Bangor Maine Family History Center

The Bangor Family History Center serves Bangor, Maine, and surrounding areas, and is open to the public with no admission charge.

Center Contacts and Hours
Location Map:


 * Location Map

Address:


 * 639 Grandview Ave Bangor ME United States.
 * The Family History Center is located on the right side in the back wing of the building.
 * The words Family History Center are posted above the wing where the entrance is located.
 * Please ring the buzzer (to the left of the door) for access.


 * Language:English

Phone:


 * (207) 942-7677, press 2 for the Family History Center when prompted

E-mail:


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

Open Hours:


 * Tuesday:10:00am-2:00pm and 6:00pm-8:00pm
 * Wednesday:10:00am-2:00pm and 6:00pm-8:00pm
 * Thursday:10:00am-2:00pm and 6:00pm-8:00pm
 * Saturday:10:00am-2:00pm

Holiday Schedule:

Closed snow-days (at least when Bangor schools are closed), holidays and holiday weekends, Church Conference Saturdays where time schedules would conflict (in 2016: April 2, April 16, October 1, October 22, and November 5). The FHC will also be closed April 21-23 because of a Youth Conference being held in the building. We will be closed for the evening shift (6-8 pm) on March 24 due to potentially bad road conditions.

Class Schedule (free and open to the public)

 * Wednesday, April 20, 2016 - 6 pm - monthly meeting of the Penobscot County Genealogical Society: Women in Genealogy, presented by Nina Brawn.

The following classes are planned:
 * Saturday, May 14, 2016 - 9 am - 3 pm - Bangor Family Discovery Day - register at www.lds.org/topics/family-history/host-a-family-history-fair/signup.

French-Canadian Research, presented by Linda Miller

If your ancestors come from Quebec, celebrate! French Canadian records are among the best anywhere. This class will look at some of the resources available, such as parish and census records, and research sources such as LaFrance, PRDH and the many marriage indexes. We will also discuss some of the challenges, such as “dit” names and spelling variations that happen when French speakers move in with Yankees.

FamilySearch Part 1, presented by Ralph and Linda Miller

Building your family tree. Getting started, adding in living relatives, linking to deceased relatives already in FamilySearch, using different tree views, printing charts, contacting other submitters using the “message” function.

FamilySearch Part 2, presented by Ralph and Linda Miller

Growing your family tree – FamilySearch makes it easy to find new information and back it up with sources. Using Record Hints, attaching sources to document your tree, using Record Search, merging duplicates, and using help features.

From Tree to Temple (LDS), presented by Ralph and Miller

How to find and prepare your own family name to take to the temple. This class will discuss the different strategies for those just beginning to build their family tree, those with a partial tree, and descendancy research for those with full trees.

'''A Digital Treasure: PERSI and Your Family History, presented by D. Joshua Taylor (video)

For more than twenty years the Periodical Source Index (PERSI) has created an index to thousands of genealogical and local history periodicals across the world. Now online at FindMyPast, the next generation of PERSI includes links to actual digital images and more than 2.5 million indexed entries. This session will provide you with an inside look at how to make the most of your PERSI searches, including ways to find articles online and offline. Specific discussion points will include keyword searching, using FindMyPast’s PERSI filters, viewing and downloading article images, and how to keep current with the latest changes to PERSI.

Finding Elusive Records on FamilySearch.org, presented by Robert Kehrer (video)

What do you do if your ancestor's records doesn't come up in your initial search? A significant portion of the records on FamilySearch are not indexed and can't be searched using the form. For a number of historical, technical or genealogical reasons, an ancestor's record may be challenging to find. This session will walk through some of the common difficulties confronted by researchers and demonstrate how to use the FamilySearch systems to find that elusive record.

What's New in Family Tree for 2016, presented by Ron Tanner (video)

Come and learn the plans for what we are working on in 2016. Be the first to look at ideas and concepts and be able to participate in the directions Family Tree is taking. We will talk about the latest delivered features and how to use them effectively and our roadmap for the future!!

'''In Search of Sarah – Finding Your Ancestor’s Story in Military Pension Records, presented by Dale Mower

Sarah Shannon was an Irish immigrant who was married twice, both husbands fought in wars (one in Mexican-American War and the other in Civil War). We’ll explain how to obtain pension files, and then look at examples and see the type of information that may be included; ending with how that information can then be used to piece together an ancestor’s story.

'''Homespun and Calico: Finding Our Foremothers, presented by Peggy Lauritzen (video)

Half of the names on your pedigree chart belong to women. These female ancestors sometimes have little proof that they even existed. In this class, we will discover some ways to find the women in our family's history, evidence of their lives, and perhaps some different ways they may have arrived in America.

