Situated on Egg and Butter Road off Highway 47 is a treasure of genealogical records to open your world to your family tree.

The Family History Center, operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is open to the public each Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. The Web site to your ancestors is called “Family Search, Where Generations Meet,” and is free to any patron to use.

Pauline Williams is the director of the Family History Center. She is a retired librarian from the University of Montevallo and brings her wealth of knowledge to organize this service for those who crave to learn more about their families.

At the extensive computer system, patrons are able to link to many Web sites free of charge: 19th Century British Library Newspaper Digital Archive, Family History Link, Footnote.com, Alexander Street Press – The American Civil War’s research database, and more.

Two dedicated volunteer staff members are always at the center to assist you with the resources available. In addition to the links previously mentioned, the Familysearch.org site also includes the ancestral file of genealogies contributed by thousands of patrons. It also has the Pedigree Resource File, which contains lineage–linked pedigrees that can be purchased on compact discs. Also available is the International Genealogical Index (IGI), which lists dates and places of births, christenings and marriages of deceased people from the early 1500s to the early 1900s. And last, The Family History Library catalogue lists all the information included at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City.

The LDS church believes families are the heart of the church, in the present and for all eternity. They are so committed to the life of the family that they share their wealth of knowledge through these Family History Centers.

If you want to learn more about your family, call 669-0250 or stop by when they are open. Ring the doorbell up high to the right of the front door and open the door to your past.