Santa Margarita California Family History Center

We are a locally operated Family Search Center, located in the City of Rancho Santa Margarita, California.


 * 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 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. Started &amp; Minute Geneology

Center Contacts and Hours
Location &amp; Map:


 * 30522 Via Con Dios, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688 United States
 * 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     9 am - 12 noon & 6 pm - 9 pm
 * Wednesday 6 pm - 9 pm
 * Thursday    9 am to 12 noon and  6 pm - 9 pm
 * 2nd Thursday of each month, Staff meeting, closed 6 pm to 9 pm
 * Additional hours TBA

2014 Closed Schedule: Closed on the following days


 * July 4 -- Independence Day
 * November 26-28 -- Thanksgiving Week
 * December 23-January 2 -- Christmas and New Years

Collections

 * 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 The Family Search web site records span billions of names across hundreds of collections—including birth, marriage, death, probate, land, military, IGI extracted, and more


 * 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 Access Newspaper Archives Alexander Street Press (American Civil War Collections) Ancestry.com (Family History Library Edition) ArkivDigital Online (Swedish Church Records - On the desktop) FindMyPast Fold3.com The Genealogist Godfrey Memorial Library HeritageQuest Online Historic Map Works (Library Edition) Paper Trail WorldVitalRecords.com Scottish Church Records (DOS)(On the desktop)

Hardware and Equipment

 * Computers
 * Printer - networked to the computers
 * Microfilm Reader
 * Microfiche reader

Staff Research Specialties

 * Family Search Learning Center Family Search has produced and continues to provide professional on-line classes for Family History research. These classes include research in the following countries as of 5/28/14


 * Africa (17)
 * Asia & Middle East (37)
 * Australia & New Zealand (18)
 * Canada (80)
 * Caribbean, Central & South America (158)
 * Continental Europe (454)
 * Mexico (65)
 * Other (4)
 * Pacific Islands (7)
 * UK & Ireland (110)
 * United States (825)

Additionally, you will find focused skill level classes for    Advanced, Beginner, and Intermediate research and more!
 * One-On-One Assistance

Links

 * Why Family History is Important
 * California California Family History Resource Page
 * Family History Centers There are over 4,500 family history centers operating in more than 100 countries. Local FamilySearch Centers are staffed by helpful volunteers. These centers are branches of the Family History Library.
 * Family Search WIKI Research your Family History, Contribute Your Knowledge to the Wiki, Store great research tips you learn about but may not be ready to use yet and Collaborate in the Wiki

Volunteer at the Center
All who are interested in family history, including all community members, are invited to volunteer at our center. All you need is a willingness to learn and must abide by our center's policies of conduct as outlined by Family Search while at our center.