The Washington, D.C. Family History Center is one of 4,800 branches of the FamilySearch Library. Our all-volunteer staff look forward to assisting you with your research needs.
We are located at:
10000 Stoneybrook Drive, Kensington, MD 20895
Phone: 301-587-0042; Email: info@wdcfhc.org
We provide local access to FamilySearch microfilmed records and internet genealogy websites. Our FHC offers the following resources:
FamilySearch Portal - free access to the following subscription websites:
- Access Newspaper Archives
- Ancestry Library Edition
- ArkivDigital Online (Swedish)
- MyHeritage.com
- FindMyPast
- Fold3
- 19th Century British Library Newspapers
- Puzzilla
- Historic Map Works Library Edition
- The Genealogist
- Alexander Street Press, American Civil War
- Paper Trail
Generations newsletter – free monthly e-newsletter; to subscribe send email to: info@wdcfhc.org.
Special Interest Groups - These groups are focused on specific areas of research (see heading for details).
Computer Resources - Our computers can operate genealogy software: PAF, RootsMagic, Legacy, Family Tree Maker. All computers have internet access and direct links to hundreds of genealogical websites.
Microfilm reader/printers and scanners - We have seven microfilm and two microfiche readers. We also have three microfilm reader/printers, which print hard copies of microfilm pages or save them to a removable drive. Our FHC has a Kodak PS80 photo scanner which can scan 500 photos per hour. There are two flatbed Epson scanners to scan and edit photographs, slides, photo negatives and documents, and save them to a removable drive. Software programs include: Adobe Photoshop Elements, a software editing program for photos, slides and negatives; and ABBY Reader, which converts digitized documents into text documents.
Books - Our large collection includes volumes on immigration, religious records, census, military, ethnic research and foreign countries. We have collections for every U.S. state, and maps and atlases.
Patrons can use our resources at no charge, but materials cannot leave our Family History Center. Smoking, alcohol and illegal drugs are not permitted on the premises.
