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Researching Family History: Getting Started With Genealogy

Genealogy research can feel overwhelming if you don't know where to look. This guide will help get you started with your genealogy research and building your family history.

Research Centers

Researching your family history might lead you to visit libraries, archives, and research centers. Here is a list of FamilySearch Centers in the Charlotte area. If you're not in Charlotte and you're interested in finding a location near you, visit Find a FamilySearch Center.

  1. Central FamilySearch Center (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
    2500 Rocky River Rd, Charlotte, NC 28213
     
  2. South FamilySearch Center (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
    5815 Carmel Rd, Charlotte, NC 28226
     
  3. Gastonia FamilySearch Center (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
    2710 Redbud Dr, Gastonia, NC 28056

All Charlotte Mecklenburg Public Library branches provide access to Ancestry Library Edition, which includes Ancestry and Fold3 (historical military records). A library card is required for computer use, but this resource is free. Visit Branches & Areas of Interest to locate a branch near you.

The West Boulevard branch of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Public Library system (highlighted with a book icon in the map above) is a FamilySearch affiliate and has a circulating genealogy collection.

The Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room, a department of the Main branch of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, is currently closed, but you can find a list of their resources here.

Outside of FamilySearch Centers and the public library, there are other locations both in and outside of Charlotte that could benefit your family history research, like the Olde Meck (Mecklenburg Genealogical Society).

The Olde Meck (Mecklenburg Genealogical Society) is located on the second floor of The Charlotte Museum of History. Olde Meck's Family Research Center (FRC) provides access to print and online resources, including ancestor charts, maps, and special collections that could help yield more results during your search.