San Diego California FamilySearch Center

 aka the San Diego FamilySearch Center   Open Thursday, Friday and Saturday - Noon to 6:00 pm  We are located at  4195 Camino Del Rio South (Lower east side of building)  Please watch for announcements on this website as we add additional hours or  send an email to the address below so we can invite you to our "official open house event".  619-584-7668 Email: [mailto:ca_sandiego@familyhistorymail.org ca_sandiego@familyhistorymail.org] Our Center's services are provided free to the public. We invite all who are interested in genealogy and family history to visit. Our volunteers can show you how to use the Center’s resources. To make your visit more effective, please bring as much information as you have about the ancestor(s) you wish to research. This includes copies of birth, marriage and death information or other information that you have. Don't forget to bring a flash drive!

All services are free.

Calendar of Events
We provide a calendar of our activities at the FamilySearch Center. Click on the hyperlink for the current calendar of events.

Holidays
Holiday Schedule for 2021 - We are closed on the following days. July 4, November 26-30, December 24-January 4

Research Languages
English, some Spanish, German, Latin and a hodgepodge of this and that.

Directions

In San Diego at 4195 Camino Del Rio South (Lower east side of building) with ample free parking.

For Google map, click here

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!"


 * Alexander Street Press, American Civil War - 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.


 * 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.


 * 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.


 * 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.


 * The Genealogist - No longer available except for UK use only per FamilySearch.org.


 * Heritage Quest Online – Heritage Quest Online database. This service was removed due to contract expiration.


 * 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.


 * 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. 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.


 * 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


 * Familysearch.org - the database that is linked here to Ancestry, Fold3 and others!

This includes access to the International Genealogical Index (IGI) Revised - Pedigree Resource &amp; Ancestral File submitted genealogies.

Patron Equipment Resources

 * 50 computers
 * Digital high resolution scanners for slides, movies and VHS/DVD tapes
 * 2 flat bed page scanners
 * 3 Multi-use Printer &amp; Copier. This includes scanning to pdf format via flash drive.
 * 1 digital Kodak picture scanner system (by reservation only)
 * Oral history studio

Patron Software Resources
The following mentioned genealogy programs are on our computers. This allows the patron to use them at the Library with their data on a flash drive, for training or for evaluation. These programs are also compatible with FamilySearch Family Tree. Except the older PAF program.


 * Ancestral Quest - Ancestral Quest is the modern version of the old Personal Ancestral File (PAF). Ancestral Quest Basics is available for FREE download. The free basic version is a full genealogical program with some of the AQ special print &amp; web features turned off. Ancestral Quest now has a MAC version!!


 * Roots Magic - Roots Magic has a basic version called Roots Magic Essentials and it is available as a FREE download.


 * Legacy - Legacy has a basic version called the Legacy Standard Edition and it is available as a FREE download.

Family Activities

 * Creating Oral Histories for all ages!
 * Family Reunions
 * Family History Activities for Children: 3-11
 * Family History Activities for Youth: 12-?
 * Personal History - Family Activities
 * Youth and Family Summer Challenge -Family History
 * Involve Children and Youth in Family History
 * Photos – An Innovative Way to Introduce Youth to Family History
 * Family History Activities for Youth

Youth Program Assistance

 * Youth Temple and Family History Consultant Training - All welcome.


 * 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 Duty to God Certificate Requirements: Deacon - Family Activities: Teacher - Keep a written record of your family history. Ask a parent or the temple and 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

 * Boy Scout Merit Badge in Genealogy - We can help you accomplish your BSA goals for this merit badge. Troop classes available. Fill out the Genealogy Merit Badge Worksheet. Please prepare carefully and call us for an appointment with one of our merit badge counselors. Ask for Merit Badge Counselor Donna Martin.

