Blackfoot Idaho West FamilySearch Center

The Blackfoot Idaho West Family History Center serves the residents and the descendants of residents of the areas in and surrounding Pingree, Moreland, Thomas, Riverside, and Rockford, Idaho.



= Center Contacts and Hours =

Location &amp; Map:


 * 1) 101 North 900 West, Blackfoot, Idaho 83221
 * 2) Access the center by parking in the north parking lot, then using the door that is on the left when facing the building from the north parking lot. 
 * 3) See map here. 

Phone: (208) 684-3784

'''Open Hours: Tuesday: 11 am to 9 pm; Wednesday: 9 am to 3 pm and 5 pm to 9 pm; Thursday: 2 pm to 5 pm; Friday: 9 am to 10:30 am. Closed Sundays, Mondays and Saturdays.'''

'''Holiday Schedule: The Center closes in the last week of June and into July to correspond with the closing of the Idaho Falls Temple, and in December during the Christmas Holiday, Thanksgiving, Memorial Day, and Labor Day. '''The center will be closed on October 31st, 2013, for Halloween.

= Calendar and Events =

''January 30th at 7:00 pm (Thursday). The First Presidency has stated "“When members of the Church find the names of their ancestors and take those names to the temple for ordinance work, the temple experience can be greatly enriched." However, many members ask, "What can our family do when it is very hard for us to find even one name?" One answer to this question is to seek out the descendants of your ancestors beyond your direct line. This also referred to as descendancy research. The Stake Family History Center will be holding a class on January 30th, 2014, at 6:30 p.m. to teach about a new tool that helps members quickly identify places in their pedigree that will most benefit from descendancy research. All family history consultants are requested to attend. Also, anyone interested in learning more about descendancy research is welcome to attend. ''

''February 23rd at 7:00 pm (Sunday). All Ward Council Members and Family History Consultants are invited to a family history meeting focusing on helping ward councils organize and utilize family history on the ward level. ''

= Center Resources =

Collections

 * Family History Library Catalog: This center has the ability to receive any of the films and fiche available through the Family History Library Catalog. Ordering the films is the responsibility of the individual, the films will be sent to the Center Director and can be used at the Center.
 * Center has the Mortuary/Death records for the Hawker Funeral Home and Hill, Sandberg, and Packham; Pioneer Women of Faith and Fortitude, Volumes 1-4; and Pioneers and Prominent Men of Utah, Volumes 1-5; Conquerors of the West, Stalwart Mormon Pioneers, Volumes 1-4; Groveland City Cemetery list through 1990.

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.

Hardware and Equipment

 * 9 desktop computers with internet access and scanning capabilities
 * 3 microfilm reader
 * 1 microfiche reader
 * printing and copying capabilities

Staff Research Specialties
''The Center is operated by volunteer Family History Consultants who will work individually with patrons as time and resources allow. To schedule special events or a large group, contact Lynne Ellis at (208) 680-1241.''

= Resources in the Local Area =

Bingham County Historical Society 33 NW Main Street Blackfoot, Idaho 83221 Office: (208) 785-9906 Website: www.binghamcountyhistoricalsociety.com

Blackfoot Public Library 129 N Broadway Blackfoot, Idaho 83221 (208) 785-8628 Website: http://blackfootlibrary.org/index.htm

Bingham County Courthouse 501 N Maple Blackfoot, Idaho 83221 (208) 782-3160 Website: http://www.co.bingham.id.us/

City of Blackfoot, Idaho 157 N Broadway Blackfoot, Idaho 83221 (208) 785-8600 Website: http://www.cityofblackfoot.org/

= Volunteer at the Center =

To Volunteer at the Center, contact Lynne Ellis at (208) 680-1241.

= Links =

FamilySearch Links:
FamilySearch: Access FamilyTree, FamilySearch Photos and Stories, and FamilySearch Indexed Records. Must establish a free account to access all resources on this site.

FamilySearch Photos: This is a section of FamilySearch that allows patrons to add photos and stories of their ancestors. Must establish a free account to access all resources on this site.

FamilySearch Training: Access video and written lessons on using FamilyTree.

FamilySearch Research Wiki: Get research advice and learn how to access record collections.

Sandbox: Practice using FamilyTree in a fake FamilyTree environment. Changes made in this program do not affect data in the real FamilyTree. The data is designed so that everyone who gets an account will see the same kind of data. The last names, dates, and places will be different, but the first names and relationships are all the same. Best of all, when you are finished or mess the file up so bad that it is no longer useable, you can reset the file and start over.

Other Helpful Links:
TenGenChart: Using information on FamilyTree, create a black and white ten-generation fan chart. Must establish a free FamilySearch account to access this site.

Createfan.com: Using information on FamilyTree, create a colored 8-generation fan chart. Must establish a free FamilySearch account to access this site.

Relationship Calculator: Enter the Person Identifier of any two people in FamilyTree and find the relationship between the two individuals. Must establish a free FamilySearch account to access this site.

Calculate your relationship to famous people with the Famous People Calculatoror the Relative Finder. Must establish a free FamilySearch account to access the site.

Rootsmapper.com: Gives a visual map of the migration patterns your family has undergone. A fun way to link geography to family history!

Puzzilla.org: A wonderful tool for descendancy research! This program maps the family tree, then maps the collateral roots. Look for dead ends, cllick, and begin researching in FamilyTree.

Principles for a Successful Family History Sunday School Class: A video of a successful Family History Sunday School Class.

American Research Links:
FindaGrave: Access and search transcriptions and photos of gravestones. Find A Grave is a resource for anyone in finding the final disposition of family, friends, and ‘famous' individuals. All transcriptions and photos are provided by volunteers.

Western States Marriage Index: Search extractions of early marriage records from counties in the western part of the United States.

Eastern Idaho Death Records: Search extractions of Eastern Idaho death records.

Illinois State Archives :         Search Illinois  marriage records from 1763-1900, search  death records from 1916-1950 , or  death records from pre-1916.

Missouri Birth and Death Records: Search death certificates on file at the Missouri State Archives for deaths occurring between 1910 and 1962. Search pre-1910 birth and death records collected from local county recorders' offices.

Utah Digital Newspapers: Search by keywords through early Utah newspapers. This can be a great source for locating obituaries and death notices.

Canada Library and Archives: Access Canadian records and census images.

European Research Links:
Danish Archives: Access Danish parish and census records. Censuses begin in the 1700s and cover through the 1900s. Danish Parish Records are relatively complete and, as available, cover from the 1600s through the 1900s. There are approximately 1,500,000 Americans of Danish origin or descent. Southeastern Idaho has a particularly large poplation of Danish Americans

Free BMD: Access the United Kingdom's Civil Registration Records. The recording of births, marriages and deaths was started in 1837 and is one of the most significant resources for genealogical research. This website allows patrons to search transcriptions of the civil registration indexes which contain information for the period 1837-1983.