Bellevue Washington Family History Center

This oldest Puget Sound family history center offers a unique blend of traditional (book), intermediate (microfilm) and contemporary (computer) resources. Helpful librarians serve more open hours than any other family history center in the region. We are particularly interested in helping young people learn about their ancestors and learn how to do genealogy.



Center Contacts and Hours
Location Map:


 * Location Map

Address:


 * 10675 NE 20th Street, Bellevue, Washington, United States, behind the Bellevue LDS chapel, which shares the property and provides space for monthly meetings of four Eastside Genealogical Society special interest groups.

Language:


 * English, with limited assistance in Spanish and Chinese.

Phone:


 * 1-425-454-2690

E-mail:


 * [mailto:WA_Bellevue@ldsmail.net WA_Bellevue@ldsmail.net]

Open Hours:


 * Tue-Wed-Thu: 10:00am-9:00pm
 * Fri-Sat: 10:00am-6:00pm

Training classes may be scheduled at other times, especially on midweek nights when youth groups normally meet. Please contact the center to schedule classes.

Holiday Schedule:

Closed in 2015 on Saturday, July 4 (Independence Day); Wednesday, November 25, to Saturday, November 28 (Thanksgiving); Thursday, December 24, to Saturday, January 2, 2016 (Christmas); and when Bellevue Public Schools close for inclement weather.

Upcoming Events

 * May 2015 - Mexican family history month. Mexican flag flies at the center
 * Jun 2015 - Danish family history month. Danish flag flies at the center
 * Jul 2015 - American family history month. Betsy Ross flag flies at the center
 * Aug 2015 - Canadian family history month. Maple Leaf flag flies at the center
 * Sep 2015 - British family history month. Union Jack flies at the center
 * Oct 2015 - Harry Potter family history month. Hogwarts flag flies at the center
 * Nov 2015 - Norwegian family history month. Norwegian flag flies at the center
 * Dec 2015 - Dutch family history month. Netherlands flag and Sinterklaas fly at the center

Class Schedule

 * None at this time. Contact the center to request or schedule classes.

Staff Training Meetings

 * None at this time. Four regional seminars are available in the last four months of 2015, and staff training resumes in 2016.

Collection Links

 * Microfilms &amp; Microfiche:
 * Bellevue Family History Center Films Only
 * Microfilms on permanent loan to the Bellevue FHC; does not include temporary films. 
 * FamilySearch Films at All Locations
 * Books:
 * Bellevue Family History Center Books Only
 * Books, journals and pamphlets on family history methodology, sources and technology; U.S. census, land, migration and military records; ethnic Afro-American, native American and Quaker records; U.S. states, especially New England, Pennsylvania and Washington; and foreign countries, especially Germany, the British Isles and Scandinavia.
 * Salt Lake Family History Library

Databases and Software

 * 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.

Hardware and Equipment

 * 8 networked desktops and 4 networked laptop locations
 * 1 networked printer/scanner, 2 networked printers and 1 flatbed scanner
 * 1 networked microfilm reader/printer, 4 microfilm readers and 2 microfiche readers

Staff Research Specialties
All staff librarians help patrons search catalogs, locate books, load microfilms and search databases; but some are more experienced than others. Please contact the [mailto:WA_Bellevue@ldsmail.net center] to schedule language or complex research assistance.

Resources in the Local Area
The Eastside Genealogical Society uses our family history center for monthly meetings of its Legacy, German, Irish-Scots and Italian special interest groups. Some who lead those SIGs serve on our family history center staff and have unique expertise. We can also call in those with Chinese and Spanish language skills. The Seattle Genealogical Society cooperates with the center and has received donations of excess materials from us.

Key Links

 * Bellevue FHC Books Catalog
 * King County Library System
 * Sep 10 @ 6-8 pm - NAAM Family History Series (Northwest African-American Museum)
 * Oct 17 @ 9:45-4 pm - Seattle Genealogical Society Fall Seminar (Nordic Museum)
 * Oct 18 @ 10-2 pm - Seattle Genealogical Society Special Classes (SGS Library)
 * Nov 14 @ 9-5 pm - LDS Family History Expo (Redmond Stake Center)

Volunteer at the Center
The center is looking for librarians who can help patrons search catalogs, locate books, load microfilms and search databases. Librarians work four-hour shifts each week, after becoming trained, and are occasionally offered opportunities to fill-in for others. Semimonthly or two-hour shifts can be made available, especially for youth who are learning the ropes of family history and genealogy. Please [mailto:WA_Bellevue@ldsmail.net contact us] if you are interested in volunteering.