Visit the Green Tree Family History Center

Pittsburgh PA Family History Center from Matt Hoyt on Vimeo.

 The Green Tree Family History Center, located at 46 School Street (near the corner of  Mansfield Avenue and Poplar Street) is one of 4,600 local FamilySearch facilities in 126 countries where anyone can access genealogical records and receive personal assistance with their family history. (Jim Stuber's numbers in the video were just a bit out of date. The number of centers and countries grow every year.)

Family history centers are free, open to the public ,and staffed by knowledgeable volunteers. Each facility offers both novices and experienced family historians the tools and resources to learn about their ancestors. The centers provide free access to subscription genealogical websites. For a small fee, patrons also have access to the vast circulating collection of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which includes 2.5 million microfilms from over 100 countries.

Lorrie Danko Guthrie serves as director of the Green Tree Family History Center. She has held this unpaid Church-service position for many years. As director, she oversees the center's operations, staffing, and finances—and she does a great job. You will find the facility comfortable, the staff knowledgeable, and the resources extraordinary.

Following are Lorrie's "11 Reasons to Visit the Green Tree Family History Center."

1. Free help getting started with FamilyTree to create a permanent pedigree chart online.
2.  Free access to Premium Family History Web sites through the Family History Center Portal.  These include Ancestry. com, MyHeritage.com, Findmypast.com, Heritage Quest Online, Godfrey Memorial Library, World Vital Records, etc.  Usually you have to buy a subscription to these sites.
3.  Experienced family history staff to help you get started or to get you over your “roadblocks.” Many of our staff have spent 30 to 40 years researching their families and helping others.
4.  Free one-on-one help with your family history research needs.
5.  Almost 1100 films on loan from the Family History Library in Salt Lake City.  These are national and international films.
6.  Many research books on our shelves that are not available elsewhere.
7.  All of the microfiche ordered by our patrons kept on permanent loan.  Since we opened in 1978, there are thousands of microfiche available for you to review at no charge.
8.  Surname index to all of our family history books and files.  Again, many of these books are unique to our Family History Center.
9.  Family History files which have been donated only to our Family History Center.
10.  A nursery next door to the Family History Center, stocked with toys and books.  However, you must bring your own babysitter.
11.  Free parking.

Hours of operation are:

• Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.
• Thursdays, 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.
• Saturdays, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

We invite you to experience how the Green Tree Family History Center can help you learn more about your own family.