Harrogate England Family History Centre

The Harrogate Family History Centre serves the area of North Yorkshire containing the towns of Knaresborough, Harrogate, Wetherby, Ripon &amp; Thirsk. It is a relatively small Centre with limited resources, so it is important to make an appointment to reserve equipment for your use. We have a small team of enthusiastic volunteers.

Centre Contacts and Hours
Location &amp; Map:


 * 1) Wetherby Road, Harrogate, HG2 7SA (opposite Lancaster Park Road). This is not a mailing address. Due to limited staff, Family History Centres are unable to respond to mail inquiries.
 * 2) Entrance is via green gates to the back porch of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Chapel. Car parking is available on the Church grounds. You may need to ring bell for entrance to the Family History Centre.  
 * 3) Harrogate Family History CentreGoogle Map

Phone: 01423 886537

E-mail: uk_harrogate@ldsmail.net

Open Hours: Tuesday 7 - 9pm; Thursday 7 - 9pm (Please telephone for appointment during opening hours, or leave message on the answerphone).

Holiday Schedule: Closed Friday 4th July - Thursday 10th July 2014 (inclusive) Due to traffic congestion from the Tour de France &amp; The Great Yorkshire Show.

Closed Christmas &amp; New Year Tuesday 23rd December 2014 - Thursday 1st January 20154 (inclusive) 

Calendar and Events

 * 15th March 2014. Local &amp; Family History Day at The Pavilions of Harrogate; 10am - 4pm; organised by North Yorkshire County Records Office. The Family History Centre (FHC) is to be represented at the event and has a stall.
 * 28th June 2014. Saturday 28th June; 10am - 4:30pm; £4.50 entrance, children under 14 free. There is usually a FamilySearch stall at this annual event. www.yorkshirefamilyhistoryfair.com
 * 2nd Thursday of the month. Meeting in the FHC of the Family History Group of the University of the Third Age at 2pm. See Harrogate U3A website for contact details www.u3a-harrogate.org.uk/

Class Schedule

 * see Church bulletin for details of classes for Church membership.

Staff Training Meetings

 * Usually the 4th Thursday of each month.

Collections

 * FamilySearch Catalog: This centre has the ability to order/ receive any of the films and fiche available through the FamilySearch Catalog. See below for film ordering details.
 * Reference Books: including; The Phillimore Atlas and Index of Parish Registers; Ancestral Trails - Hebber; Tracing Your Irish Ancestors - Grenham; A New Genealogical Atlas of Ireland - Mitchell; Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry - National Archives Publication; as well as maps, gazetteers and other texts.

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. Databases available are listed below:


 * Ancestry.com
 * Findmypast.co.uk
 * 19th Century British Library Newspaper Digital Archive
 * '''The Genealogist
 * Alexander Street Press (American Civil War)
 * NewspaperArchive.com
 * Fold3.com(Military Records)
 * ArkivDigital Online (Swedish Church Records &amp; others)
 * Godfrey Memorial Library
 * Heritage Quest Online (US records)
 * Historical Map Works (Library Edition)
 * Paper Trail (Oregon-California Trails Association)
 * World Vital Records

Hardware and Equipment

 * 1 x internet connected computer with printer
 * 1 x microfiche reader
 * 1 x microfilm reader (16mm &amp; 35mm films)

On-line Film Ordering
Harrogate Family History Centre (FHC) is one which can receive films from the FamilySearch Catalog. The films can be obtained on loan by ordering online at familysearch.org/films/

Should you need, volunteers at the Centre can assist with the registration process and ordering films for loan.

Resources in the Local Area
Harrogate &amp; District Family History Society www.hadfhs.co.uk/

Ripon Historical Society And Family History Group www.riponhistoricalsociety.org.uk/

North Yorkshire Libraries www.northyorks.gov.uk/harrogatelibrary

Links
Harrogate Borough Council www.harrogate.gov.uk

Harrogate Advertiser (Local Newspaper) www.harrogateadvertiser.co.uk/

Borthwick Institute for Archives www.york.ac.uk/library/borthwick/

North Yorkshire County Council www.northyorks.gov.uk

West Yorkshire Archive Services www.archives.wyjs.org.uk/

North Yorkshire County Record Office www.northyorks.gov.uk/archives

East Riding of Yorkshire Archives &amp; Local Studies Service (The Treasure House) www.eastriding.gov.uk/cs/culture-and-information/archives/archivesloc/

FreeBMD Civil Registration Index for England &amp; Wales www.freebmd.org.uk/

General Register Office; online certificate ordering for England &amp; Wales www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/