Gardendale Alabama FamilySearch Center

This article describes the services and resources available at a FamilySearch Center, a branch facility of the FamilySearch Library.

(Add a brief paragraph about your center here and the area it serves. Information in italics below is guidance for you and should be deleted as you fill out the page. Remove italics from other text by selecting the text and clicking the "I" box in the Toolbar above.)

Center Contacts and Hours

Location & Map:

Address:

• 1923 Mt Olive Blvd  Gardendale, AL 35071  United States
• (Link to map using Google or other map sites)

Phone: Sis. Evelyn Baldwin  Family History Consultant 205-607-7368 for appointments

            Bro. Rick Williams Family History Center Director 205-223-8041

E-mail:  al_gardendale@ldsmail.net

Open Hours:

• Tuesday: 7 pm - 9 pm by appointment
• Thursday: 7 pm - 9 pm by appointment

Holiday Schedule:

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Center Resources

Collections

• Family History Library Catalog: This center has the ability to order any of the films and fiche available through the Family History Library 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.)

FHC Portall

• alexanderstreet.com/products/american-civil-war-letters-and-diaries
  
• newspaperarchive.com/
  
• www.ancestry.com/
  
• www.arkivdigital.net/
  
• www.findmypast.co.uk/
  
• www.fold3.com/
  
• www.genline.com/
  
• www.godfrey.org/
  
• www.heritagequestonline.com/hqoweb/library/do/index
  
• historicmapworks.proquest.com/hmwweb/hmw/do/login
  
• www.origins.net/
  
• www.paper-trail.org/
  
• www.worldvitalrecords.com/wvrhome.aspx
  

On-site Free Internet Access for Genealogy Research

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.

◦1911 British Census (accessed through the Find My Past website )–The 1911 UK Census is a record of everyone who lived in England and Wales in 1911. It provides a unique snapshot of the lives of those who lived at that time. Note: Some parts of Find My Past access may be limited due to negotiations (23 Oct 2013).

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 - English parish records, directories, census, civil registration, surname mapping, and selected army and navy lists.

NOTE: This service was temporarily removed on 22 October, 2013. This contract is in negotiation now.

Heritage Quest Online – Heritage Quest Online database is a collection of material for both genealogical and historical researchers, with coverage dating back to the late 1700s. Researchers can use HeritageQuest Online to find their ancestors, trace their paths across America, and learn what life was like in the areas where they settled. Searches include:

◦Census: Find ancestors in the complete set of U.S. federal census images from 1790 to 1930, including name indexes for many years. ◦Books: Find information on people and places described in over 24,000 family and local histories. ◦PERSI Periodical Source Index™: Find information about people and places from this index of over 2 million genealogy and local history articles, updated annually. ◦Revolutionary War: Search selected records from the Revolutionary War Era Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files. ◦Freedman’s Bank: Search for individuals in Freedman’s Bank (1865-1874), which was founded to serve African Americans. Includes a name index and images for bank depositors and their dependents and heirs. ◦U.S. Serial Set: Search the Memorials, Petitions, and Private Relief Actions of the U.S. Congress in the LexisNexis® U.S. Serial Set.

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, including:

◦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 -

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

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. (Note to FHC: Not all FHCs have access to this portal. If you do not, you will want to remove this entire bullet. If you do have access to it, just remove this text in italics.)

Patron Equipment Resources

• 2 Computers
• 1 Copier/Printer/Scanner
  

Patron Software Resources

This software is on our computers. This allows the patron to use with a flash drive, or for training or for evaluation. These programs are also compatible with FamilySearch Family Tree.

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 & web features turned off.

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.

Personal Ancestral File (PAF) - FREE - multi-language versions available. While this program is no longer supported by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, it is still popular and robust. It can be down loaded from various locations on line. Care is needed to download the free product only and not other products.

One down load location for PAF is here (click here) - There are other download locations, but use at your own risk.

Youth Program Assistance

Youth Family History Consultant Training 

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 LDS Duty to God Certificate Requirements:
Deacon - Family Activities:
4. Keep a written record of your family history. Ask a parent or the ward 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.

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Center Services

Staff Research Specialties

(Include sections for any other services your center provides. Add additional sections for those services. See the Mesa and Logan FHC pages for examples.)

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Resources in the Local Area

Alabama Genealogical Society

BAAGSG , Birmingham African American Genealogy Study Group, (Meets on 2nd Sunday, 3rd Floor of Linn-Henley Building at Birmingham Central Library)
Birmingham Genealogical Group (Meets 4th Saturday at Birmingham Central Library, 2-4pm)

Birmingham Central Library: features extensive collection for Southern research

Samford University: Outstanding seminars for genealogists, Is Reposistory Alabama Baptist Church Records, large Ireland collection, many other records
Birmingham Southern University: Has Archives for Methodist ChurchResources in the Local Area

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Links

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• Alabama Department of History and Archives

• Alabama Genealogical Society Website
• Birmingham African American Genealogy Study Group
• Birmingham Genealogical Society Blog

• Birmingham Civil Rights Institute Archives

• Birmingham News Archives (1993-Present)

• North Jefferson News (2007-Present)

• Samford Genealogy Website
• Wallace State Genealogy Website

Volunteer at the Center

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

International Genealogical Index (FamilySearch) - free

International Genealogical Index (FamilySearch) - free