Click on picture above for map and directions
Address: 4300 West 16th Street, Yuma, Arizona 85364, United States
The Yuma FamilySearch Center is located on 16th Street, just west of Avenue C.
The center occupies two rooms at the rear of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
For your convenience, park on the north side of the church and ring the bell at the northwest entrance of the church
They can guide you in using the FamilySearch Center's resources and equipment and can suggest
local libraries, archives, and societies that also provide genealogical and historical information.
This center has access to the FamilySearch Center Portal page which gives free access in the center to premium family history software and websites that generally charge for subscriptions.
Hardware and Equipment.
No appointment is necessary when visiting during regular operating hours as listed below.
Please note that the center will close a half hour earlier than times posted above if no patrons are present.
The FamilySearch Center will be closed on the following dates:
25 November - 1 December 2025
For Thanksgiving
16 December 2025 - 5 January 2026
For Christmas and New Year
Keynote Speakers
Theron and Shanna Schaefermeyer
_________________________________________________________________Seminar Class Synopsis
Session 1: Understanding the Basics of AncestryDNA - Charles Kaye
This beginner-friendly session introduces participants to the fundamentals of AncestryDNA testing. Learn how DNA testing works, what your ethnicity estimate means, and how to interpret your DNA matches. Attendees will gain confidence in using DNA results to enhance their family history research and connect with relatives through shared genetics.
Session 2: FamilySearch Wiki/ Catalog/ Full-Text Search - Nicole Evans
Come explore a goldmine of resources FamilySearch has. Instead of containing actual records, the FamilySearch Wiki provides guidance on how, where, and what to search to find genealogical information in specific locations or about particular topics. Do you know how to find all the databases FamilySearch has for a certain location? Do you know search tips and tricks specifically for FamilySearch? Have you heard about FamilySearch's full-text search option (AI powered) but have no idea how to use it? Feel free to bring your personal laptop or device to explore hands on during this fun, informative class!
Session 5: Physical to Digital: Converting Photographs to Digital File - Linsey Farar
Digital Scrapbooking has become a popular way to scrapbook and preserve memories. Whether you are an avid scrapper or just getting started, digital scrapbooking allows you to create fabulous scrapbook pages, while enhancing your photographs and memories, without the time and mess involved in traditional scrapbooking.
Sessions 6 and 33: Using AI Research Assistant and Other Tools to work Smarter and Not Harder. - Christi Clark
This class will offer tips on using resources such as: AI Research Assistant, How to ask the right questions on the internet, Finding at least 3 points of similarity: right name, right place, right time, right relationships, Snipping tool and Creating Sources, Using Google spreadsheets to process info, Goldie May Research Log, and FamilySearch Family Groups.
Sesssion 8: Around the World in Sixty Minutes - Diane Rogers
Are you stuck because you know nothing about researching in the country of origin of your
ancestors? Learn some of the links and places to start on this journey.
Session 9: Utilizing the DAR Website for Research - Teri Koenig
This class will demonstrate how non-members may use the dar.org website to work on their own genealogy. The presentation will also include a brief history of the DAR, activities of the Yuma Chapter, and eligibility requirements.
a. Ancestor search
b. Member search
c. Descendants search
d. Genealogy research committee index
e. Revolutionary War Records
f. Bibles
g. Resources (miscellaneous, including African American and Native American resources).
Session 12: Preserving Memories the Digital Way - Linsey Farar
Make family history and memory keeping less of a chore and more of a fun, visual part of your everyday life.
Session 15: Find Your Mystery Ancestor - Diane Rogers
Learn some techniques for getting around those brick walls hiding your mystery ancestors.
Session 19: What’s New with AncestryDNA – Updates and Advanced Tools -Charles Kaye
This session explores the latest features, updates, and analytical tools in AncestryDNA for those already familiar with their results. Learn how to use Ancestry’s newest tools—like Ethnicity Inheritance, SideView, and updated DNA communities—to refine your family connections and make the most of your genetic data.
Session 20: Genealogy Gems in Military Records - Carolyn Brown
The United States has been involved in many wars, and there is a large quantity of military records available for you to search. Before you can start to do this research, however, you need to know the time frame of the war or possible military service of each ancestor. Then you need to know where those records may be housed. There are four forms available to help you determine which wars in which your ancestors may have served and for recording the relative information. This class will help you to understand how to use Military and Pension records to follow a person’s movements.
Session 24: Behind the Bars: Territorial Prison Connections - Mike Erfert
We will discuss the interesting information available on territorial prisoners. Also will cover some of the common problems encountered while doing this research, and how to find ways to resolve issues when “legends” conflict with the “facts”. And we will talk about “connecting the dots” with often overlooked bits of information contained in territorial “booking sheets”.
