Tacoma Washington FamilySearch Center

=We Are Open Tuesdays 10am - Noon, 6pm - 8pm, Wednesdays  10am - 8pm (NEW); Thursdays 10am - 8pm  ; Saturdays 10am - 1pm  Walk In Service   No Appointment Needed!= ''' The Portal is fully operational. Come and enjoy! Check in with the Tacoma FamilySearch Center or visit our Facebook page for current information. '''

We are able to assist you in your Family History Search, Organization and can teach you to use Family Search and other software when available.

''' NEW Memory Lane appointment sign ups begin August 1, 2023! Find out more below, call or visit the Center '''

Please come healthy only, Masks are optional now
''' African American Family History annual Event - will occur again February 24, 2024 9:00am - 4pm... Wonderful classes - great  teachers...  timely topics...   Great prep for Rootstech! Live classes, and story telling contest. Fliers available at the Center for your organization. All are welcome. We welcomed approx 150 visitors both in person and via zoom at our event in Feb 2022. We welcomed 235 visitors both in person and via zoom in 2023. For more information and handouts go to the website '''  https://www.tacomaaafhe.com/

 NOTICE:  During inclement weather, or other emergencies:  Always call the FamilySearch Center (253) 564-1103, to see if we have remained open.  If no one answers the phone, we are closed.









LOCATION:   1102 S  Pearl  St, Tacoma, WA


 * FamilySearch Center is located in the building at the corner of 12th and Pearl St.
 * FamilySearch Center entrance is on the south side of the building facing 12th St. up the short set of stairs, on the right.
 * Entrance is marked by a small sign "FamilySearch Center" near the steps.

HOURS:

''' NEW at the Tacoma FamilySearch Center! - Memory Lane -Media Digitization Opportunities! '''
 * Tues 10am - noon, 6pm - 8pm   Wed -10am - 8pm (NEW), Thurs  10am -  8pm   - Sat 10am - 1pm... Sunday, Monday  Closed
 * Call in case of inclement weather
 * Holidays: Closed all Major Holidays: Closed Memorial Day weekend, Independence Day, Labor Day weekend. Thanksgiving -, the last two weeks of December
 * Access our help from home, as well as at the FamilySearch Center, by calling the Center phone number (253) 564-1103 during open hours.

 - call (253) 564-1103 or come in to sign up to reserve a support time 

 * pictures and snapshots, small to size 8.5" x 12" 

 *slides and negatives, 

 *Regular 8, Super 8, VHS and camcorder family movies, 

 *audio cassettes 

 *unbound publications 

''' to have a trained Center worker support you as you digitize your family memories... and learn to preserve these treasures in Family Search Memories Feature at no cost. Appointments are needed, you will bring in a 16 Gig USB drive for most equipment, a SD card will work on the slide digitizing machine as well. Additionally high speed picture digitization machine and flatbed scanner are available during regular hours first come, first served for those with a USB drive for storage. All equipment will be self serve with support. '''

FACILITIES:


 * 11 large touch-screen computers which patrons can use to access Family Search, online databases, and the FamilySearch Center Portal
 * Conference room--table with big screen for group instruction
 * Quiet place to do research
 * Helpful, skilled staff to help patrons

CONTACT:


 * Language: English
 * Phone:       253-564-1103
 * E-mail:       WA_tacoma@familyhistorymail.org
 * Co-Directors:   Mary and Gaaren Anderson
 * Asst Director:  Jim Brown, Teri Crow

PROGRAMS:


 * Individualized help for patrons, to assist with their research and indexing. The center is staffed by volunteer members of local congregations of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as well as genealogy enthusiasts from the community who are not members of the church. Staff members are not paid for their services. More experienced volunteers may be able to assist patrons with specific research challenges.
 * Monthly Events -
 * 1st Thursday 7pm - Volunteers/Staff Training - Center is still open and the meeting is open to all -
 * 2nd Thursday -7pm - T&FH Leaders and Consultant Meeting7pm - church oriented meeting - but the Center is open at the same time
 * 3rd Thursday -7pm -African American Family History Focus Group 7pm - Come and work with others to find your African American Ancestors - and the Center is open to all at this time as well.
 * Instruction--Tacoma FamilySearch Center staff can show you how to use the center’s resources. To make your visit most effective, collect and organize the information you already have. Bring as much information as you have about the ancestor you wish to research, including available birth, marriage and death information. TFHC staff can help you use that information to begin creating a family tree using free to you software.
 * Group Trainings for youth and other ward organizations in training their people and generally scheduled for Wednesday evenings at the Center. Check on Tacoma Family History Center Website for up to date schedule. Call to schedule an event for your group or family.
 * Bi-Weekly newsletter, informing staff, ward and stake leaders, and other interested parties of progress and events
 * Community Outreach--We coordinate with other community-based organizations, such as genealogical societies.
 * NEW!!!!!! Coming Soon! - we will be offering Media Digitization Opportunities - so get your photos, Super 8 and 8mm reel to reel movies, slides VHS tapes and audio cassettes ready for this new level of amazing service!  Hope to be set up by June 1 2023.  Volunteer to help us and it could be sooner!

RULES:


 *  No food or drink are to be brought into the into the FamilySearch Center itself.  There is a drinking fountain available in the hallway and we ask that patrons eat before coming in, in your car, or in the room next door. Thank you.


 * We are not at this time a Discovery Center. Please bring only children who are old enough to do Family History work. Childcare is not provided.

DATABASES AND 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. We have 11 computers which access the portal (premium sites). We also have a room with additional counter space for laptop use with charging plugs and access to the Internet.

 We have minimal microfilm and microfiche access and readers. FamilySearch Centers no longer order films. 
 * 1.1   19th Century British Library Newspapers
 * 1.2   Alexander Street Press - American Civil War
 * 1.3   American Ancestors
 * 1.4   Ancestry - Institution Version
 * 1.5   ArkivDigital
 * 1.6   FamNet
 * 1.7   Findmypast
 * 1.8   Fold3 - formerly Footnote
 * 1.9   Geneanet
 * 1.10 Kinpoint - Premium
 * 1.11 MyHeritage - Library Edition
 * 1.13 Paper Trail
 * 1.14 Puzzilla - Premium Services  FamilySearch online and many other online genealogical databases   Films currently available at Tacoma FamilySearch Center   https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/results?count=20&query=%2Bavailability%3A%22Tacoma%20Washington%20Family%20History%20Center%22    