Aurora Colorado FamilySearch Center

****During this Covid Time:****

Would you like some assistance in getting started with your family tree?

Perhaps your tree is blooming. Would you like a little assistance to get it growing some more?

Or, perhaps you have a nicely grown tree, but are perplexed as to what more you can do.

Sister Rose Nielsen and I would like very much to assist you – even though the center is closed due to Covid, we can still reach out to you via email, phone, and/or Zoom.

Together we can look at your tree (of deceased family members only), introduce you to FamilySearch or walk you through remedies and record finding, attaching hints, assisting with those scary merging of duplicates, and discuss ways of finding more ancestors.

Please feel free to reach out and touch us – send your questions / concerns our way to: CO_Aurora@FamilyHistoryMail.com   or leave a message on our center’s phone. Please speak up, clearly, and slowly – leaving your name, number, message at 303-367-0570

CURRENT PRESENTATIONS: Since you cannot come to us, we have found a way to come to you -- we hope you will enjoy these brief Family History presentations -- https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ng-j_iTrAQ-JEGv_Vxl15wzNkZg8Q7BH?usp=sharing   If you cannot obtain access, please let us know at: CO_Aurora@FamilyHistoryMail.Org

Looking for some online Family History classes and or online consultation? Check out our sister site in LA California at Los Angeles FamilySearch Library.

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Center Contacts and Hours
Location Map: 


 * Location Map

Address:


 * 950 Laredo St., Aurora CO 80011 United States (This is a physical location address. Mail cannot be received here).


 * Language:English

Phone:


 * 1-303-367-0570

E-mail:


 * CO_Aurora@familyhistorymail.org

FHC Director: Vickie Smejkal; Asst Director: Rose Nielsen

Open Hours: (Currently closed due to Covid).


 * Monday: 9:30 am - 3:00 pm
 * Wednesday: 9:30 am - 1:30 pm and
 * Wednesday: 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm

We strive to staff our center, however, it is best to call ahead, especially during the winter season. We will post closures as soon as possible on this site, Face Book, and on the center's phone line.

You may call the center phone 303-367-0570 where a message is also posted as to openings, closures, and Hours of Operation.

Illness and/or weather related closures:

Due to the Corona Virus situation -- the Aurora Colorado Family History Center will be closed until further notice.

Special Event Closure:  None at this time.

Closures for the year 2020: 

Jan 1;  Feb 18;   May 25;   Aug 31;   Nov 11, 23 & 25;   Dec 16 & Dec 21-31

Presentation Schedule for 2020 -- FREE
None at this time due to Covid.

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If you would like to be notified of a scheduled presentation and/or class, please see our Facebook page and click on 'subscribe'. Aurora Family History Center

Also, for headcount purposes only, please feel free to register for any of our classes and/or events (even if it is just a thought or an intention): https://www.eventbrite.com/ Next to the word 'Anything' click on the down arrow and select ‘Hobbies’, click on the orange arrow, then click on 'other filters' and click on the down arrow next to 'any price' and select ‘free’. (You do not have to register in order to attend, just come on down). :-)

 

Stakes and Wards Temple and Family History Consultant Meetings for 2020
Held every 1st Sunday of the month at 7 p.m., as follows: (Due to Covid 19 -- all meetings have been suspended until further notice).

January 5; February 2;  March 1;  May 3;  June 7;  July 5;  August 2;  September 6

These meetings are designed for all those responsible for Family History (Temple and Fam Hist Consultants, Elders Group Leaders & Fam Hist Ctr Staff).

It is our hope to keep you up-to-date with the latest changes and to offer bits and pieces of information that will benefit you and those you assist in your callings.

Collections

 * The Aurora Family History Center has a collection of microfilms and microfiche on indefinite loan from the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Databases and Software

 * FHC Portal This center has access to the Family History Center Portal page which provides free access in the center to premium family history software and websites that otherwise charge for subscriptions. Our free Premium Family History Websites portal provides patrons access to the following:

·      19th Century British Library Newspaper Digital Archive – Site provides News Articles, Obits, marriage records, death records, military records, etc. by topic, name, and more.

·       Newspapers.com – Largest Online Newspaper Archive; from 1700s to 2000s

·       Alexander Street Press - The Civil War – (The following are links within this site): Research Database / Letters and Diaries / Images, Photographs, Posters, and Ephemera / Social and Cultural History (Letters and Diaries           Online) / Women and Social Moments in the United States, 1600-2000.

