Parktown South Africa Family History Centre

''The Parktown Family History Centre is adjacent to the Johannesburg Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (The primary function of the Centre is to help temple patrons prepare family ordinance requests for submission to the temple.) While primarily used by members of the church, the facility is open to all who wish to research the geneaqlogy of their ancestors.''

The Centre also houses a large holding of South African Death Notices on microfilm which are scanned and emailed to family history centres thoughout Africa and elsewhere by email request.

''Genealogists and patrons come to this Centre to research family histories online in digital format, printed volumes and in microfilm and microfiche formats. Patrons may rent fillms that are not already in our holdings through the online ordering system: Order films here ''

Centre Contacts and Hours
Location &amp; Map:


 * 1) 5a Jubilee Road, Parktown, Gauteng 2193, Johannesburg, RSA
 * 2) The Centre is on the 1st Floor of the Africa Southwest Area Office, adjacent to the Johannesburg Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Centre is open Tuesday through Saturday, and is closed Sunday and Monday as well as any day the Temple is closed.  Limited parking is available in the guarded Area Office car park immediately west of the Temple car park area on Jubilee Road. Use the lift from Ground Floor near the Cafeteria entrance, or buzz for admittance at the 1st Floor entrance near the upper car park.  Organized goups of 10 - 15 patrons are welcome with prior notice.  Additional hours may be arranged upon prior notice. 
 * 3) Google Map: "5a Jubilee Road, Parktown, Gauteng"

Phone: 27 011 645 1461

E-mail:  FHCJHB@ldschurch.org

Open Hours: Tuesdays through Fridays:  09:00 to 16:00, Saturdays: 07:00 to 14:30

Holiday Schedule: Centre is closed on any day that the Johannesburg Temple is closed.

Upcoming Events:
Open House for Area Office Staff and Missionaries March 26, 2014, 12:00 to 17:00

Class Schedule:
Staff Training Meetings: Tuesdays at 08:30

Ward and Stake leaders and Family History Consultants in the Johannesburg area may call 011 645 1461 for a training appointment.

Individuals may visit or call the Centre for assistance during posted hours.

Indexing is available for all patrons who have fifteen minutes or more to share for service.

Collections

 * Family History Library Catalog: This centre has the ability to order any of the films and fiche available through the Family History Library Catalog.
 * Suid-Afrikaanse Geslagregisters (hard copy and PDF)
 * Dutch Reformed Church Christenings
 * South Africa Probate Records and Death Notices
 * Stamboom van de Van Der Merwe Familie (volumes and index)
 * many more volumes

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.

Hardware and Equipment

 * Fourteen Internet access computers for accessing FamilySearch and the FHC Portal to membership genealogy services. Two additional computers for staff use to assist patrons.
 * Nine microfilm readers.
 * Microfiche and microfilm scanner for support staff use, upon request.
 * Document scanner for support staff use, upon request.
 * Printer and copier for patron use. No patron fee assessed.
 * Nearby access to temple staff: Submit Family Ordinance Request form to receive temple ordinance cards. 

Family History Support Missionaries
''The Parktown Family History Centre is currently staffed with three senior missionary couples. Each of us are trained in the use of FamilyTree, MyFamily and in maintaining the large microfilm holding in this center. Patrons from all over the Africa Southeast area may expect assistance in preparing name submission requests for their deceased family members. ''

''Patrons throughout Africa are encouraged to record their oral histories in the pamphlet, "MyFamily," and bring them to the Family History Centre, or to their local Family History Consultant. Patrons who do not have the use of computers or Internet access may come to the Centre and receive help in transcribing their family pedigree from their copies of MyFamily into Family Ordinance Requests.''

''The Centre operates in the English language. Language translation is available for the missionaries to converse in the patrron's native language. French, Portuguese, Zulu and Afrikaans are readily avalaiible.''

We employ Google Translate to some success, although personal translation is preferred.

Resources in the Local Area
''Over the years many significant registers in the Afrikaans language have been collected. Our holdings compare favorably to those displayed in the Salt Lake City Family History Center.''

Senior Couple Missionaries of all kinds in the Area Office attend worship services in assigned Wards and branches throughout the Johannesburg area, providing fellowship and encouragment to local members to complete their family name subbmissions.

''Full-time Missionaries from the South Africa Johannesburg Mission and all Ward and Branch Mission Leaders are encouraged to bring all new converts and recently reactivated members to the Centre to prepare names for Baptism and Confirmation within a month of their baptism or reactivation. ''

Links
''https://familysearch.org/tree is the primary web site for developing your Family Tree. Many other web sites exist, and we have the index and a free Portal to many of them.''

Volunteer at the Centre
We seek communication with Ward and Branch Mission Leaders, and Stake and District Familly History Consultants to assure that all members, new and old or recently reactiviated, are invited to come to the Centre and to the temple to do the ordinances for their deceased ancestors.

''The Area Presidency and Stake and District Presidents routinely invite all members to attend the temple. We are interested in hearing from Family History Consultants and Ward and Branch Mission Leaders about how we can assist the members by:''


 * 1) Receiving completed MyFamily booklets for preparation of ordinance requests. This may require computer help by the Family History Consultants, or may be forwarded to the Parktown Family History Centre for completion.
 * 2) Scheduling groups of members living within 150 km of Johannesburg area who can attend the temple more frequenently than those who travel great distances. Those who travel great distances are usually given priority in the Centre, but with advance notice, the same level of support can be given those who live in the local area.
 * 3) Responding to all other needs and suggestions that any may have.