Orchard Park New York Family History Center

United States New YorkErie County  Orchard Park Family History Center

This Family History Center is the place to come for research or assistance in finding your missing family tree members! We offer free advice to help you navigate the sea of genealogical information that is coursing the internet, a free program to record your history on Family Tree, and a place to come to try out a selection of subscription websites at no charge. And, of course, there are many more free websites we can direct you to, training to be offered, and shortcuts to be shared. ''You can connect to our Wifi, so please bring your laptops and thumb drives. ''

 New Information 

For those doing research in Poland and other places in Europe, the records that were taken off line have been put back. We are not sure of the extent to which they were restored but they are once again viewable in the family history centers.

Center Contacts and Hours
Location Map:


 * Location on Map

Address:


 * 4005 Baker Road, Orchard Park, New York 14127, United States (no mail is accepted here)
 * We are located almost across the street from the Orchard Park High School parking lot
 * It is best to park in the larger (southern) of the two parking lots
 * The larger lot is "L" shaped and leads to a sidewalk at the back of the building where the entrance to the Family History Center can be found
 * There is one small step up to double glass doors
 * Restrooms are available
 * Handicapped accessible
 * Please feel free to call for special arrangements if you think they might be needed


 * Language:English

Phone:


 * 1-716-662-3117

E-mail:


 * NY_OrchardPark@familyhistorymail.org

Open Hours:


 * Tuesday:9:00am-4:00pm
 * Wednesday:6:00pm-9:00pm
 * Thursday:By Appointment

Holiday Schedule:

'''Closed when power is out, or Orchard Park Schools are closed due to weather. 'Call first if weather is questionable. ''

The Center is run by non-paid volunteer staff, and may also close due to Staff illness or unplanned absence.

2019 closed dates: April 23, November 26 & 27, December 24 through January 1

2020 Close dates: Wednesday January 1, Tuesday November 24, Wednesday November 25, December 22 Through January 1 2021

Upcoming Events
Free: Finding Your Roots, Buffalo Family History Fair, October 19, 2019. www.buffalofamilyhistory.org. Begins 9 am at 1424 Maple Road, Williamsville, NY 14221 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

 Getting Help With Your Family History Work 

Any time the Center is open, one of our Staff members should be able to help you with a variety of family history situations. Appointments are not required, but if you have a specialized or unusual topic, call 1-716-662-3117 to discuss your need and we will try to arrange a time with one of our Staff members who may be able to help you.

Basic help should usually be available to:

• Get started with family history

• Learn to use resources such as FamilySearch / FamilyTree and Ancestry.com

• Create a Family Tree in FamilySearch

• Attach photos and documents into FamilySearch Family Tree content

• Operate microfilm readers

• Use the Premium Websites for research

Collections

 * FamilySearch Catalog: This center may have various films and fiche available through the FamilySearch Catalog.
 * On "Indefinite Loan" are 2 microfilm drawers of Erie County churches/cemeteries; 2 drawers of microfilms for 10 other Western and Central New York counties; Native American microfilms; plus 1,200 more microfilms.

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, such as

- 19th Century British Library Newspaper Digital Archive - Alexander Street Press: The American Civil War; Research Database; Letters and Diaries; Images, Photographs, Posters, and Ephemera; Social and Cultural History; Women and Social Movements in the United States - Ancestry.com - Institution version

- ArkivDigital

- FamNet - Findmypast - Institution version - Fold3.com

- Geneanet - Kinpoint Premium - MyHeritage - Library Edition - Newspaper Archive - Paper Trail - ProQuest Obituary Listings - Puzzilla.org


 * Hardware and Equipment


 * 3 internet connected research computers; 1 photocopier/printer/scanner for use in uploading photos and documents to the FamilySearch.org "Memories" gallery; 1 microfilm reader with photocopying capability; and 5 microfilm readers, one of which has a special magnifying lens for 16 mm microfilm.

Resources in the Local Area
Polish Genealogical Society of NY State

Grosvenor room

(This section is to highlight other resources in your area that will be helpful for individuals doing research there in your location, if there are any, such as government offices, historical societies, etc.)

Links
http://pgsnys.org/

https://www.buffalolib.org/content/grosvenor/genealogy-collection

http://www.wnygs.org/links.html

(Include links to other websites of interest to those who visit your center such as links to the city, county and state wiki pages where your center is located.)

Volunteer at the Center
Be a regular at the Center and you will get noticed! A lot of genealogy is absorbed through osmosis and you will be an expert in no time! We are always looking for new volunteers to work with our Consultants to help those around us fill in their family trees!