San Diego California FamilySearch Center

4195 Camino Del Rio South, San Diego, CA 92108 619-584-7668 -  Email: [mailto:ca_sandiego@ldsmail.net ca_sandiego@ldsmail.net] Directors, Ross McCollum and Jane McCollum

Calendar of Events
Click here for Current Calendar of Events



Hours and Holidays
Open: Tuesday, Friday and Saturday 10 AM. to 3 PM Wednesday and Thursday 10 AM. to 9 PM CLOSED Sunday and Monday

2013 remaining Holidays closed: December 19-31 &amp; January 1.

2014 Holidays closed: November 24-30, December 19-31 &amp; January 1.

Directions
In San Diego at 4195 Camino Del Rio South on the east side of the building with ample free parking. We are located across the street from the Penske Truck Rental Center.

For Google map, click here (GPS location: 32.777407,-117.103357)

Buses: For San Diego MTS public transport Route 18, click here. The bus stop is at 4141 Camino Del Rio South, about 225 feet west of the Church parking lot.

Research Assets
San Diego Family Search Library On Site Access


 * 40,000 Microfilm Rolls
 * 76,000 Microfiche
 * 10,000 Books, Magazines &amp; Publications
 * 420 Compac Discs (CDs)

Salt Lake Family History Center - Access via on-line ordering system


 * 2.4 Million Microfilm Rolls
 * 742,000 Microfiche
 * digital on-line records - more each month!

On-site Free Internet Access for Genealogy Research

 * 19th Century British Library Newspapers digital archive – This fully searchable database of the British Library's newspaper holdings provides a complete run of 48 national and regional Victorian British newspapers for the 19th century from 1800 to 1900. These support the study of colonial history, genealogical research, politics, urban studies, and media courses.


 * Access Newspaper Archives - "NewspaperArchive.com is the world's largest online newspaper archive. Featuring billions of articles from historical newspapers around the U.S. and the world, NewspaperARCHIVE makes exploring history and genealogy easy and fun. Discover fascinating news in archived newspapers hundreds of years old—including obituaries, birth announcements, sports articles, comics, and more—to fill in the life stories you are interested in. And share those stories with others through our community at Our NewspaperARCHIVE. All of our historical newspapers are full-page and fully searchable. Try exploring above, and discover your history today!"

◦Research Data: Contains indexed, searchable information on over 4 million soldiers and thousands of battles, together with 15,000 photographs. ◦Letters and Diaries: Contains approximately 100,000 indexed pages of diaries, letters, and memoirs, including 4,000 pages of previously unpublished manuscripts, such as the letters of Amos Wood and his wife and the diary of Maryland planter William Claytor. ◦Images, Photographs, Posters, and Ephemera: Provides a vivid history of the American Civil War with over 1,400 images.
 * Alexander Street Press, American Civil War


 * Ancestry.com - Institutional version – Ancestry gives you access to thousands of collections of records from around the world, including immigration, census, voter, vital, and military records; newspapers and periodicals; family trees; photos and images; directories, maps, court, land, wills and financial records, stories, memories, and histories; and detailed records about births, marriages, deaths, land ownership, and much more. It is the largest for-profit genealogy company in the world.


 * ArkivDigital Online - ArkivDigital is the largest private provider of Swedish Church Records and other historical records online! All images are newly photographed color images of the original documents.

◦1911 British Census (accessed through the Find My Past website)–The 1911 UK Census is a record of everyone who lived in England and Wales in 1911. It provides a unique snapshot of the lives of those who lived at that time.
 * Find My Past – FindMyPast makes it easy to research your UK ancestry and create your family tree. Search census records and trace births, marriages, and deaths to bring your family history to life. Please note that not all of the content from Find My Past is available in family history centers.


 * Fold3 (formerly Footnote.com) – Search or browse millions of historical documents and photos. Fold3 has refocused their efforts on gathering the best online collection of military records and stories. The Fold3 name reflects military history and honor, since traditionally, the third fold in a flag-folding ceremony honors and remembers veterans for their sacrifice in defending their country and promoting peace in the world. See Using Fold3 at a Family History Center for more information.

