HARTFORD CONNECTICUT STAKE FAMILY HISTORY CENTER ~ Bloomfield

Several years ago, I worked at this FHC with my "companion librarian" James F. Nesbitt (1938-2002), who shared his talents so freely with patrons and staff. He worked extensively with Native American research and is greatly missed. This web page is my "THANK-YOU" to all the great patrons and librarians that shared their time with me, and to Lynne, Alice & Elaine for their patience & friendship.

The Bloomfield Family History Center is a non-profit genealogical library that is open to the public free of charge. The staff consists of volunteers, both members and non-members of the LDS church. Why do they do this? Simple. They LOVE genealogy and want to make their facilities open for all to use. Please remember the staff is comprised of all volunteers....much like yourself, interested in tracing their family roots. Not all volunteers are experts in all areas of research so if you feel your question wasn't answered to your satisfaction, please ask to speak to the Director/Asst. Director. They have volunteers that are more familiar with German, Polish, Swedish research, etc. and can put you in touch with someone directly.

At present, the facility consists of 12 microfilm readers, 4 computers, and 9 microfiche readers. They ask that you to sign up for 30 minute sessions on the computer and if the library is not busy and no one else waiting, your time is extended. Computers can be reserved over the phone. The readers are on first-come, first-serve basis.

I hope you enjoy your visit!
Anne

COLLECTIONS:

Each Family History Center has "in-house" microfilms, microfiche, and books that are on permanent loan. We are very fortunate to have the following special microfilm/book collections available at Bloomfield:

English Civil Registration from 1837-1890
Hamburg (Germany) Passenger Lists from 1850-1899
Irish Griffith's Valuation & Householder's Index
1881 Census Index for Scotland
1881 Census Index for England and Wales
Loiselle Marriage Index for French Canada (dual indexed)
Large Collection of Parish Records for French Canada
Virginia Families genealogy
Polish Gazetteer (even the smallest hamlets are listed here!)

And on CD-ROM on the computers:

Ancestral File--pedigree charts
IGI-International Genealogical Index (largest data bank )
Social Security Death Benefit Index
Vietnam and Korean War Military Index
Old Scottish Parish Records (from the 1500's forward)
Family History Library Catalogue (Index to MILLIONS of microfilmed records that have been filmed by Salt Lake City)
New England Historical Genealogical Register
Select-a-phone (Lists phone numbers from USA & Canada)
North American Vital Records Index
British Vital Records Index
Griffith's Index (Irish records)

CT FHC ADDRESS & HOURS:

(These are listed w/ FamilySearch -- I can't guarantee them as being 100% accurate as hours change during summer/winter and would strongly suggest calling the FHC prior to driving out for a visit.)

Goshen Connecticut
122 N Street
Goshen, CT 06756-1511
Goshen, Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States
Phone: 860-491-5227
Hours: W 7pm-9pm; Th 9am-11;30am; Sun 1:30pm-3:30pm.

Groton Connecticut
1230 Flander Road
Mystic, CT 06355-1006
Mystic, New London County, Connecticut, United States
Phone: 860-536-5102
Hours: M 10am-1pm; T, Th 10am-1pm, 7pm-9pm; W 7pm-9pm; F 7pm-9pm; Sat 10am-2pm.

Hartford Connecticut
1000 Mountain Road
Bloomfield, CT 06002-2269
Bloomfield, Hartford County, Connecticut, United States
Phone: 860-242-1607
Hours: T,W 10am-2pm, 7pm-9pm; F 10am-2pm; Sat 9am-1pm.
Closed: Closed Aug 20-31; closed Dec 17-Jan 1st

Madison Connecticut
275 Warpas Rd
Madison, CT 06443-2022
Madison, New Haven County, Connecticut, United States
Phone: 203-245-8267
Hours: T-Th 9am-1pm, 6pm-9pm; Sat 10am-2pm

Manchester Connecticut
34 Woodside St
Manchester, CT 06040-6339
Manchester, Hartford County, Connecticut, United States
Phone: 860-643-4003
Hours: T, W 10am-3:00pm, 6:30pm-8:30pm; Th 12pm-4pm and by appt; Sun 10:40am-11:30am.
Closed: Closed for Christmas week.

