Seattle Washington Shoreline FamilySearch Center

Located in the north wing of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we serve the areas of Shoreline, Edmonds, Brier, Kenmore, Bothell, Mountlake Terrace and Lynnwood. We are open over 200 hrs a month and are staffed by 16+ volunteers (mostly they volunteer). Our Facility covers more than 2000 sq ft with 5 different rooms for computers, Microfilm\fiche, library, instructional classrooms, and Audio/Visual recording.

Family History Center Hours
Monday: 9 AM - 5 PM

Tuesday: Closed

Wednesday: 9 AM - 5 PM

Thursday: 9 AM - 9 PM

Sunday: 1:30 PM - 4 PM

 Weather Advisory: 

And a winter weather reminder -  if the Edmonds School District has closed school, our Library will be closed, also.

 Holiday Schedule: 

Thanksgiving - Wed. Nov. 23rd to Sun. Nov. 27th 2022

Christmas - Sun. Dec. 18 2022 to Sun Jan. 1 2023

Contact and Location
Phone Number: 425-329-4825

Location Map:


 * Location on Map

 Address: 


 * 22015 48th Ave W Mountlake Terrace WA 98043 United States


 * Language: English

 E-mail: 


 * [mailto:WA_SeattleShoreline@familyhistorymail.org WA_SeattleShoreline@familyhistorymail.org]

Calendar and Events
Family History Classes – Spring 2023 the following c lasses will be offered using Zoom technology.

To sign up for a classes please click on the class name or on the date that class is offered

FAMILY HISTORY CLASSES

Spring 2023

Online Resources for Instruction on Family History.

Saturday, January 14, 2023 at 10:00 am

More and more resources are now available to learn family history skills. This class will discuss online webinars and tutorials, particularly those that are free, that address many family history topics ranging from country-specific research to skills development that all family historians, regardless of where they are researching, should have.

Underutilized Resources on FamilySearch.

Saturday, March 11, 2023 at 10:00 am

FamilySearch is a huge website which can be accessed in multiple ways. This class will show you underutilized links to enhance your FamilySearch experience. Among the links discussed, you will learn how to access multiple hints to add sources and names to your FamilySearch tree. You will also find ways to creatively discover photos and documents, and find famous personalities (historical, celebrity, sports) to whom you may be related. Also, the class will cover activities that do not require a FamilySearch account

Naming Patterns in Family History.

Saturday, May 13, 2023 at 10:00 am

An often-unappreciated source of for identifying ancestors is the use of naming patterns. This class will discuss how naming patterns can identify your ancestors, particularly for periods prior to the mid-1800’s. The class will cover naming patterns in English-speaking countries, Spanish and Portuguese naming patterns, and the use of patronymics in Scandinavian countries.

2021/2022 Class recordings
'''All previous classes have been recorded. If you would like to review the recordings please click on the link below.'''

2021 Class recordings

[https://shorelinefhc.com/record/index.php 1. Intro to DNA]. Christmas season is rapidly approaching when the DNA testing companies offer their DNA test kits at bargain prices. This class will discuss the basics of DNA as it applies to family history. You will learn about what DNA can and cannot do to assist you in discovering and understanding your ancestors. The class will discuss the types of DNA tests that are offered by the testing companies, and what each type of test will do. This will allow you to select the company and test which best fits your family history goals.

2.Breaking Through Walls. All of us have run into problems that prevent identification of ancestors. While many of these “brick walls” are very difficult to break through, others can be solved by intelligent use of tools and sources available to us. This class discusses approaches and tools that you can use to try to break through your brick walls.

[https://shorelinefhc.com/record/index.php 3. Understanding and Using your test results]. You have now received your DNA test results. But what do they mean and how can you use them? This class will discuss what your results mean and the tools that are available to assist you in using your test results to identify your DNA relatives.

[https://shorelinefhc.com/record/index.php 4. Getting the most out of the Census]. If available, censuses are one of the first sources that you should consult when trying to identify ancestors. But they are also one of the most underutilized sources. This class will discuss how to mine the overlooked detail in the census can that you can use to focus and document your research.

