Santa Cruz California FamilySearch Center

Center Contacts and Hours

 * Location Map: Location Map


 * Language: English


 * Address: 220 Elk Street, Santa Cruz California
 * Cross street Lance Court -  closest parking on Elk street
 * Entrance to Parking Lot around the block off Pacheco Ave near Allerton street


 * Phone:  831-426-1078


 * E-mail:  [mailto:CA_Santa_Cruz@ldsmail.net CA_Santa_Cruz@ldsmail.net]


 * Open Hours: 

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Tuesdays         9 a.m.  to  3 p.m.

Wednesdays   9 a.m.  to  9 p.m.

Saturdays        9 a.m.  to  12 noon

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The Family History Center will be open regular hours on Saturday, September 30, 2017.

Family History Microfilm Discontinuation
On September 1, 2017, FamilySearch will discontinue its microfilm distribution services. (The last day to order microfilm will be on August 31, 2017.)

The change is the result of significant progress made in FamilySearch’s microfilm digitization efforts and the obsolescence of microfilm technology.

• Online access to digital images of records allows FamilySearch to reach many more people, faster and more efficiently.

• FamilySearch is a global leader in historic records preservation and access, with billions of the world’s genealogical records in its collections.

• Over 1.5 million microfilms (ca. 1.5 billion images) have been digitized by FamilySearch, including the most requested collections based on microfilm loan records worldwide.

• The remaining microfilms should be digitized by the end of 2020, and all new records from its ongoing global efforts are already using digital camera equipment.

• Family history centers will continue to provide access to relevant technology, premium subscription services, and digital records, including restricted content not available at home.

Digital images of historical records can be accessed today in 3 places on FamilySearch.org under Search.

• Records include historical records indexed by name or organized with an image browse.

• Books include digital copies of books from the Family History Library and other libraries.

• Catalog includes a description of genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, etc.) in the FamilySearch collection.

Collections
FamilySearch Catalog''': films and fiche available through the FamilySearch Catalog can now be ordered online by Patrons from any online computer. '''
 * FamilySearch Catalog:  Films ordered by Patrons before September 1, 2017 will be sent here for viewing. Select  'Santa Cruz' as the Home Family History Center.


 * Microfiche Collection -- Thousands of fiche from the FamilySearch Catalog


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


 * Book Collection - Reference use only

Databases and Software
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Premium Family History Website Descriptions  <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Note: You must access the premium subscription websites from a family history center computer through the Family History Center Services Portal. If you try to access the using the links below, the websites require an individual subscription.


 * The 19th Century British Library Newspapers digital archive— http://find.galegroup.com/bncn/ 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— http://www.newspaperarchive.com "NewspaperArchive.com is the world's largest online newspaper archive. Featuring billions of articles from historical newspapers around the U.S. and the world, Newspaper ARCHIVE 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 Newspaper ARCHIVE. All of our historical newspapers are full-page and fully searchable. Try exploring above, and discover your history today!"


 * Alexander Street Press, American Civil War— http://alexanderstreet.com/ -- Research Data: Contains indexed, searchable information on over 4 million soldiers and thousands of battles, together with 15,000 photographs.  http://asp6new.alexanderstreet.com/cwdb/
 * 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.  http://solomon.cwld.alexanderstreet.com/
 * Images, Photographs, Posters, and Ephemera: Provides a vivid history of the American Civil War with over 1,400 images. http://cpho.alexanderstreet.com/
 * Social and Cultural History: Personal accounts of well-known historical figures.
 * Women and Social Movements in the United States: Organized around the history of women in social movements in the United States between 1600 and 2000 A.D.


 * Ancestry.com— http://www.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.


 * 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. Click the link from the Premium Family History Websites page to install the current client version of ArkivDigital Online.


 * Findmypast— http://www.findmypast.co.uk/ 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 findmypast is available in family history centers.
 * Available ONLY on Findmypast is the PERSI Index - - - Now Updated Every 6 Months!  The Periodical Source Index, or PERSI, is the largest subject index to genealogy and local history periodical articles in the world. Created by the staff of the Allen County Public Library Foundation and the ACPL's Genealogy Center, PERSI is widely recognized as a vital tool for genealogical researchers.
 * 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.


 * Fold3 (formerly Footnote.com)– http://www.fold3.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.


 * Geneanet-- http://geneanet.org With 3 billion referenced individuals and 600,000 trees online, Geneanet is the first site dedicated to genealogy in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Germany. The Geneanet community has two million members who exchange genealogical information.


 * Kinpoint Premium— https://kinpoint.com Kinpoint is designed to make it easier for you to do your family history by letting you see what to work on at a glance; quickly find missing information in your family tree; and discover insights into the lives of your ancestors.


 * MyHeritage—Library Edition— http://myheritagelibraryedition.com/research  Used by millions of people worldwide to help research family history, build a family tree, and add photos, historical records, and more.


 * Paper Trail— http://www.genealogytoday.com/ Provides access to 19th-century westward American migration documents.


 * ProQuest Obituary Listings— http://obituaries.proquest.com/obitsweb/obits/do/home 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.


 * Puzzilla— https://puzzilla.org  Premium Services. Find new research opportunities on descendant lines in Family Tree.

Hardware and Equipment

 * computers, microfilm readers, printer

Staff Research Specialties
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Resources in the Local Area
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Links
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Volunteer at the Center
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