·       Ancestry.Com – If you are a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, you have free access to this site from home. This site provides lots of records, state and federal censuses, news articles, military records, travel records, marriage records, books, and much more. Much like FamilySearch.org, it too offers hints, memories and photos.


 * Geneanet – “Geneanet offers    every kind of genealogy record published by researchers, genealogy societies,     commercial companies, etc.”

·       Find My Past – As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, you have free access to this site from home. This site has British newspapers mostly for the U.K. area. Lots of English, Ireland, New Zealand records, passenger lists, etc. British Army Records; Records back to the year 1200. Site is expanding its US and Canada Records.

·       Fold 3 – This site now owned by Ancestry.com. This site has Military records; Crews Registers (Ship Registers); and Civil War Pension records.

·       Paper Trail – This site lists classes; historical information (stories, data, etc.). Mostly information of the Oregon Trail – Info on things such as: How many people, by ox cart or Calistoga, diseases along the way, etc. More of an informational site than a genealogical site.

·       Kinpoint – Per the site: “Family History, Simplified.”. “Do family history in just a few minutes. Quickly see what to work on and get help finding new information.”. “Less searching, More Finding – with Premium, our kinpoint guide shows problems in your family tree and finds records for missing information.”. “Love To Grow Things? – So did your ancestors. Discover your ancestor's occupation with the Explore Summary.”. “Love Mountains? – Maybe it’s in your blood. See where your ancestors came from with the Explore Summary.”. “Go Back in Time – See photos, stories and the events from a person's life with Memories and Timelines.” Kinpoint also “makes it easy to see ordinances that are ready or need more information to complete.”

·       MyHeritage – As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, you have free access to this site from home. A Family History Research site, easy to use – enter name of person for whom you are searching, location, and even 'keyword' if you like. I hear MyHeritage is the European equivalent of Ancestry.com. MyHeritage will even send you e-mails of 'matches' it may have found.

·      Puzzilla.Org –  Wow, has this site changed. The youth may get a kick out of this one. This site offers both “Free and Premium Service” subscription. The site does have a tutorial, which lasts about 15 minutes. I highly advise taking the tutorial. Puzzilla lets you see your line and cousin lines too. The colors found at the tips of the lines indicate if there is a possible duplicate; if a person died before reaching age 16; if a hint exists; and much more. Note: If you use this site from the Family History Center, you will have full use of ALL the color codes, otherwise from home, you will be very limited in the colors; mostly the blue, red, and yellow. (Male, female, died before age 16). To use the free version from home, you'll need to use your FamilySearch Account password.


 * Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints aged 13 and over can join six subscription websites for free: Ancestry.com, Find My Past, My Heritage, Geneanet, American Ancestors  & Filae.  Follow this link and sign in with your FamilySearch account for access to these excellent resources!   Partners  Be sure to open "Partners" and select one or all of the five sites listed.

Hardware and Equipment

 * There are personal computers, printer, microfilm and microfiche readers available in this Center for patron use on a first come, first served basis.
 * Wireless connections are available for personal laptops and tablets.

Staff Research Specialties
(Include sections for any other services your center provides. Add additional sections for those services. See the Bountiful and Chattanooga FHC pages for examples.)

Resources in the Local Area
Denver Public Library, 10 West Fourteenth Ave. Pkwy, Denver, Colorado 80204 -- Western History &amp; Genealogy Dept located on the 5th floor.

National Archives Records Administration, 17101 Huron Street, Broomfield, CO 80023

Black Genealogy Search Group, 2401 Welton Street, Denver, Colorado 80205 -- 1st floor of the Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library

Links
Black Genealogy Search Group Denver

Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library

Denver Public Library

Denver Public Library, Genealogy tools A-Z

Rocky Mountain Regional NARA, 17101 Huron Street, Broomfield, CO 80023

National Archives Records Administration (NARA)

NARA Resources for Genealogists

Colorado Genealogical Society

Foothills Genealogical Society

The Freedman's Bureau Project -- Be sure to scroll down to see the whole page

German Research

Germany Genealogy

Native American Research

Mexico Genealogy

Wales, Ireland, Scotland, England (W.I.S.E.)

Volunteer at the Center
''Yes, we are in need of 4-6 volunteers to assist at the Family History Center. If you are familiar with doing family history and/or genealogical research, we would love to have you join us. Not familiar with the FamilySearch Program, not to worry -- we will be happy to introduce you. Who knows, perhaps in the process you will see your own family tree grow.''