What Does a Family History Center Look Like?

The entrance to the Family History Center
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
110 Concord Street, Nashua, New Hampshire

Recently, I read that one of my long-time genealogy facebook friends had never been to a Family History Center (FHC), and that got me thinking about the one I used to spend many, many days in. That thought prompted me to drive to Nashua, New Hampshire and re-visit it. This is the only local FHC I've been in, so I don't know what the others are like in the United States. Per Wikipedia, "As of 2018, there are more than 5,100 FHCs in 140 countries.^"To enter this center, drive around the church (shown above), park in the large lot, and walk through the double doors, as shown below.

Since there are many Family History Centers in the United States, why not contact one, if you are interested in learning how to do genealogy through a free class or just to get help. For Massachusetts there are 10 sites, the link is:
https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/Category:Massachusetts_Family_History_Centers

To enter the Nashua center, drive around the church (shown above), park in the large lot, and walk through the double doors, as shown below.

About 21 years ago, the center was in an ordinary strip mall, where the church rented space for their FHC. I especially liked the location, because it was only five miles away. After a period, the church made space for the FHC and allotted two rooms for researchers.

I've met some nice volunteers there, and became friendly with one, a certified genealogist, whom helped me for many years. The center was often crowded, so there were often wait times. The front room had desks, tables, copy machine, printers and computers (very few people had their own computer, but if they did, they weren't laptops). The back room was quite dark because it was where the microfilm readers were housed. I don't recall how many there were were, my guess is nine. Over the years, they would break, and they weren't repaired. Since those days, I made several trips to the largest FHC, the one in Salt Lake City, Utah, and I never returned to Nashua.

Imagine my surprise when I showed up at the center five minutes after it opened. The front room looked pretty much the same, but the computer screens were large. There were two researchers already there, and two other people. I told them who I was and that I wanted to take some photos for this post. I noticed that the back room was blocked, and I was told, the church needed the space and the FHC didn't because so much is on the internet. I looked in the file cabinet and saw many rows of microfilm for Italy and United States. These were rented by a patron for a particular period to use at this center.

When you enter the FHC, you should sign in, as shown below.

Book cases and file cabinet at the back of the room blocking the door to the former room. Nice restrooms are out the door beside the tan file cabinet (below).

Rented microfilm.

Permanent collection of fiche.

Looking towards the front door, and below on the right is the door that leads out to this hall, and the restrooms.

Please see their website for detailed information, including hours, phone number, a link for the directions and a schedule of upcoming workshops, all free. https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/Nashua_New_Hampshire_Family_History_Center#Center_Contacts_and_Hours

Their next workshop is:

Genealogy Basics: Basic Internet Research

Details:

• Open to the Public
• Date: September 22, 2018, at 11am
• Repeats on September 25, 2018, at 7pm
• Where: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 110 Concord Street, Nashua, New Hampshire, in the Family History Center
• Cost: Free

This workshop will review basic internet searches for genealogical purposes including online trees, region searches, general genealogical informational searches, using social media for genealogical collaboration, finding information in genealogical online encyclopedias (wikis), available genealogical research websites and how to conduct successful online searches for information.

Feel free to bring your own device and stay after the class to try out your new skills!

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From my past, I'm  sharing my last page (of 7) of a 1995 International Genealogical Index (IGI) for my Bishop surname. I had seven pages of Bishops from New Haven.

I have decided not to use the Comment feature for my blog. If you would like to leave a comment for me or ask a question, please write me at my email: BarbaraPoole@Gmail.com. Thank you.

My reason is because since November 2017 to May 2018, I received no comments, but upon investigating I found that I had indeed received 167 legitimate ones and 1,000 were in the spam folder. Google Blogger had made some changes that I was unaware of. Please be aware that I do not know who reads my blog, I may know who subscribes, but that is all.

The NARA in Boston (Waltham) Sure Has Changed, What Else is New?

In October 2016 I paid a visit to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) in Waltham, MA (aka known as Boston). Below are photos of the big changes and new new event.

New room to the left, old room to the right.

The new in this article is described above.

For complete information for this Free Virtual Genealogy Fair

by the National Archives and Records Administration

see schedule here for October 26th and 27th, 2016.

https://www.archives.gov/calendar/genealogy-fair

Research area, with computers, I believe I saw only two microfilm readers on the side and two researchers working together.

No more Saturdays! It used to be the busiest day, and people had a limit of two hours if it was very busy.

This was the research room. It was filled with 5 or more rows of microfilm readers (NARA employee and I guessed 40) plus a few microfilm printers. And, a large number of cabinets with hundreds or more rolls of microfilm. The center of this room had a few tables, a copy machine and cabinets on each side, all containing censuses for 1790, 1800, 1810 and so forth. They had all the New England censuses for all the years, and for some of the states, but I'm not sure if all were there.

This facility had a friendly staff, and I got to know Bill Read and Cindy pretty well, along with Walter. I first started going here in 1995, at least twice a month because it was closer than NEHGS. In addition I found my Revolutionary War patriot's pension file there.

Around 2008 (give or take), I went and was surprised to see a table in the center of the room with about 5 computers, all loaded with Ancestry. I was told I could use that for the year I was interested in. I didn't, just left and never returned because I was an Ancestry subscriber, and realized there was no need to be there, other than to get a nice hard copy. Fast forward to yesterday, when I paid them a visit because I wanted to use their vending machine! I was totally surprised to see the room empty and other changes, including a security door locked in the hallway leading to the lunchroom where the vending machines were. Researchers now have no access to the lunchroom.

I chatted a bit with the one staff person at the main desk, about all the changes. He suggested I take the flyers and said I could scan them and post to my blog, which I will do in a day or two. NOTE: Copies of some of the Reference Quick Guides may be seen HERE.

He asked me to come back and do some research (they subscribe to all the genealogy databases), and I said I would. And, I will, when I'm in the area with some genealogy with me. I rather liked being in my part-time second home again.

 Main hall with information pamphlets. The research room is to the left of the red sign. Old room was straight ahead.

Main entrance to the:

NARA

380 Trapilio Road

Waltham, MA 02452

1-866-406-2379

boston.archives@nara.gov

Tombstone Tuesday -- Before and After for Schramling or Scramlin

Unfortunately, I don't remember where I got this photo from, I've had it for over 11 years, and the minute I saw it, I knew I had to locate the tombstone of my ancestor. That was no easy task until I met my friend Sandy in 2001.

Without a cemetery name, I wasn't sure where to begin, so I turned to a message board for Oneonta, New York, and fortunately received a reply from Sandy, who knew where it was. I spent far more time worrying about how I was going to find the cemetery than it took to connect with her. Our corresponding took place during March, and with snow on the ground in upstate New York, she had to wait until it melted before she could go and see it again.  And, I had to wait.  Before long, she made a quick trip and reported back to me with the details.

Once summer came, my husband and I took a weekend research trip to Cooperstown, Canajoharie, Fonda, and Oneonta, New York. We met Sandy in Oneonta, who took us to two cemeteries, where my ancestors were buried.  The first is the of Henry Scrambling.  My photos show a very hidden cemetery, within a grove of trees, I would never have found it, without help.

Henry Schramling was my 5th great-grandfather.

Born:  Bef. 1745, Canajoharie, Montgomery Co., New York

Died:  Bet. February 24, 1808 - June 22, 1810, Oneonta, Otsego Co., New York

This is the same family I wrote about in November, in my Scrambled Eggs post.  Even in the original cemetery photo, somebody wrote the surname as Schramling AND Scramlin.

The 5 photos below were taken by my cousin, Susie Hull on March 6, 2016.

The cemetery as shown by Google Earth.