NOTE: This service was temporarily removed on 22 October, 2013. This contract is in negotiation now. ◦Census: Find ancestors in the complete set of U.S. federal census images from 1790 to 1930, including name indexes for many years. ◦Books: Find information on people and places described in over 24,000 family and local histories. ◦PERSI Periodical Source Index™: Find information about people and places from this index of over 2 million genealogy and local history articles, updated annually. ◦Revolutionary War: Search selected records from the Revolutionary War Era Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files. ◦Freedman’s Bank: Search for individuals in Freedman’s Bank (1865-1874), which was founded to serve African Americans. Includes a name index and images for bank depositors and their dependents and heirs. ◦U.S. Serial Set: Search the Memorials, Petitions, and Private Relief Actions of the U.S. Congress in the LexisNexis® U.S. Serial Set.
 * The Genealogist - English parish records, directories, census, civil registration, surname mapping, and selected army and navy lists.
 * Heritage Quest Online – Heritage Quest Online database is a collection of material for both genealogical and historical researchers, with coverage dating back to the late 1700s. Researchers can use HeritageQuest Online to find their ancestors, trace their paths across America, and learn what life was like in the areas where they settled. Searches include:


 * Historic Map Works Library Edition – Historic Map Works™ Library Edition is one of the most extensive digital map collections available, with over 470,000 high-resolution, full color historic and antique maps. The core of the collection consists of cadastral (property and land ownership) maps illustrating the geographic and development history of the United States and also includes illustrations, city directories, and more. This unique content allows genealogists, historians, and academic researchers to track the "residential genealogy" of families and locations.

◦Record oral photo narratives directly from your computer microphone. ◦Multi-media story publisher. ◦Social network for feedback and collaboration. ◦Public archives to view and share stories. ◦Five levels of privacy. ◦The Legacy Shop for heritage replayed books, DVD equipment, software, etc.
 * Legacy Stories - Put the leaves on your family tree by giving voice to your ancestors. LegacyStories.Org is a social network for all things heritage. Provides a secure platform to upload stories and photos and add recorded narration. The resulting pictures, stories, and narration can be linked as source records on FamilySearch Family Tree. The site offers a full suite of exciting features, including:


 * Origins.net - Features comprehensive and exclusive British and Irish record collections dating back to the 13th century, as well as rare and unique photos and books to browse.


 * Paper Trail - Provides access to 19th-century westward American migration documents.


 * World Vital Records

This includes access to the International Genealogical Index (IGI) Revised - Pedigree Resource & Ancestral File submitted genealogies.
 * Familysearch.org - the database that is linked to Ancestry, Fold3 and others!

Patron Equipment Resources

 * 57 Computers
 * 10 Microfilm Readers
 * 1 Microfiche Reader
 * 2 Microfilm/fiche Printers
 * 2 Digital Microfilm/fiche Scanners
 * 2 page scanners
 * 4 Multi-use Printers &amp; Copiers
 * 2 digital cameras with monopod attachments for document scanning
 * 1 digital scanner for slides, negatives and small pictures (under 5x7")
 * 2 Multi-Media Classrooms (call to reserve use)
 * 1 Oral History Studio (call to reserve use)
 * Many tables and chairs for research and smaller meetings!

Patron Software Resources
Software for use on FHC computers. This allows use with a flash drive, training or evaluation.


 * Personal Ancestral File (PAF) - multi-language versions


 * Ancestral Quest


 * Roots Magic


 * Legacy

Youth Program Assistance

 * Youth Consultant Training
 * Young Women Personal Progress - You have a noble responsibility to use your strength and influence for good. Let us help you achieve your Personal Progress goals. Faith Value Project: Take a family history class at the Family History Center, and collect stories of your relatives or others who have demonstrated faith. You may also interview family members or others and record their names.

See also: Personal Progress Award.


