Big Rapids Michigan FamilySearch Center

"Family History Centers are branches of Family Search and the Family History Library in Salt Lake City Utah and are located all over the world. Their goal is to provide resources to assist you in the research and study of your genealogy and family history by:


 * Giving personal one-on-one assistance to patrons
 * Providing access to genealogical records through the Internet or microfilm loan programs"

CENTER CONTACTS and HOURS
Location Map:


 * Location Map

Address:


 * 1325 Woodward Ave Big Rapids MI 49307-9052 United States


 * Language:English

Phone:


 * 1-231-796-0698

E-mail:


 * MI_BigRapids@ldsmail.net

Open Hours:


 * Thursday: 9am-12:00 noon
 * To make an appointment for other times, please call in advance at (1-231-796-0698)

Holiday Schedule:

We occasionally close unexpectedly because of inclement weather or illness:

Collections

 * FamilySearch Catalog: This center has the ability to order any of the films and fiche available through the FamilySearch Catalog.
 * (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
The following equipment is available for use at the Center:


 * 4 Dell computers
 * One Canon Microfilm Scanner 300
 * One black and white printer

RESOURCES in the Local Area
CEMETERIES Cemetery records often identify birth, death, relationship, and military information, as well as religious affiliation.
 * Find A Grave can be searched by the name of a person or family to find where a person is buried. Usually gives birth and death dates often with a picture of the tombstone. May give obituaries, names of family members and links to their information in Find A Grave.
 * The Big Rapids Michigan Family History Center has Reference Guides and contacts for Cemeteries located in Mecosta County (2012) and Newaygo County (2015).

GENEOLOGY WEBSITES - Free access is provided at the Center to many subscription genealogy websites, including:
 * Ancestry.com
 * MyHeritage
 * Puzzzilla.org
 * World Vital Records

PLACES TO VISIT

Links
MECOSTA COUNTY, MICHIGAN GENEALOGY

Guide to Mecosta County history and genealogy sites for local probate and vital records; accessed June 2015 at https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Mecosta_County_Michigan_Genealogy

FREE PDF GENEALOGY FORMS 

Includes Pedigree Chart and Family Group Record Sheet; accessed June 2015 at www.misbach.org