Family History Center (LDS Church)
Encyclopedia
Family History Centers are units of the Family History Library
in Salt Lake City operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). In 2009, there were over 4500 FHCs in 88 countries which are resources for research and study of genealogy
and family history
.
The smallest FHCs are target towards people living within the boundaries of individual local wards and branches. Stakes and districts
may house a FHC for their constituant wards/branches, or may share a facility with multiple stakes/districts in their area
. Regional FHCs are usually "Library Class" facilities designated as true branch libraries of the Salt Lake City Family History Library. FHCs with established hours of operation are open to members of the LDS Church and non-members alike.
Most smaller FHCs can not order microfilm and microfiche from the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. The centers that do not order films are usually located close to others that do. As of April 2010, the charge for ordering a film was $5.50 (local and state taxes additional) in the United States for the initial order and the same price for renewal. After the second renewal the microfilm is designated as a long term loan for the FHC. Most Family History Centers provide some type of access to a number of subscription databases. Mid range FHCs may have small book collections.
class" facilities. These were complete with dedicated internal server and a library catalogs or card catalogs
for their collections. In 2010, the regional branch libraries were redesignated as "Large Multi-Stake FHCs" on the FamilySearch website. These branch libraries have dedicated book collections in the thousands, microfilm & microfliche in the tens of thousands, dozens of internet connected computers and microfilm & microfliche readers and some digital scanners. All have dedicated servers with DSL, cable or T-1 internet access. In addition all had at least one multi-use classroom, and several research areas.
These branch libraries have a dedicated non-paid full-time director (usually a husband/wife team) and dozens of volunteer staff. In many cases non-church member volunteers serve from the community. Local genealogy groups often support these library facilities seeing non-LDS patron use higher than local LDS usage. While the LDS Church as renamed most of them, their websites reflect older names. The following is a list of Regional Family History Centers redesignated Large Multi-Stake Family History Centers:
, is part of the Harold B. Lee Library
, at Brigham Young University
in Provo, Utah. The BYU Family History Library was one of the original planned FHCs and is the largest Family History Center outside of Salt Lake City. It was formerly known as the Utah Valley Regional Family History Center. It is now semi-independent of the LDS FHC system.
The library collection has 2.4 million rolls of Family History Library Microfilmed genealogical records and over 742,000 microfiche in the main system. In 2003, the collection increased monthly by an average of 4,100 rolls of film, 700 books, and 16 electronic resources. A majority of the records contain information about persons who lived before 1930. Approximately 200 cameras are currently microfilming records in over 45 countries. Records have been filmed in over 110 countries, territories, and possessions.
The first Family History Center (FHC), then called a branch genealogical library, was organized in the Harold B. Lee Library
on Brigham Young University
Campus in May, 1964. Plans had been announced at October General Conference
of 1963 to organize family history centers in Mesa, Arizona
, Logan, Utah
, Cardston, Alberta
and Oakland, California
, all adjacent to the temples
in those cities.
The Family History Centers were put under the overall direction of Archibald F. Bennett
. By December, 1964 there were 29 FHCs and by 1968, 75. In 1987, these institutions were renamed "family history centers."
website.
Family History Library
The Family History Library is a genealogical research facility in downtown Salt Lake City. The library is open to the public free of charge and is operated by FamilySearch, the genealogical arm of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints .-History:The origins of the Family History...
in Salt Lake City operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). In 2009, there were over 4500 FHCs in 88 countries which are resources for research and study of genealogy
Genealogy
Genealogy is the study of families and the tracing of their lineages and history. Genealogists use oral traditions, historical records, genetic analysis, and other records to obtain information about a family and to demonstrate kinship and pedigrees of its members...
and family history
Family history
Family history is the systematic narrative and research of past events relating to a specific family, or specific families.- Introduction :...
.
The smallest FHCs are target towards people living within the boundaries of individual local wards and branches. Stakes and districts
District (LDS Church)
A district of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a geographical administrative unit composed of a number of congregations called branches. A district is a subdivision of a mission of the church and in many ways is analogous to a stake of the church. The leader of a district is the...
may house a FHC for their constituant wards/branches, or may share a facility with multiple stakes/districts in their area
Area (LDS Church)
An area is an administrative unit of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which typically is composed of multiple stakes and missions...
. Regional FHCs are usually "Library Class" facilities designated as true branch libraries of the Salt Lake City Family History Library. FHCs with established hours of operation are open to members of the LDS Church and non-members alike.