Session 25: DAR - Hands on help and information about joining the DAR -
Teri Koenig
This class will offer one on one help to walk you through the beginning application process for registering an ancestor with the DAR. It will be held in the FamilySearch Center, with computer availability.
Session 26: Using Get Involved from the App and FamilySearch Website! - Ronette Titensor
With the advent of AI, volunteering through the indexing program on FamilySearch is almost obsolete, especially for beginner's. Opportunities to help are still available through the Get Involved tab on the website or on a phone or tablet via the App. This class will be a hands on class to walk you through the process. A phone, laptop or tablet is useful but not mandatory to learn.
Session 27: The Elusive Ladies: Finding the Hidden Ladies in your Ancestry - Carolyn Brown
Why can't I find the ladies in my family history? Is a question all of us have had. Women changed their name when they married and/or used nicknames in one document and given name in others. Getting around this problem involves working with family members, as well as documents the men in their life created. There are multiple types of records which may contain a clue you can follow to get the answer. This class will identify the types of records available, and how to use them in your research.
Session 29: Using Puzzilla to Find Holes in Your Pedigree - Nicole Evans
Let's be honest, FamilySearch does not have a good way to easily see missing holes or gaps in your pedigree... Well, that's why they've partnered with Puzzilla! Come discover an easy way to view your pedigree and an ancestor's descendents, including your own line, all at once. Puzzilla's basic free version is for all FamilySearch users that connects to your FamilySearch Tree in a way that is easy to see and navigate. If you are confused about where to begin researching in your line, come learn about tips and tricks for easily spotting collateral lines in need of research, and the "sweet spot" time period that will produce more results than you thought possible!
Session 31: Indexing Made Easy - Ronette Titensor
This class will be held in the FamilySearch Center for a hands on experience. With AI taking over most indexing projects, what is available for the avid indexer?
Session 33: Using AI Research Assistant and Other Tools to work Smarter and Not Harder. - Christi Clark this is a repeat of Session 6
This class will offer tips on using resources such as: AI Research Assistant, How to ask the right questions on the internet, Finding at least 3 points of similarity: right name, right place, right time, right relationships, Snipping tool and Creating Sources, Using Google spreadsheets to process info, Goldie May Research Log, and FamilySearch Family Groups.
2026 Seminar Presenters
Diane Rogers
Diane grew up in Yuma, but has lived away from home since 21. She now has two beloved children and grandchildren. Diane has loved Family History since she was 13 years old and been actively researching her own family and the ancestors of others since that time. She has been the director of a Family History Center, worked as a consultant at the Salt Lake FamilySearch library, and has worked as a professional researcher for the past 15 years. Though she does research for a living, she is quick to let others know that if they wish to learn how to do family history research, then it is her ministry and not her job.
Nicole Evans
As a child, Nicole accompanied her mother on many weekend trips to visit cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and great-grandparents, instilling a love of family at a young age. This love grew to include researching and documenting family history. After receiving a B.S. in Sociology from BYU (2016), moving around the world with her Naval officer husband, and having 6 children, she finally realized what she wanted to be when she grew up: a professional genealogist! Nicole received an Associates in Family History Research from Brigham Young University - Idaho (2021) with her specialty in British Isles research, and a Master of Science with Merit in Genealogical, Palaeographic, and Heraldic Studies from the University of Strathclyde (2024). She currently enjoys working part time as an English researcher for Price Genealogy, and as a volunteer in the Yuma FamilySearch Center. When she isn't researching family lines, she loves to travel, read, camp, and spend lots of time laughing with her family.
Charles Kaye
Charlie Kaye was born in Silver Spring, MD, but shortly after moved to Kaneohe, HI. He lived there until he was 16, when his family moved to Durham, NC in 2004. Charlie completed his Bachelor's Degree in Biology Education, with a Russian Education Minor at Brigham Young University - Idaho. He served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Vladivostok, Russia. He moved to Yuma, AZ in 2013, where he works as a teacher at Gila Ridge High School. Charlie also holds a Master's Degree in Bilingual/Multicultural Education. Charlie is a passionate family history researcher. He has years of experience using AncestryDNA to explore genetic connections and help others make sense of their results. Charlie enjoys combining his background in education with his love of genealogy to make DNA testing understandable and useful for anyone interested in discovering their roots.
Carolyn H. Brown
Carol has been researching her family since 1979. She was elected to Who’s Who of American Women in 1989. She has been presenting genealogy seminars and workshops for over 40 years. In 2007, Carol founded the Bouse Genealogical Society, Bouse, AZ. She was the newsletter editor for the Escapees RV Club Genealogy Birds of a Feather from 2003 thru 2015. She is the recipient of the 2012 Arizona Genealogy Advisory Board Founders Award, and the 2013 National Genealogical Societies Award of Merit. She was the Vice President for AzGAB in 2022.
