The FamilySearch Center Portal (previously known as the Family History Center Portal) is the way patrons of family history centers around the world can have free access to a variety of genealogical websites. These include websites such as ArkivDigital, Fold3 and NewspaperArchive, which are all excellent websites for researching your family history and normally require a paid subscription. The mega genealogical websites, Ancestry.com, Findmypast and MyHeritage can also be accessed for free at family history centers using the FamilySearch Center Portal (members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints already receive a free personal subscription to these sites).

For those who were already familiar with the portal at the Granite Family History Center, the way you access it has changed recently. The portal is now accessed on all computers at the center by opening Chrome and then clicking on the bright green icon in the upper right hand corner of the screen, as circled below:

Once you click on the green icon, a message will pop up that says, “Family Search Center Premium Content,” and below it will initially say, “Unable to verify that you are currently in a FamilySearch center.” Give it a few seconds and the message will change to, “Connected: Sandy Utah Granite Family History Center,” as shown below:

Next, click on, “View Sites,” which will take you to the Premium Family History Websites page. Scroll down the page and when you find a website you’d like to access, simply click on, “Visit Site,” as circled below. You will now be able to enjoy using this website for free!

Another thing that has changed with the portal recently are the websites that can be accessed. Currently the websites available through the portal are:

19th Century British Library Newspapers

Alexander Street

American Ancestors

ArkivDigital

FamNet

Findmypast

Fold3

Geneanet

Irish Ancestors

MyHeritage Library Edition

NewspaperArchive

Puzzilla

Free access to these websites are subject to change and new websites may be added in the future. Be sure to check the portal regularly for new sites that may be useful to you. Happy researching!

-Christy Pugh, Innovations/Communications, Granite Family History Center