Ward, Stake and Multi-Stake Family History Centers
Family History Centers vary greatly in size, hours staffed, and resources available. Because of changing demographics, many smaller FHCs are closing and resources being directed into "Library Class" facilities similar to the Riverton, Utah facility open in June 2010.Most smaller FHCs can not order microfilm and microfiche from the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. The centers that do not order films are usually located close to others that do. As of April 2010, the charge for ordering a film was $5.50 (local and state taxes additional) in the United States for the initial order and the same price for renewal. After the second renewal the microfilm is designated as a long term loan for the FHC. Most Family History Centers provide some type of access to a number of subscription databases. Mid range FHCs may have small book collections.
Ward FHC
The "Ward FHC" is the smallest consisting of at least one computer, related family history programs, most likely internet access and has the most variable hours per week due to the volunteer staff. The Ward FHC may or may not have a dedicated room for their FHC since most ward buildings are designed for multiple use. They may or may not have microfilm or microfiche readers.Stake FHC
The "Stake FHC", representing about 4 to 6 ward or branches units, is the next in size consisting of two or more computers, related family history programs, internet access and usually has better hours per week than Ward FHCs. Stake FHCs may have a small collection of CDs, books and local historical material. The Stake FHC usually has a dedicated room staffed by volunteers. Most have microfilm or microfliche readers and the ability to order film/fliche from Salt Lake City FH library.Multi-Stake FHC
The "Multi-Stake FHCs" represents two or more Stakes units consisting of 8 or more wards and/or branches. These have larger dedicated areas of a Stake Center or a separate building for the use of the FHC. These larger FHCs have dedicated book, microfilm, and mircofliche areas. They have 6 or more computers with varied phone line, cable, or satellite internet access, family history software and often insitutional version of Ancestry.com, Footnote.com and maybe other paid access sites. All have microfilm or microfliche readers and the ability to order film/fliche from Salt Lake City FH library. Most have local area family history material, but are not "Library Class" facilities.Regional Branch Libraries
The "Regional Branch Libraries" of the Salt Lake City Family History Library are considered "libraryLibrary
In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
class" facilities. These were complete with dedicated internal server and a library catalogs or card catalogs
Library catalog
A library catalog is a register of all bibliographic items found in a library or group of libraries, such as a network of libraries at several locations...
for their collections. In 2010, the regional branch libraries were redesignated as "Large Multi-Stake FHCs" on the FamilySearch website. These branch libraries have dedicated book collections in the thousands, microfilm & microfliche in the tens of thousands, dozens of internet connected computers and microfilm & microfliche readers and some digital scanners. All have dedicated servers with DSL, cable or T-1 internet access. In addition all had at least one multi-use classroom, and several research areas.
These branch libraries have a dedicated non-paid full-time director (usually a husband/wife team) and dozens of volunteer staff. In many cases non-church member volunteers serve from the community. Local genealogy groups often support these library facilities seeing non-LDS patron use higher than local LDS usage. While the LDS Church as renamed most of them, their websites reflect older names. The following is a list of Regional Family History Centers redesignated Large Multi-Stake Family History Centers:
- Idaho Falls Regional Family History Center, Idaho Falls, Idaho
- Las Vegas Regional Family History Center, Las Vegas, Nevada
- London Family History Centre, Hyde Park, London, England
- Logan Utah Regional Family History Center, Logan, Utah
- Los Angeles Family History Library, Los Angeles, California
- Mesa Arizona Regional Family History Center, Mesa, Arizona
- Oakland Regional Family History Center, Oakland, California
- Ogden Regional Family History Center, Ogden, Utah
- Orange Regional Family History Center, Orange, California
- Pocatello Regional Family History Center, Pocatello, Idaho
- Riverton FamilySearch Library, Riverton, Utah
- Sacramento Regional Family History Center, Sacramento, California
- St. George Regional Family History Center, St. George, Utah
- San Diego Regional Family History Center, San Diego, California
BYU Family History Library
The BYU Family History LibraryBYU Family History Library
The BYU Family History Library is located in the Harold B. Lee Library on the campus of Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah...
, is part of the Harold B. Lee Library
Harold B. Lee Library
The Harold B. Lee Library , located in Provo, Utah, is the main academic library of Brigham Young University, the largest religious and second-largest private university in the United States. The library has approximately of shelving for the more than 6 million items in its various collections, as...
, at Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
in Provo, Utah. The BYU Family History Library was one of the original planned FHCs and is the largest Family History Center outside of Salt Lake City. It was formerly known as the Utah Valley Regional Family History Center. It is now semi-independent of the LDS FHC system.