My Ancestors Are from Britain - What Do I Do Next?''', presented by Myko Clelland (video)

An estimated over 72 million Americans have British roots, but we're much more than a Royal Family! Discover the many different kinds of records of the British Isles available to a genealogical researcher, how they differ from records found in the United States whilst learning what to be aware of when studying them. From the moment your ancestors arrived in the United States back to the medieval era, explore local traditions, historic events & the records you can use to connect the pieces that reveal your British heritage - even if you only know their name and national origin. Examples will be given of passenger lists, wills, court records, censuses and substitutes, church records, government registers, local historic newspapers, occupational rolls, institutional and military records throughout that show not only how to use and understand these documents but the historical context behind their existence & how to use them when uncovering the stories that reveal our ancestors' lives.

Become a Master Searcher on Ancestry, presented by Anne Mitchell (video)

There are over 16 billion records on Ancestry in over 30,000 data collections. Are you finding your ancestors in all of them? Spend some time with us and we will show you what you need to know to get the most out of Ancestry. Whether you are trying to answer a specific question or just trying to find everything you can about a specific person, we will show you how to achieve your goal.

5 Steps to Identify a Family Photo, presented by Maureen Taylor (video)

Learn five basic steps to take a photo from unknown to part of your family story. Step 1: Study the clues in a picture by looking at the photographic format, the photographer, the clothing, the caption and the clothing. Create a worksheet. Step 2: Unravel the caption. Is it correct? Family history clues to look for. Step 3: Connect to Cousins using social media (like Facebook) and reunion sites as networking tools. Step 4: Research the clues. Online fashion resources, photographer databases and photo identification tips. Step 5: Spread the word. The best places to post pictures. Add up the facts and verify your findings!

Begin at the Beginning: Helping Others to Love Family History (LDS)''', presented by Mike Sandberg (video)

Get ideas for how to provide a spiritual, heart-turning experience to individuals who are new to family history. FamilySearch has uncovered a few simple things that can help or hinder those you teach to participate fully in temple service.

Helping Others to Take the Next Step (LDS), presented by Diane Loosle, Brian Edwards (video)

This session will introduce a few simple strategies to help individuals you teach, who are hesitant, to begin their family history. Discover new ways to invite the spirit and build confidence in those you teach.

'''Clicks and Bricks: Making Your Family History Center Relevant in the 21st Century (LDS), presented by Suzanne Curley

Enter the bold new frontier of multi-generational family history centers, where children, youth and adults of all ages experience the joy of discovering their family. Learn about new tools and resources available for center directors from FamilySearch.

'''Straight Talk about the State of Indexing (LDS), presented by Mike Judson

FamilySearch indexing and its amazing volunteers have been busily humming along for more than eight years, producing truly miraculous results and revolutionizing family history research. But technology is changing, available record collections are expanding, partnerships are growing, and the needs and expectations of patrons are shifting--so indexing is adjusting to keep pace. That means it's time for a little straight talk about what it all means to you and those you lead. Come and you may even hear a few indexing myths debunked along the way!


 * Wednesday, October 19, 2016 - 6 pm - monthly meeting of the Penobscot County Genealogical Society: How to Hold a Family Reunion, presented by Sandra Burke.


 * Check out the online FamilySearch Research Courses at Link


 * Please email suggestions/requests for specific classes in Bangor.

Staff Training Meetings

 * One on one as requested by the Staff Member.

Collections

 * FamilySearch Catalog: This center has the ability to order any of the films and fiche available through the FamilySearch Catalog.
 * Books, over 1,430 microfilms, and over 580 fiche sets, primarily for Maine and other New England states. A smattering of books regarding other states. Some Canadian, British, and German films and books. 

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.
 * Currently, these websites include 19th Century British Library Newspaper Digital Archive, Alexander Street Press - The American Civil War, Ancestry.com, Findmypast, Fold3.com, Historic Map Works, Kinpoint, MyHeritage, Access Newspaper Archive, Paper Trail, ProQuest Obituary Listings, Puzzilla.org, and World Vital Records.
 * ArkivDigital Online is available from the desktops.

Hardware and Equipment

 * 7 computers and 3 printers (one of the printers can copy to a pdf or jpg file)
 * 4 microfilm readers, equipped with monopods for mounting a digital camera to take pictures of film images (Note: Patrons may use their own camera or the FHC camera)
 * 1 digital camera and Kingston card reader to transfer images (Note: Patrons should bring a USB or thumb drive to receive the images)
 * 4 microfiche readers 

Staff Research Specialties
(Include sections for any other services your center provides. Add additional sections for those services. See the Bountiful and Chattanooga FHC pages for examples.)

Resources in the Local Area

 * Bangor Public Library: Link


 * Fogler Library, University of Maine, Orono: Link


 * Penobscot Maritime Museum, Searsport: Link


 * Maine State Archives, Augusta: Link


 * Maine State Library, Augusta: Link


 * Maine State Museum, Augusta: Link

Links

 * Online Film Ordering: Link


 * Online Catalog for the University of Maine System Libraries, Bangor Public Library, Maine State Library, and Maine State Archives is called URSUS, which is available at Link


 * FamilySearch Research Wiki article for Maine: Maine Genealogy

Volunteer at the Center

 * We appreciate everyone who comes to help.


 * Please email (see above for our email address) if you are interested in helping.