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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Center Contacts and Hours
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.
Phone: 1-301-587-0042
E-mail: wdcfhc@gmail.com
- Language: English
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.
Website: Washington DC Family History Center
Center Resources
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 FHC as well as research tips and links. To subscribe, please send an email to: wdcfhc@gmail.com.
Oral History Room
- A unique feature of our FHC is our Oral History Room, which is equipped with professional audio and digital video technology. This is an easy way to capture and preserve the living history of a family member or loved one. For further information or to schedule the room, contact us.
Collections
- FamilySearch Catalog: 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.
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: Ancestry.com FHC Institution version, Fold3.com, NewspaperArchive.com, MyHeritage, FamilyLink, Genline, Findmypast.uk, FamilyHistoryLink, Alexander Street Press (Civil War), The Genealogist, Historic Map Works, 19th Century British Library Newspaper Digital Archive.
- Our computers have links to hundreds of genealogy websites.
- All of these are available at every computer. Please ask a staff member for assistance in accessing these tools.
Hardware and Equipment
- Wi-Fi
- SnapScan photo scanner (can scan 500 photos per hour)
- 17 computers, 4 with dual monitors
- 3 printers (one color)
- Microfilm readers and a digital ScanPro film reader
- Flatbed Epson scanners (to scan and edit photographs, slides, photo negatives and documents.
- Kodak Slide and negative scanner
- CZUR ET24 Pro book scanner
Center Services
Staff Research Specialties
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.
The 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.
The 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: 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.
Additional groups will be formed as requested by patrons.
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
Virginia Room of the Fairfax County Virginia Library
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
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 ua R 301-587-0042.