Researching At The Family History Center (FHC)

Submitted by: HOST GFS Heather@aol.com

 

What is available at the Family History Center, also known as FHC? The FHC Headquarters is in Salt Lake City, Utah which houses thousands and thousands of microfilm, microfiche and books of actual records for all over the world. It is run by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, also known as "The Mormons". They have library branches of the FHC are all over the world, more than likely you will find one in your local area. It is just about the best resource for Genealogy Research.

The types of records you will find are: Census Records; Military Records; Naturalization, Immigration, Ship, and Passenger Lists; Land Records; Court Records; Probate Records; Wills and Inventories; Tax lists; Militia Rolls; Homestead Applications; Vital Records -- Birth, Death, and Marriage; Cemetery Records; Bible Records; Family Genealogies; County and State Histories, just to mention a few.

The FHC also has a few programs on their Computers, they are called: Ancestral File, International Genealogical Index (IGI), Library Catalog, Social Security Death Index (SSDI), Military Index (Vietnam and Korean Wars), Scottish Vital Records. In general they are:

  Ancestral File -- Database of Family Genealogies submitted by other researchers.

  IGI -- Database of individuals which many has been researched with actual Vital Records. A lot of these records have been submitted by individuals who have had Temple work done. A belief of the Mormon church, where they do baptisms for the dead. (This of course was done after the individuals listed in the database were deceased.) Dates and places of births, deaths and marriages if known.

  Library Catalog -- Database of all that is available at the FHC.

  SSDI -- Database of all those who received Social Security Benefits, who are now deceased.

  Military Index -- Database of those who fought in the Vietnam and Korean Wars.

  Scottish Vital Records -- Database of actual Vital Records for Scotland from 1851 to the present.

You can check out the FHC online by going to their website at: FamilySearch Internet Genealogy Service; http://www.familysearch.org/ This website is a searchable database of their Ancestral File.

Also check out the FHC's search page, to find the closest one near you at: Family History Centers Search Page http://www.familysearch.org/Search/searchfhc2.asp

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