 * Duty to God - The LDS Duty to God Certificate Requirements:

Deacon - Family Activities: 4. Keep a written record of your family history. Ask a parent or the ward          family history consultant to help you prepare a 4-generation pedigree chart. Priest - Family Activities:        9. Submit the names of one of your ancestors for temple work or write a 500-word personal history. See also: Duty to God Award.


 * BSA - Duty to God requirements for all Scouts.


 * Boy Scout Merit Badge in Genealogy - We can help you accomplish your BSA goals for this subject. Please prepare carefully and call us for assistance.

Neighboring Collections

 * The Computer Genealogy Society of San Diego (CGSSD) provides a list of area resources and Genealogy Organizations and Societies in the San Diego area. The CGSSD also provides a local news letter.
 * The San Diego Genealogical Society has merged their genealogical collection into the downtown San Diego City Library.
 * The California State Archives and Libraries provides access to California births, marriages and death records.
 * The San Diego County Library system has an area of computer genealogical support within the 33 branches of the County Library system.
 * The San Diego City Public Library systemhas a large Genealogical Section in its main Library downtown and computer genealogical support in all of its 35 City Library branches.

Latter-day Saint collections

 * Church History Library, Salt Lake City, LDS history 1830-now: diaries, manuscripts, Church records, photos, oral history, architectural drawings, pamphlets, newspapers, periodicals, maps, microforms, audiovisual material.
 * Daughters of Utah Pioneers, SLC, the Museum displays artifacts, and the History Department collects and preserves about 100,000 histories of pioneers who set out for, settled, or were born in Utah by 10 May 1869.
 * Utah State Historical Society, SLC, family histories, photographs, books, manuscript collections, telephone directories, maps, newspapers, yearbooks, and periodicals are available in the Research Center and online.

Class Schedule
Classes at the San Diego FamilySearch Library January - December 2013 Pre-registration Required: Call: (619) 584 7668 or Email: ca_sandiego@ldsmail.net

Class Times and Instructors


 * African American Research Thurs - 7 PM to 8 PM Marti Lewis. Margaret Lewis is Pres. of the SD African American Genealogy Research Group. Her classes are open to members and community alike and her lesson content covers all phases of African American research from African origins through migration/immigration, to slavery, reconstruction, segregation and emancipation.
 * Family Search / Family Tree  Wed. through Thurs - 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM (Call for appointment) This class outlines the transition from the former New.FamilySearch to the pr esent FamilySearch – Family Tree. Topics covered include basic pedigree building, sourcing, correcting and merging data.
 * Family Tree Photos Thurs - 6 PM to7 PM Susie Aincham. Recently released by FamilySearch, Susie Aincham has proven to be the resident expert in adding photos and stories to your online FamilyTree file. For a fun evening, bring your family photos and let Susie help you format and install them for all your family to enjoy.
 * German Research 3rd Wed - 1 to 3 PM German Interest Group Family historians researching their Germanic ancestors will find the presentations on German genealogy sponsored by the San Diego Genealogical Society especially helpful. Contact SDGS at 858-279-7347 No preregistration required.


 * New Consultant Training daily by appt.
 * Spanish Research Thurs PM  Marcy Lopez
 * “On-Call” Consultants available for Italian, Irish, Scottish, British, Canadian, French, German, Jewish, and Spanish Research Ancestry Institution.com - Census Records/Family Trees. Instruction available Tuesday through Saturday.
 * Indexing - How to Instruction available Tuesday through Saturday. Instructors: Bob Harris –Individual or Group Instructions. Call for appointment


 * Screen Shots/JPEG/Cropping. Instructor: Bob Harris. - Windows XP, Vista &amp; Windows 7 - Tuesday &amp; Wednesday, Thursday (AM)
 * Call for instruction on Film ordering.

FHC online Portal
Use the following link to go to the general Family History Center online portal for Genealogical Resources, Classes &amp; Workshops &amp; One-on-One Assistance.

PAF - Free!
Use the following link to download the FREE Personal Ancestral File genealogy program. Select the PAF 5 program download and ignore ads on download web site. The default PAF version for the San Diego California LMS Family History Center is PAF version 5. For more information about PAF, please click here.