Washington DC FamilySearch Center

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

Washington DC Family History Center The Washington DC Family History Center welcomes you, and we look forward to assisting you with your genealogical research. We provide access to digitized and microfilm records, books, and genealogical websites. Our all-volunteer staff is ready to answer questions about the resources available in the FHC and give limited research guidance.There is no charge for using the facility, and only nominal charges for copies, forms, and rental of microfilms or microfiche.

Center Hours and Contacts

Hours of Operation

• Wednesday ..... 10:00-1:00

• Thursday .......... 1:00-4:00
• Saturday ......... 10:00-3:30

For the protection of our staff and patrons, please note that masks will be required while inside the center.

Phone: 301-587-0042

E-mail: wdcfhc@gmail.com

Website: Washington DC Family History Center

Location Map: Location Map

Address: 10000 Stoneybrook Dr, Kensington, MD 20895

• Directions I-495 to Connecticut Avenue N. At first traffic light outside I-495, turn right onto BEACH Drive. Follow until Beach Drive dead-ends into STONEYBROOK Drive. Turn left on STONEYBROOK Drive. Go up the hill; turn left into the 3rd driveway, which is the driveway at red brick church building (10000 Stoneybrook Drive). The FHC is on the right side of the building, half-way back.

Center Resources

• FHC Portal (available only at Family History Centers) This provides free access in the center to premium family history software and websites that generally charge for subscriptions:
  • • 19th Century British Library Newspapers
    • Alexander Street Press - American Civil War
    • American Ancestors
    • Ancestry - Institution Version
    • ArkivDigital
    • British Newspaper Archive
    • FamNet
    • Findmypast
    • Fold3
    • The Genealogist
    • Geneanet
    • MyHeritage - Library Edition
    • Newspaper Archive
    • Newspapers.com (Institutional Version)
    • Paper Trail
    • Puzzilla - Premium Services
• Wi-Fi available for laptops
• Photo scanner (can scan 500 photos per hour)
• Flatbed scanners (to scan and edit photographs, slides, photo negatives and documents.
• Slide and negative scanner
• Book scanner
• Large format (Flip-Pal) scanner
• 17 computers, 4 with dual monitors

DC Family History Center Book Collection Shelved by Locality, Subject, or Family Name. Books for each state in the U.S. are arranged alphabetically; each state has a binder containing a Research Outline and other materials. There are books on immigration, church records, census, military, and foreign countries, maps and atlases.

Finding Aids - research guides, handwriting guides, letter writing guides for foreign countries, magazines.

Generations Newsletter

Our free monthly newsletter, Generations, is sent via email during the first week of each month. It has timely information about activities and events at our Family History Center as well as research tips and links. To subscribe, please send an email to: wdcfhc@gmail.com.

Staff Research Specialists

Staff specialists are available to assist patrons in a variety of areas of research within the U.S. and many countries. We also have several staff members who 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

• African-American: Focus on all aspects of African-American research. Group meets every Monday at 9:30 a.m. in-person, by appointment, or on Zoom. Contact Frank Jenkins at FHCAASIG@gmail.com.

• Beginning Genealogy: Personal assistance for the new researcher. Group meets via Zoom every Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. Contact Lorraine Minor at ldgene@verizon.net.

• DNA: We sponsor two DNA Special Interest Groups for Beginning and Advanced researchers.
  • Beginning DNA Group meets via Zoom on the 3rd Tuesday night of each month at 7:00 p.m. Contact Andy Hochreiter at ajhochreiter@comcast.net.
  • Advanced DNA Group, led by Jim Bartlett, meets on the 2nd Wednesday evening at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom. Contact Jim Bartlett at jim4bartletts@verizon.net

• Eastern European: Focus on research and resources in Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Slovenia, Ukraine, and Belarus. Lecture and computer research assistance. Group meets monthly on the 3rd Saturday at 1:00 p.m. via Zoom. Contact Mary Ann Evan at maryann.evan@gmail.com.

• 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.

• 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 of each month at 9:30 a.m. via Zoom. Contact Gary Petranek at gpetranek@gmail.com.

Resources in the Washington DC Metropolitan Area

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)

See also the District of Columbia Archives and Libraries FamilySearch Wiki page.

Links

FamilySearch Wiki, Maryland Maryland

FamilySearch Wiki, Virginia Virginia

FamilySearch Wiki, Washington DC District of Columbia

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Volunteer at the Center

Would you like to enhance your family history research skills and share what you already know? We are seeking volunteers to staff our Center and assist our patrons. For further information, contact us at 301-587-0042.