Washington DC FamilySearch Center
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This article describes the services and resources available at a FamilySearch Center, a branch facility of the FamilySearch Library. |
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Location and Contacts[edit | edit source]
10000 Stoneybrook Drive
Kensington, MD 20895
Phone: 301-587-0042
Location Map: Location Map
E-mail: wdcfhc@gmail.com
Website: Washington DC FamilySearch Center
Hours of Operation[edit | edit source]
Wednesday .... 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Thursday ........10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Saturday.........10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Sunday...........1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Closed: September 30 - October 1
When Montgomery County Schools are closed for bad weather, the FHC will be closed. If it is a Saturday, please call before leaving your home: 301-587-0042
Washington DC FamilySearch Center Resources[edit | edit source]
1. 16 computers, 4 with dual monitors
2. Free Wi-Fi
3. High volume Photo scanner (can scan 500 photos per hour)
4. Flatbed scanner -- scans and edits photographs, slides, photo negatives and documents
5. Slide and negative scanner -- displays your digital images on a monitor which makes it easier to adjust tint and print quality before you scan slides and negatives.
6. Book scanner -- Bring in journals, diaries or books you would like to digitize. The book scanner will remove the fold in the center of the book and flatten the pages. You can save the book as a searchable pdf, Word document or Excel spreadsheet.
7. Library Collection -- comprehensive collection of printed books that include family histories, yearbooks, biographies, local histories, other genealogical books
Your personal computer (Laptop or Chromebook) can be used to access the Premium FamilySearch Portal while logged on to the FamilySearch Center Wifi
Free access to the following subscription websites
- Access Newspaper Archives
- Ancestry Library Edition
- ArkivDigital Online (Swedish)
- MyHeritage.com
- FindMyPast
- Fold3
- 19th Century British Library Newspapers
- Puzzilla
- Historic Map Works Library Edition
- The Genealogist
- Alexander Street Press, American Civil War
- Paper Trail
Free monthly Generations Newsletter[edit | edit source]
Generations is sent via email during the first week of each month. It has timely information about activities and events at our FamilySearch Center as well as research tips and links. To subscribe, please send an email to: wdcfhc@gmail.com.
Research Specialists[edit | edit source]
Volunteers specialists are available to assist patrons in a variety of areas of research within the U.S. and internationally. Several of our volunteers are members of APG (Association of Professional Genealogists). If you have a specific research need, please contact us to determine how we can be of help.
Special Interest Groups[edit | edit source]
- African-American Focus on all aspects of African-American research
- Group meets alternating Mondays, 10-12 on Zoom, 10-2 in person at FSC, Contact Frank Jenkins at FSCAASIG@gmail.com for further information
- Beginning Genealogy: For those getting started with genealogy research
- Group meets via Zoom every Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. Contact Lorraine Minor at ldgene@verizon.net for further information
- Advanced DNA Group Focus on advanced methodologies and tools
- meets on the 2nd Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. on Zoom. Contact Jim Bartlett at jim4bartletts@verizon.net for further information
- Beginning DNA Group Focus on how to use DNA for genealogy research
- Meets via Zoom on the 3rd Thursday of each month at 7:00pm. Contact Andy Hochreiter at ajhochreiter@comcast.net for further information
- Eastern European: Focus on research and resources in Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Slovenia, Ukraine, and Belarus.
- Group meets monthly on the 3rd Saturday at 1:00 p.m. via Zoom. Contact Mary Ann Evan at maryann.evan@gmail.com for further information
- Irish Research: Focus on research in both Ireland and in the U.S.
- Group meets the 3rd Wednesday evening at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom. Contact Cindy Finelli at cfinelli16@gmail.com for further information
- Metro DC RootsMagic Users: RootsMagic is a popular genealogical software which makes researching, organizing and sharing family history easy. This group explores its many features to maximize usage.
- Group meets the 1st and 2nd Saturdays each month at 9:30 a.m. via Zoom. Contact Gary Petranek at gpetranek@gmail.com for further information
Resources in the Washington DC Metropolitan Area[edit | edit source]
- National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, DC
- Library of Congress, Washington, DC
- DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution)
- Martin Luther King Public Library, Washington DC Special Collections
- Maryland Archives
- Maryland Genealogical Society
- Virginia Room of the Fairfax County Virginia Library
- Virginia Genealogical Society
- Afro-American Historical & Genealogical Society (AAHGS)
- District of Columbia Archives
- See also the District of Columbia Archives and Libraries FamilySearch Wiki page.
Volunteering at the Washington DC FamilySearch Center is a great way to give back to your community, develop new skills, and deepen your knowledge of genealogy and family history. To learn more about volunteer opportunities, please contact the center directly.