She is a member of the Arizona Genealogy Advisory Board and Association of Professional; and a past member of the General Society of Mayflower Descendants, and the General Organization of United Daughters of the Confederacy. She is a member of the Yuma DAR and the Yuma Genealogical Society. She started teaching genealogy classes in 1984, and has been presenting genealogy seminars and workshops ever since.
Carol has written and self-published nine family history books on her and her husbands ancestors. She has compiled a two volume history of the descendants of the Corp of Discovery for the Clatsop County Oregon Genealogical Society, for the 200th anniversary of the Corp of Discovery reaching the Pacific. She has self-published in hard copy the following family genealogy books: The Family of Henry Smittkamp 1819-1880 in America & Germany, 1996 Our Heritage The Plow: The Roots and Branches of One Hutchinson Family, 1996, Pioneer Roots: The Winn Family of Dover, Missouri, 1998, The Alexander Walker Family of James City County, Virginia 1862-1999, 1999
The Descendants of Charles Washington Wood and Mary Ann Ore, 2000, The Boatfield Book, 2001, The Bullifants of Virginia, 2002, The Sprag(g)ins Family of Virginia, 2003, The Shelhorse Family, 2008. These books were updated between 2017 and 2019 and issued for her family in digital format. Carolyn has also self-published five genealogy guides: Family History Research, 1995 - updated through 2017, All Those Tips and Lists Your Can Never Find When You Want them, co-authored with Patricia J. Zumwalt, 1997 - updated through 2015
Genealogy on the Internet, 1998 - updated through 2010, Genealogy Solutions, 2006 - updated through 2015, Sharing and Publishing Your Family History, 2007 - updated 2015
Mike Erfert
Mike Erfert is a long time Yuman with a love of photography, storytelling and preserving Arizona’s rich territorial history. He served for 26 years with the Yuma Police Department and then served an additional 17 years with the Yuma Fire Department. After retiring in 2023 he has been a volunteer at Yuma’s Territorial Prison museum. His wife Debra is a published author with many romance/mystery novels to her credit. When not volunteering they explore Arizona and visit their children and grandchildren.
Laurie Boone
Laurie is currently the Special Collections Librarian for the Yuma County Library District, which includes being the Reference Archivist for the library’s historical manuscripts collection. Laurie received her undergraduate degree in International Affairs from Florida State University and a Master’s degree in Library and Information Science from the University of South Florida. With 20 years of library experience, Laurie has developed specialized skills in genealogy research and a keen interest in local history.
Christi Clark
Christi Clark was born in Yuma, has lived in various cities around Arizona, then returned to Yuma where she has now resided for 21 years. Therefore, she has now lived most of her life in Yuma, Arizona. Christi has a bachelor's degree in nursing and has been a registered nurse in Arizona for almost 25 years now. She has loved genealogy from a young age due to the influence of a favorite aunt. She was a family history consultant at age 16. She is the mother of 5 children ages 16 to 25, has a lovely daughter-in-law, and 1 grandchild. While she dabbles in homesteading and gardening, aquaponics, and plant studies, family history research has been a consistent thread throughout her life. Her areas of expertise are primarily Swedish records with some experience in Danish records, some success finding German and Polish records, and a willingness to look for records anywhere. She is passionate about the patterns and lessons found throughout history and how they give more meaning to our own life experiences.
Linsey Farar
Linsey is a native Yuman! She has created many Family Memory books for her children. When not busy raising her family she is an avid quilter and crafter.
Teri (Bell) Koenig
Teri is a retired special education teacher who has long been interested in genealogy. She became a member of the Yuma Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution in 2016, and served as Vice Regent for several years. In April, 2024, she became the Registrar for the chapter and is enjoying learning how to help prospective members achieve their goals of proving the links between themselves and their Revolutionary Patriots. Teri is married to Karl and they have two adult sons, Patrick and Hans.
Ronette Titensor
Ronette is a retired elementary school teacher. She is an accomplished pianist and continues to teach piano to others. She has many years of experience working with Family History and is a former director of the Yuma FamilySearch Center. Ronette enjoys travelling to visit her children and grand children, her travels include an annual family reunion.
Other Resources in Yuma, Arizona
Genealogical Society of Yuma Arizona (GSYA) - http://gsya.org/
Yuma Archives - https://yumalibrary.org/archives/ -
Located in the basement of the Heritage Library, the Archives contain manuscripts, oral histories and photograph collections that pertain to historical people, places and events of Yuma, Arizona
