directory lists; newspapers, family histories, reference materials, biographies, wills, gravestone photos, ship manifests, map collections, and yearbook collections. Proper log-in through the portal is confirmed by the words FamilySearch FHC Services Portal, World Collection Subscriber at the top right of the page.

Other Sources That You May FInd Useful:
Remember as with most sites, the information is only as reliable as it was given. However, like many sites, this information can give you a starting point on where to search for supporting information.

FindAGrave.com Find the graves of ancestors, create virtual memorials, add 'virtual flowers' and a note to a loved one's grave, etc. The information can give you clues as to where to look for supporting documents.

 www.HeritageQuestOnline.com  HeritageQuest® Online is a comprehensive treasury of American genealogical sources. It is rich in unique primary sources, local and family histories, and finding aids. Heritage Quest Online database is a collection of material for both genealogical and historical researchers, with coverage dating back to the late 1700s. Researchers can use HeritageQuest Online to find their ancestors, trace their paths across America, and learn what life was like in the areas where they settled. You may also be able to access Heritage Quest Online from home via your local library’s web page using your library card.

www.relativefinder.org - This is a fun way to discover how you are related to Prophets, Presidents, friends, historical figures, etc.

 Your Local Public Library : Many local libraries allow you access to free research databases. Check your local public library to find out the details in your area.

Hardware and Equipment

 * Have you been sitting all day and don't want to sit some more to do your family history? Well, we have a computer that you can use standing up, so stretch your legs and do some walking (in place) as you search for your family tree.
 * We have eleven new computers as of 2014 available for patron use. They have large 23 inch screens making it easy to have multiple windows open for research.  There are several USB ports, a camera SD card port and a CD-ROM.
 * We have three new printers, one with scanning ability so that you can scan your photos and documents and then save them to your USB stick. Copies are five cents each.
 * We also have microfilm and microfiche readers.

Staff Research Specialties
 

Resources in the Local Area
You may also want to check the Oregon Historical Society which has many historical records and manuscripts that may help you in your research of Oregon and Northwest ancestors. Their website is Oregon Historical Society 

Other Resources

 * Oregon State Library
 * Northwest Digital Archives
 * Oregon Historic Newspapers

Volunteer at the Center

 * If you would like to volunteer please contact us. It's a great way to learn how to do family history!