Have you ever...

Wondered where your ancestors came from and how you ended up here?

Felt like there is more to your history?

Been curious to know if you’re related to someone famous or important?

Heard a story about your great grandfather that you’d like to know if it’s true?

Wanted to know more about your family history but don’t know where to start?

Answering these questions is easier than you think!

Free Family History Classes

The FamilySearch Library is offering free family history (genealogy) classes for residents of the Bay Area and surrounding communities.

In addition, the library offers free access to genealogical data for billions of ancestors from around the globe.

Whether your a complete beginner or a master researcher who’s hit a roadblock, we’re here to help! We create inspiring experiences that bring joy to all people as they discover, gather and connect their family- past, present and future.

Class Schedule

May 20:

Why Family Stories and Memories Matter

Class Starts at 7:30 PM

May 27:

Preserving Family Memories

Class Starts at 7:30 PM

June 3:

Learning From My Living Relatives

Class Starts at 7:30 PM

June 10:

Family History Activities

Class Starts at 7:30 PM

June 17:

Creating Family Connections

Class Starts at 7:30 PM

June 24:

The Art of Storytelling

Class Starts at 7:30 PM

(Every class will use the same zoom link, which will be provided to you.)

Why should I want to learn about my ancestry?

To put it simply, discovering your family history is EXCITING. It gives you a meaningful connection to the past and provides you with stories of strength and courage. You may be asking yourself, “how can genealogy be exciting?” The truth is that you have to try it to understand.

Tracing ancestors as far back as possible has brought many people great satisfaction and pleasure. Even documenting only 3 generations of your family history can bring just as much excitement and fulfillment as being able to putting together two or three centuries of family history. Each individual ancestor that you find or discover its own special thrill!

Besides just finding their records, it’s even more thrilling to discover family records that contain stories that would never have come to light, unless you had found it and shared it with your family.

Additional reasons:

  1. It gives you a sense of identity
  2. It makes you more resilient to life’s challenges
  3. It helps you connect with others
  4. It makes you more compassionate
  5. It helps you make good health choices

“I do genealogy for many reasons. One is my curiosity about my ancestors – who were they, what were they like, what experiences did they live through. My love of history is part of the reason I do genealogy. My desire to solve mysteries is a huge part of my passion for genealogy. And I do genealogy because I want my children and grandchildren to know and recognize the individuals over the centuries whose lives helped make us who we are today.” – Lorine McGinnis

How far back can I go?

Most people will be able to trace some lines of their family tree back to the 1600s. Some people might be able to trace a few lines of their tree even further back. However, don’t be discouraged if you’re not able to trace it back this far. Genealogical records from different regions were destroyed due to fires, natural disasters, wars, etc. New records continue to be discovered and added each day to databases.

“There were many heroes and villains in ages past that impacted our world in myriad ways. There were also countless ordinary folks, now nameless, that did nothing more than struggle to get by and provide for their families. The mundane struggles of our forebears gave us a future. That is certainly worth celebrating.” – Nathan Lents

The FamilySearch Library at Temple Hill attracts visitors from all over the world that come to find information about their ancestors. The research specialists are also very skilled at helping you set trackable goals and help you make plans on how to accomplish them.