FamilySearch MCP Server

by iandersoio.github.ianderso/familysearch-mcpv1.3.0

Genealogical research on FamilySearch: historical places, indexed records, page images, the tree.

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Active1d ago

Install FamilySearch MCP server

claude mcp add familysearch -e FS_ACCESS_TOKEN='<fs-access-token>' -- uvx familysearch-mcp

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "familysearch": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "familysearch-mcp"
      ],
      "env": {
        "FS_ACCESS_TOKEN": "<fs-access-token>"
      }
    }
  }
}

Add to ~/.cursor/mcp.json (global) or .cursor/mcp.json (project).

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "familysearch": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "familysearch-mcp"
      ],
      "env": {
        "FS_ACCESS_TOKEN": "<fs-access-token>"
      }
    }
  }
}

Settings → Developer → Edit Config (claude_desktop_config.json), then restart.

{
  "servers": {
    "familysearch": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "familysearch-mcp"
      ],
      "env": {
        "FS_ACCESS_TOKEN": "<fs-access-token>"
      }
    }
  }
}

Add to .vscode/mcp.json in your workspace.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "familysearch": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "familysearch-mcp"
      ],
      "env": {
        "FS_ACCESS_TOKEN": "<fs-access-token>"
      }
    }
  }
}

Add to ~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json.

Configuration

Variable	Required	Secret	Description
FS_ACCESS_TOKEN	—	yes	Access token from your own registered FamilySearch application. The place gazetteer and collection catalogue work without one.
FS_ENV_FILE	—	—	Env file to read settings from and to re-read a refreshed token from mid-session. Defaults to the nearest .env from the working directory upward.
FS_CLIENT_ID	—	—	Your registered application's client id, reported by auth_status.
FS_ENVIRONMENT	—	—	production, or integration for the FamilySearch sandbox.
FS_TIMEOUT	—	—	HTTP timeout in seconds.

Freshness

Active — last maintenance signal 1d ago. The newest of the signals below sets the band.

Last commit (default branch)
2026-10-09 · 1d ago · GitHub
Latest release
2026-10-06 · 4d ago · GitHub · v1.3.0
Package published
no data · npm/PyPI
Registry entry updated
2026-10-06 · 4d ago · official registry · v1.3.0

FAQ

›How do I install the FamilySearch MCP server in Claude Code?

Run: claude mcp add familysearch -e FS_ACCESS_TOKEN='<fs-access-token>' -- uvx familysearch-mcp. For Cursor, VS Code, Claude Desktop and Windsurf, use the install tabs above.

›Does FamilySearch require an API key?

Yes. It expects FS_ACCESS_TOKEN, of which 1 is a secret.

›Can I use FamilySearch as a remote (hosted) MCP server?

No hosted endpoint is published; it runs locally over stdio.

›Is FamilySearch in the official MCP registry?

Yes, as io.github.ianderso/familysearch-mcp.