The Charlottesville Family History Center (FHC) was first established in 1970 at the Hydraulic Road Chapel. It was relocated to the new Charlottesville – Airport Road Chapel in October 2008.

Today’s Charlottesville FHC, part of the Waynesboro Virginia Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), is one of the best equipped genealogical research facilities in Central Virginia.  It has complete access to the world’s largest genealogy repository which is maintained by LDS Family History Library located in Salt Lake City.

Our local center is equipped with computers having high-speed internet access to a multitude of FREE on-line family history databases sponsored by the LDS church (FAMILYSEARCH) and private concerns such as HeritageQuest, and others. Computer usage is free to all patrons. High-quality laser printers allow patrons to print the results of their research for a small fee (10 cents per copy). 

Many research sources are only available on microfilm and microfiche.   Since the 1930’s, missionary teams of the LDS Church have traveled throughout the world microfilming vital genealogy records. Some have been in such deteriorated condition that the Church’s archives offer the only remaining copy.  Today, more than 3.7 million microfilmed records exist in the Granite Mountain Record Archives where they are stored in a safely controlled environment. For comparison, the digital record equivalent of genealogy records safeguarded by the LDS Church is equal to the total contents of 132 U. S. Libraries of Congress which cares for 17 million volumes mainly in book form. Even today, more than 200 teams are throughout the world filming even more records – this vast collection continues to grow.

The local film collection includes several hundred microfilm and thousands of microfiche on permanent loan from the Family History Library (FHL) in Salt Lake City.  Other films from the 3 million film collection may be borrowed from the FHL for a $5.50 fee that covers shipping and handling. The Charlottesville FHC has several film readers and a computer-enhanced image scanner/printer for viewing and creating printed copies from this media. 

In the reference area, there is a collection of books and periodicals mainly pertaining to area families, locales, and history.  A catalog of this collection will be available on this website in the future.

A volunteer staff of Family History Consultants are always available to assist patrons in their research, order microfilm, and provide instructions on equipment use.  Many patrons become volunteers at the center.

Classes and courses are offered on a variety of topics ranging from Basic Genealogy 101 and Using the Internet to Research Your Ancestors to more advanced classes in Deciphering Old Style Handwriting and Using Computer Scanning Technology. Our annual Family History Conference draws several hundred genealogy enthusiasts – beginners to experts – to more that two dozen classes and courses.

Whatever you needs, the Family History Center and its volunteers are there to assist you. Please call the Family History Center at 434-960-1715 or visit for a tour of the facilities. 

If you are not from the Charlottesville, Virginia area and would like to find a closer Family History Center, you can locate one by clicking here.