Cardston Alberta Family History Centre

The CARDSTON FAMILY HISTORY CENTRE IS CURRENTLY OPEN ONLY BY APPOINTMENT, TO BOOK DURING THE DAY OR EVENINGS TEXT WARREN TOTH AT 403-795-8596 WITH THE TIME AND DATE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO BOOK.  Centre Contacts and Hours 


 * 138 - 4 AVE WEST, CARDSTON AB T0K 0K0 Canada
 * Building is located adjacent to Cardston High School parking lot (east of the high school)
 * Location on Map

E-mail: [mailto:ab_cardston@familyhistorymail.org ab_cardston@familyhistorymail.org]


Reservation Procedure

Determine the date you would like to come. Determine the goal for your visit. You may want to check the list of suggested activities in the "Links" section below for ideas.

Review the FHC Booking Guidelines below.

Call or text Warren or Laureen Toth at 403 795-8596 to reserve the date.

FHC Booking Guidelines:
Sundays may be used for instruction and booking.

Monday nights can be booked by families for family home evening as long as staff are not called on to leave their own family home evenings to participate.

Tuesday and Wednesday evenings are available for bookings on a first come first serve basis. If we have enough demand then we could split the evenings into 2 shifts, 6:00-8:00 and then 8:00-10:00 allowing additional shifts in a month.

Friday nights and Saturdays are available for bookings and have been very successfully used for socials involving Elders Quorums or Auxiliaries wanting to do research and combine a fun activity with it.

If a group wishes to book the centre more than once a month, it is possible if the time they desire is not booked 2 days prior to the desired time.

Group Activities
The Cardston Family History Centre offers the opportunity for individuals, organizations, and other groups to schedule a group visit to our Centre. We offer a variety of options that are sure to provide interest to your group - Youth, Adult, Church, Organization, Club, etc. Please review the following guidelines for scheduling a group visit.

 See ideas for Group bookings below under LINKS 

Help for Patron Visits
'''Visits to the Centre will be most successful by filling out the information you have on a "Family Group Sheet" and bringing it with you to the Centre. We have "Family Group Sheets" available at the Centre, or the booklet entitled "My Family" may be purchased for $1.00 at the Cardston Distribution Centre across the street from the Temple. The booklet has pages for short stories, pictures, personal data and a pedigree going back to great-grandparents.  __________________________ '''

Indexing:
Please use a flashdrive to save your personal information while working on computers at the FHC. Computers are wiped clean regularly of any personal information left on them, and your information will be lost.  __________________________

Family History classes for the general public will be offered on a continuous rotation as long as there is interest and teachers available.

Anyone in the community and surrounding area are welcome to attend the classes, as well as participate in doing personal family research during hours of operation.

Databases and Software

 * FHC Portal This centre has access to the Family History Centre Portal page which gives free access in the centre to premium family history software and websites that generally charge for subscriptions.
 * Genealogy database software (Ancestral Quest, Family Insight, Legacy, RootsMagic)
 * Word processing, spreadsheet and presentation software such as OpenOffice
 * Free access to several subscription sites through the FamilySearch Portal such as:
 * Ancestry.com
 * Access Newspaper Archive
 * Alexander Street Press - American Civil War
 * ArkivDigital (Swedish)
 * British Newspapers
 * Find-My-Past
 * Fold3.com (Footnote)
 * Genealogist
 * Heritage Quest Online
 * Historic Map Works
 * Paper Trail
 * World Vital Records.
 * Free internet access to the New England Historical and Genealogical Society (NEHGS) website

Hardware and Equipment

 * 21 networked computers with printer access
 * 1 microfiche reader
 * 2 computers set up with dual monitors
 * Copy Machine
 * Document Scanners

Multimedia Centre
Cardston Family History Centre has an area where you can work with equipment consisting of a computer, and printer. Scan photos and transfer them to a flash drive or to a DVD. You can also make printed copies. Use the software to edit, enhance, correct, add to, or delete unwanted material from a photo-graph. Scan pictures and print them, or transfer them to your flash drive or DVD. 

Group Size
If you would like a tour of the Centre, groups should be 10 or fewer to avoid disturbing other patrons who are working. If you want to schedule a time for instruction, we have 2 options - Our large classroom has 12 computers, a projector and screen, and our smaller classroom has 9 computers and 1 with dual monitors and screen for group instruction where all patrons don't need a computer. A film-reader room also a computer with dual monitors, and a microfilm scanner with printer access.

Supervision

Adults accompanying youth groups should prepare to actively participate with their youth. Local ward temple and family history consultants are an excellent resource and should be brought with your group. They will provide continuity after your visit.

Suggested Activities at the Centre
While most of the activities below can be done at the Centre, we've also tried to give you the forms, websites, etc. needed so you could prepare these activities for your own groups - Youth groups, Family History classes, Relief Society mini-classes, etc.         

Children 8-11

Youth 12-18 Introduction to the Family History Centre:  A tour and overview of the Centre, including the resources, tools, equipment, computers, multimedia &amp; oral history center available for use by our patrons. "History Activities for Children: familysearch.org/wiki/en/Family History Activities for Children:"

Introduction to FamilySearch / Family Tree:

Finding an ancestor on FamilyTree, or doing research on FamilySearch, to locate historical documents about that ancestor and learn more about him/ her.

To learn more about using Family Tree,

- sign in to your account

- click on "Family Tree"

- click on "Get Help" in upper right area

- click on "Learning Centre Video Courses"

View these videos which allows you to learn how to navigate on "Family Tree."

Youth may also like to create a 9-generation "Fan Chart" in pdf format which they can save to a flashdrive and get printed at a local print shop (our printers do not print large enough to make the chart readable). (Local drug stores or businesses may offer this service.)

Introduction to Indexing - An overview of the why and how of indexing with hands-on practice. - go to FamilySearch Indexing and take the 2 minute "Test Drive" (button in upper right). - youth may also enjoy the Indexing App for their phone or tablet.

Research Quick Start - A focused presentation demonstrating popular research websites to find specific information on your ancestors.'

Cemetery Scavenger Hunt - "Find a Grave" is an excellent research site where volunteers post information about their deceased ancestors in cemeteries around the world. You may find birth / death dates, tombstone pictures, links to other family members, photos and even biographical information. This scavenger hunt type activity will help you learn how to use the site and inspire you to contribute as well. Access is free at the Family History Centre


 * View video "Search for Historical Records on Ancestry.com" (7:42 min.) stopping periodically to practice the techniques discussed.
 * Starting your own Database Begin by viewing the video - Family History - Made Simple (2:19)
 * Create a new database (Ask leader ahead of time, which program their group would like to use.)
 * Enter their own personal information.
 * View the video - "Finding Easy Information" (3:07) pausing after the memory section (1:18) and have them add their family members and information they know.
 * Open a new tab and View the video "Step 2 Discover a Family Record" (2:23)
 * Search for records about an ancestor on "FamilySearch.org"
 * Add the information they find to their database.
 * Continue the video - "Finding Easy Information" (at 1:19), then challenge them to go home and gather what records they can find and start interviewing relatives to learn more.