[https://shorelinefhc.com/record/index.php 5. Organizing and Preserving Family History Photos]. Do you have a box of family photos languishing in some dark corner of a closet? This class will discuss how to organize your photos, and how to preserve your photos, both physically and electronically.

[https://shorelinefhc.com/record/index.php 6. Genealogy Software]. Many genealogists, even those using free or subscription-based web programs (e.g., FamilySearch or Ancestry), find it useful to have stand-alone programs to keep their family history information. This class will discuss genealogy software that you can use to keep your family history information outside of the web-based genealogy programs. It will discuss programs that can be used on computers and mobile devices using various operating software - Microsoft Windows (PC’s), Apple MacOS (Mac’s) Linux, and Android and Apple iOS – many of which interface with the web-based programs.

[https://shorelinefhc.com/record/index.php 7. Creating and Using a Research Plan]. Research plans are one of the best ways to do your family history research. A research plan will allow you to avoid wasting research time when trying to find your ancestors. This class discusses how to create a research plan and then how to use that plan for efficient family research.

2022 Classes
Is that Person Really my Ancestor?

How do you know when you access a book or a genealogical tree on FamilySearch, Ancestry, or other genealogy websites that a person who purports to be an ancestor is in fact your ancestor? Often, that person is not your ancestor. This class will discuss strategies that you can use to properly identify your ancestors, whether it be to correct your information on your tree or to make sure you are doing temple work for the right person, not someone who is unrelated to you.

The FamilySearch Catalog; Tips and Tricks to Maximize your Research

While this class was intended to deal with the FamilySearch catalog, a number of recent changes that have occurred on how people use FamilySearch. This class discusses those changes. A knowledge of the changes will help you understand the use of these changes to find records in both indexed and unindexed record collections.

Family History Evidence: How to Understand, Evaluate and Use It

The documents that evidence the family history events in your ancestors’ lives vary greatly in its ability to prove what happened. This class will give you the tools to understand types of documents, their strengths and weaknesses, and how to use them to properly to evidence the events in your ancestors’ lives.

Use of Timelines in Family History Research

Saturday, March 19 at 10:00 am

Timelines are a particularly valuable tool to organize your family history research, to find opportunities for further research, and to understand your ancestors’ lives. This class will discuss various strategies that use timelines to further your research and to understand the events that affected your ancestors’ lives.

Creating Books on Your Family History

Saturday, April 9 at 10:00 am

Have you ever thought that you would like to publish a book on your family history? This class will discuss book publishing, from ones about your immediate family to ones that describe your family tree, going back generations. It will discuss books printed on your printer, electronic publishing, and hard copy publishing.

Updates on DNA Testing and DNA Genealogy

Saturday, May 14 at 10:00 am

This class will update the previous classes on DNA which were presented in 2020 and 2021 with the latest offerings by the DNA testing companies and the new and improved methods that have been developed to understand and use your DNA test results to further your genealogical research.

Staff Training Meetings
Every 2nd Tuesday of the month, 7 pm at the Shoreline Family History Center.

Collections

 * (List additional collections you have such as the types of books and microfilm you have on indefinite loan; though you will not want to list every single item you have. Just give visitors to this page a general idea of your resources.)

Databases and Software

 * FHC Portal This center has access to the Family History Center Portal page which gives free access in the center to premium family history software and websites that generally charge for subscriptions.

Hardware and Equipment

 * (Include the resources you have to help individuals do their research - computers, microfilm readers, printers, etc. )

Resources in the Local Area

 * Fiske Genealogical Library, 1644 43rd Ave. E., Seattle, WA 98112; 206-328-2716.
 * The National Archives at Seattle, 6125 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115-7999.
 * Washington State Digital Archives, Washington state vital records online.
 * Washington State Genealogical Society
 * Washington State Library

Links

 * King County
 * King County, Washington
 * State of Washington
 * Washington

Volunteer at the Center
(Include information here about the volunteers you are looking for.)