Class Schedules
Classes at the San Diego FamilySearch Library


 * African American Research - The second Saturday of each month 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM (April to December) - Instructor: Margaret Lewis. Margaret Lewis is President of the San Diego African American Genealogy Research Group (SD AA GRG). Her classes are open to members and community alike. Her lesson content covers all phases of African American research from African origins through migration/immigration, to slavery, reconstruction, segregation and emancipation.


 * San Diego Genealogical Society (SDGS) classes - These classes are sponsored and taught by members of the San Diego Genealogical Society. For questions, please contact the SDGS at (858) 279-7347. No pre-registration required.
 * Writing Our Family Stories - 1st &amp; 3rd Friday of each month 10:30 AM -12:30 PM
 * FamilyTree Maker User Group - 1st Saturday of each month - 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM.
 * Computer Basics - 3rd Tuesday of each month - 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM.
 * German Interest Group - 3rd Wednesday of each month - 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM.
 * Have you hit a brick wall? Help Group - 4th Wednesday of each month (except January) - 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM.
 * Root's Magic User Group - 4th Saturday of each month 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM.
 * DNA Interest Group - 4th Saturday every other month Noon-2 PM


 * Ancestry Institution.com - Introduction - Various instructors - daily Tuesday to Saturday - This includes learning to search, census &amp; other records and family trees.


 * FamilySearch.org - Introduction - Various instructors - Daily Tuesday to Saturday - This includes searching techniques, finding books, microfilm and research articles in the FamilySearch Research Wiki.


 * Family Search.org &amp; FS Family Tree Introduction - Instructors vary - Tuesday through Saturday - Topics covered include basic pedigree (tree) building, sourcing, correcting and merging data.


 * Indexing - Introduction - Instructors vary - Tuesday to Friday - Basic instructions on how to sign up, train and help input genealogical records!


 * “On-Call” Consultants available for Italian, Irish, Scottish, British, Canadian, French, German, Jewish, and Spanish Research.


 * Screen Shots - various Staff - How to capture screen images and save them for your genealogy. This includes basic cropping and renaming.


 * Family Search Learning Center Family Search has produced and continues to provide professional on-line classes for Family History research. These high-quality videos are available for the rookie genealogist and the seasoned veteran alike.


 * New Temple and Family History Consultant Training - Download basic training guide then call for appointment.


 * The Family History Guide - online basic, intermediate and advanced training in genealogy and family history. Click on this link.

Other Local Resources

 * The San Diego Genealogical Council calendar is at sdgencouncil.blogspot.com.
 * The San Diego Genealogical Society has moved and 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 system has 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, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 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.
 * Click here for Partner Access for Church members
 * Riverton FamilySearch Library: Handouts and Guides

Other links

 * What to do with the genealogy and family history I collected?
 * Best Genealogy Search sites of 2018 by Ryan Brown.
 * "Five reasons to digitize your family photos" (video).
 * California Family History Resource Page.
 * How to find and use Archives and Archival sources.
 * Family History Centers There are over 4,000 smaller family history centers operating in more than 100 countries. Local FamilySearch Libraries are staffed by helpful volunteers. These Libraries are branches of the Family History Library.
 * Family Search WIKI Research your family history, related topics and about where to find help in research. You will learn and those willing to contribute specialized knowledge are welcome to contribute to the FamilySearch Wiki.
 * Family Search Learning Center Family Search has produced and continues to provide professional on-line classes for Family History research. These high-quality videos are available for the rookie genealogist and the seasoned veteran alike.
 * Example: The Genealogy in 5 Minutes playlist demonstrates how, in just a few minutes, individuals with little or no genealogy experience can make some headway on their family’s history. Getting Started  &amp; Five Minute Geneology

Volunteer at the Library!
Anyone who is interested in teaching and helping others about genealogy and family history are invited to volunteer at our Library. All you need is a willingness to help others, learn and follow our general guidelines. To learn more, call us at: (619) 584-7668 and ask how you can help others by volunteering.

Facebook
We are now on Facebook! See: https://www.facebook.com/sandiegofamilysearchlibrary/