History
The Salt Lake City Genealogical Library was founded in 1894 to gather genealogical records and assist members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with their family history and genealogical research. It is the largest library of its kind in the world. It is open to the general public at no charge. The Family History Library is visited by an estimated 1,900 or more individual patrons visit each day. By 1975 there were 17 "Branch Libraries" around the world.The library collection has 2.4 million rolls of Family History Library Microfilmed genealogical records and over 742,000 microfiche in the main system. In 2003, the collection increased monthly by an average of 4,100 rolls of film, 700 books, and 16 electronic resources. A majority of the records contain information about persons who lived before 1930. Approximately 200 cameras are currently microfilming records in over 45 countries. Records have been filmed in over 110 countries, territories, and possessions.
The first Family History Center (FHC), then called a branch genealogical library, was organized in the Harold B. Lee Library
Harold B. Lee Library
The Harold B. Lee Library , located in Provo, Utah, is the main academic library of Brigham Young University, the largest religious and second-largest private university in the United States. The library has approximately of shelving for the more than 6 million items in its various collections, as...
on Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
Campus in May, 1964. Plans had been announced at October General Conference
General Conference
In the United Nations system of specialized agencies such as the International Atomic Energy Agency or UNESCO, General Conferences are the recurring meetings of Member States. General Conference sessions are usually held yearly or biennially at the headquarters of the Agency...
of 1963 to organize family history centers in Mesa, Arizona
Mesa, Arizona
According to the 2010 Census, the racial composition of Mesa was as follows:* White: 77.1% * Hispanic or Latino : 26.54%* Black or African American: 3.5%* Two or more races: 3.4%* Native American: 2.4%...
, Logan, Utah
Logan, Utah
-Layout of the City:Logan's city grid originates from its Main and Center Street block, with Main Street running north and south, and Center east and west. Each block north, east, south, or west of the origin accumulates in additions of 100 , though some streets have non-numeric names...
, Cardston, Alberta
Cardston, Alberta
-Demographics:The population of the Town of Cardston according to its 2007 municipal census is 3,578.In 2006, it had a population of 3,452 living in 1,234 dwellings, a 0.7% decrease from 2001...
and Oakland, California
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
, all adjacent to the temples
Temple (LDS Church)
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , a temple is a building dedicated to be a House of the Lord, and they are considered by Church members to be the most sacred structures on earth. Upon completion, temples are usually open to the public for a short period of time...
in those cities.
The Family History Centers were put under the overall direction of Archibald F. Bennett
Archibald F. Bennett
Archibald Fowler Bennett was a longtime employee of the Genealogical Society of Utah who was such a figure in the promotion of family history research in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that he became known as "Mr...
. By December, 1964 there were 29 FHCs and by 1968, 75. In 1987, these institutions were renamed "family history centers."
Familysearch.org Databases
- The Ancestral File database contains more than 36 million names that are linked into families.
- The International Genealogical Index database contains approximately 600 million names of deceased individuals. An addendum to the International Genealogical Index contains an additional 125 million names. These names have been patron submitted or extracted from thousands of original birth, christening and marriage records.
- The Pedigree Resource File database contains over 80 million names that are linked into families. Records are available are from the United States, Canada, the British Isles, Europe, Latin America, Asia, and Africa.
- The Social Security Death Index represents millions who were in the social security system before death.
- Census Records from 1880 United States Federal Census, and the 1881 British & Canadian censuses.
- Vital Records Index for Mexico and Scandinavia only representing thousands of names.
- In 2003, the collection increased monthly by an average of 4,100 rolls of film, 700 books, and 16 electronic resources.
- A majority of the records contain information about persons who lived before 1930.
- Approximately 200 cameras are currently microfilming records in over 45 countries. Records have been filmed in over 110 countries, territories, and possessions.
Digitization and indexing projects
In the late 1990s, a "pilot program" to update familysearch.org and digitize its entire collection was started using volunteers to input or "index" census and other data. This new genealogical index is considered an upgrade to "Record Search" It is a work in progress representing 426 regions around the world. Millions of new names have been inputted by volunteers. Volunteers to the project are now being actively solicited at FamilySearchIndexing.org. The searchable database containing the digital images and index will be available through the church's FamilySearchFamilySearch
FamilySearch is a genealogy organization established and run by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is the largest genealogy organization in the world. FamilySearch consists of a collection of records, resources, and services designed to help people learn more about their family...
website.
External links
- FamilySearch.org for information on family history centers
- Family History Library research wiki
- A complete list of all Family History Centers worldwide
- New York FHCs representing ward, stake and other Family History Centers.
- FamilySearch Indexing
- Los Angeles Family History Library formerly known as the "Los Angeles Regional Family History Center" is now designated as a "Large Multi-Stake Family History Center" by the LDS Church, but not by its supporting genealogical organizations and patrons (members and non-members).