New Canaan Connecticut
682 South Avenue
New Canaan, CT 06840
New Canaan, Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States
Phone: 203-966-8475
Hours: W 9am-12pm, 6pm-9pm;Th 6pm-9pm.

New Haven Connecticut
990 Racebrook Road
Woodbridge, CT 06525-2543
Woodbridge, New Haven County, Connecticut, United States
Phone: 203-387-2012
Hours: M 10am-2pm; T-Th 10am-1pm, 7pm-10pm; Sat 9am-1pm.

Newtown Connecticut
16 Saw Mill Road
Newtown, CT 06470-1440
Newtown, Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States
Phone: 203-426-1752
Hours: T,10am-2pm,7pm-9pm; W,Th 10am-2pm,7pm-10pm

Southington Connecticut
750 Meriden Waterbury Turnpike
Southington, CT 06489-4134
Southington, Hartford County, Connecticut, United States
Phone: 860-628-0617
Hours: T, Th 10am-2pm, 6:30pm-9:30pm; W 6:30-9:30pm; Sat 8am-12pm.

Stamford Connecticut
834 Stillwater Rd
Stamford, CT 06902-1821
Stamford, Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States
Phone: 203-324-9575
Hours: Sun 12noon-1:30pm; T 6pm-9pm; W 7:30pm-9pm. Other times by appt.

Note: These are not mailing addresses. Because of limited staff, Family History Centers cannot respond to mail inquiries.

ANNE'S FAVORITES:

I get asked all the time "Which sites have been really great places for your research?". Well, that's a LONG answer, as I probably have 700 genealogy sites bookmarked! So, what I've included here are the ones I absolutely could not do without and are well worth the visit.

FAMILY SEARCH
Some of the largest databases in the world are at your finger-tip here. Ancestral File & the IGI are searchable online, as well as the 1880 U. S. Federal Census, all for FREE. By no means does this replace a visit to the Family HIstory Center, but it does allow you to do some "home work". Also, the Family History Library Catolgue is online -- which allows you to search what films, books, and fiche are available to be ordered in from Utah...there are literally MILLIONS of items available!

ARTHUR TESCHLER'S TRANSLATION SERVICE
This is the best! They will translate your genealogy based documents for FREE and they are VERY good. It LOOKS like it just does Polish, but keep scrolling. They translate 15 different languages, including Finnish, German, Polish, Norwegian, etc.

US GENWEB
This site links to all the state genwebs--and then you can filter to the county you are researching. Here's where the experts are....

AMERICAN LOCAL HISTORY NETWORK
This is a relatively new site that is similar to GenWeb...several GenWeb people left to start this site and it's formatted the same way.

RANDOM ACTS OF GENEALOGICAL KINDNESS
This site offers free look-ups for various places in the country. It is excellent and, if you live near a library or archive, you might consider joining....I did & love it.

GENIE ANGELS
Just like the above RAOGK... volunteers & excellent!

CYNDI'S LIST
This is a GREAT one-stop-shopping place. Cyndi's gets you started in the right areas and has tens of thousands of links to genealogy pages.

DRIVING DIRECTIONS:

From Hartford:
Take I-91 NORTH to exit 35A -- turn LEFT at the light at the end of the ramp. Follow Cottage Grove / CT 218 to Simsbury Road / CT 185. Turn RIGHT on Simsbury Road. Take 2nd LEFT which is Watkins Road. The church building will be on your LEFT.

From Springfield:
Take I-91 SOUTH to exit 35A -- turn RIGHT at the light at the end of the ramp. Follow Cottage Grove / CT 218 to Simsbury Road / CT 185. Turn RIGHT on Simsbury Road. Take 2nd LEFT which is Watkins Road. The church building will be on your LEFT.

AND OUR BEAUTIFUL GRAPHICS ARE FROM