Omaha Nebraska FamilySearch Center

The Omaha Stake Family History Center
In FamilySearch centers, Church and community members may have access to individualized research assistance, help getting started with family history, equipment, and other free resources, including millions of additional historical records, to further their family history efforts. All services provided at the FamilySearch center are free of charge.

Click this link to watch a 1-minute YouTube video describing FamilySearch centers.

Operating hours of the Omaha FamilySearch center continue to expand as we bring on additional volunteers. We welcome community members volunteering to staff the center as well! Please direct all questions concerning our operations and staffing to Thad Call, email call.thad@gmail.com.



Center Contacts and Hours
Location Map: Location Map

Address: 14680 California St Omaha NE 68154

The FamilySearch Center is located inside The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints building at the address listed above. It's near the intersection of 144th and Dodge, just west of the Beth-El synagogue. Enter the doors on the north side of the building (handicapped accessible). Follow the signs inside to the FamilySearch Center.


 * Phone: (402) 393-7641 (voicemail is checked daily).
 * Email: NE_Omaha@familyhistorymail.org


 * Tuesday: Noon-2:00pm and 7:00pm-9:00pm
 * Wednesday: By appointment; contact Thad Call at call.thad@gmail.com
 * Thursday: By appointment; contact Thad Call at call.thad@gmail.com

Holiday / Severe Weather Schedule:

All holidays: closed. We are also closed the last two weeks of December. Severe Weather: Closed when Omaha Public Schools closes (e.g. snow days). Call ahead during other periods of severe weather.

Family Area

 * The Family Area contains activities, family-friendly seating (couch, child-sized chairs and table), children's books, games, tablet computers, and art supplies for children to experience family history activities. Most activities come with instructions so that families can conduct self-directed activities.
 * The Family Area is open to all patrons during normal Center hours. Call or email the Center for information on reserving time with Family Area actvities outside of normal hours for your youth or family group event.
 * While many of the activities can be completed by children on their own, parents should remain in the FamilySearch Center when their children are in the Family Area.

Collections

 * Patrons' Microfiche Collection -- a collection of fiche ordered by our patrons, assorted titles. Contain family histories, vital records, and other types of information.


 * Indefinite Film Collection -- a collection of films on a variety of subjects, to include vital records, county records, court records, etc.

Software

 * FamilySearch Center Portal This center has access to the FamilySearch Center Portal page which gives free access in the center to premium family history software and websites that generally charge for subscriptions. These websites include:


 * Ancestry.com -- 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. All FamilySearch centers have access to Ancestry.com Library. This site has 10+ billion records. U. S. federal and state census records, vital records, passenger lists, Canadian census, church, and vital records, UK census records, birth, marriage and death indexes, and other international records.
 * Heritage Quest - The ProQuest obituaries collection is a premier resource for genealogical and historical research. You can use the collection to search obituaries and death notices from prominent newspapers, such as the New York Times (dating back to 1851). The collection includes both famous and lesser-known individuals and can be searched by name or by keywords appearing in the body of the article.
 * The Genealogist -- A great place to search for your ancestors and the details of their lives, using a combination of simple and advanced search facilities and a huge variety of the most vital records and resources for family history.
 * Findmypast -- 1.7 billion international family history records from the U.S., Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand and beyond with records going back to 1200. 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.1911 British Census (accessed through the Findmypast 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. New collections are added every month.
 * Fold3.com (Formerly known as 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 FamilySearch Center for more information.
 * World Vital Records -- works closely with its content partners to digitize and publish tens of millions of historical family history records online each month. In November 2011, World Vital Records.com was acquired by MyHeritage Ltd. and it is now a MyHeritage.
 * ArkivDigital Online -- Swedish genealogy. 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. Launch from the 'ArkivDigital Online' Start Menu or Desktop icon from a computer where the program has been installed.

Hardware and Equipment
This location has:


 * 7 wide screen computers
 * 3 microfilm readers, and a microfilm reader/scanner/printer
 * Copier/scanner/printer
 * Books and maps.

What to bring to the Center


 * Information for the people you are looking for (as much as you have) – Name, birth date, place of birth, death date, place of death, spouse, marriage date, place of marriage, children’s names – date and place of birth
 * Gather this information from family records or living relatives
 * Church/FamilySearch user ID and password for access to new.familysearch, family search, indexing, etc
 * Notebook to record what you find, where you found it, and when
 * Flashdrive to save digital images

Staff Research Specialties
Our temple and family history consultants can help you with research in the following countries:

We can also access experts at the Salt Lake City FamilySearch Library to answer your questions.

We can assist you with the following Family History Computer Programs

Resources in the Local Area

 * The Omaha Public Library The Omaha public library has excellent Omaha area genealogical information (births, deaths, marriages) and microfilm of Omaha area newspapers.
 * The Greater Omaha Genealogical Society
 * The GOGS has regular workshops and activities, they are very active in the community. GOGS also has online indexes to Omaha area births, marriages, and obituaries.
 * The German American Society Genealogy Services
 * Douglas County Historical Society

Links
Denmark Digital Records (census and parish records)

Norwegian Digital Records (census and parish records)

FamilySearch Research Communities on Facebook

Latter-day Saint Emigration and Immigration

Volunteer at the Center
Want to help out at the Familysearch center? We're delighted! Please email Thad Call at call.thad@gmail.com to discuss how you'd like to help, and your availability.