Genealogy Chat

Has anyone used their local FHC? Is so, did you find it useful? What range of resources does it offer? I've used county record offices before but I've not yet used my local FHC. I don't know why but I'm slightly apprehensive about visiting mine >:o

Thank you, Ozibird :-) I'll give them a ring tomorrow.

Richard I have used mine almost weekly for years. Nothing to be apprehensive about! In case this is your worry - they are expressly FORBIDDEN to discuss their religion with you unless you ask a direct, specific question. In fact, the manager of my local centre is not of the Mormon religion anyway. The best use for me is the fact that I can order filmed parish registers of any church and view them - I am 500 miles from my area of research. What each individual centre holds varies - lots of local stuff, but all centres have bmd on fiche and quite often local census. You can have free access to Ancestry via their computers. All the volunteers are trained and are willing to help with suggestions - but they won't do your research for you. Hope this helps - I would not have progressed as far as I have without this invaluable resource. OC

I've had the same experience here in Canada. They're the most pleasant helpful people. It's a pleasure to go there. Religion is never discussed. Margaret

Thanks again, OC. I'm in Devon and fortunately most of my research interests are in south England: Sussex, Gloucestershire and Hampshire, plus Hackney and Lambeth in London. But it's not really possible for me to visit any of them on a regular basis (the records office in Gloucester is the one I've used the most as my sister lives fairly close to Cirencester). How does the system work for ordering fiche copies of certain records? How long does it take? Rich

How long it takes to order microfilms and fiches seems to vary. I'm in Italy, and my local centre orders from Germany, which can take up to a month. They charge 1 euro per microfilm. You can look at their catalogue to see what's available: http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library/FHLC/frameset_fhlc.asp

Richard An average time to wait is about 2 weeks, although I have waited six months for one very popular film, lol. A lot depends whether they have to order the film from Salt Lake, or whether it is already in the country. I have recently asked to have one film on permanent loan as it is one I refer to time and time again for different branches of my family. I think this cost me about £14 - well worth the money. I usually order two films at the same time, in case one takes longer than the other - cost is about £3. per film, for one month and you can extend this time if no one else has requested the film, for a few bob. OC

Hi Richard. My local FHC is great - I was a little apprehensive on first visit too - but no worries. As well as parish records, etc, mine also has Irish BMD 1864+ and will get in copies of 1901/1911 Irish census films which has been tremendously helpful to me in my Irish research. The only drawback with mine is the limited no. of fiche readers available and restricted opening hours (as they are volunteers), so definitely have to book. Staff are hilarious - they all know each other very well and keep me in stitches while I eavesdrop on their banter (unlike the church atmosphere in my town and county records offices!!. Hope you enjoy your visits. Regards, Wendy

Hi Richard - I'm in Plymouth and have not yet used the centre in Mannamead, but am planning too soon. Let me know how you get on if it's this one you visit and before I get there! Laura

I called the FHC for my area today and I've got an appointment to visit on Wednesday morning. As someone else suggested, if you go to their homepage you can do a search of the library holdings. They've copied and filmed so many records and documents, its unbelievable!! Not just parish registers but service records, muster rolls, all kinds of things, plus a load of Irish records. I'll need to narrow down what I need to order, lol.

We just discovered one in the next suburb, unfortunately it must have been closed for the long weekend here as it was closed during its operation hours. But excited to get there! Oh by the way I'm talking Sydney, Australia

I use the one in South Kensington & it is great for the Scottish Records I need. We don't bite & we don't try to talk religion.More than happy to help anybody too far from a FHC to have a look at the records for them(SCottish). Also they have full access to Ancestry.

Richard, I use our local FHC here in Leeds and as everyone says on this thread, the most helpful, genuine people you could meet!.... I only started tracing my ancesters last Oct. on my first visit they found Gr. grandfather + his 8 children, marriage and 5 siblings in the first hour. In total I have found & confirmed 37 ancestors. As said you have free access to ancestry (In Leeds you can only book internet for 1 hour, probl. varies per site) I research and print out possible's at home then I can hit/confirm the most likely, and for about 15p you can print images (or send to your email address or backup onto pen drive or floppy. Go for it, you wont regret it!!! Derek