Welcome! Whether you have Gold Rush ancestors or have no family connection to California, you will find extensive support for your genealogy research at the California Genealogical Society (CGS).

The goal of the California Genealogical Society is to connect people to their family heritage and to promote a spirit of diversity and inclusivity for our members and patrons. The California Genealogical Society does not tolerate discrimination in any form. 

Register for NEHGS Event Register for a ConsultationNEHGS Comes to Oakland 22 September 2018

An Evening Discussion on DNA and Adoption.

 Are adoptions part of your family history?  Are you wondering if DNA can help you in identifying family lines of adopted ancestors or descendants? Have you already started this journey and have successes or questions?  Would you be interested in meeting others doing similar searches?

 

Join Therese Hart-Pignotti for an informal talk and discussion for those interested in the uses of DNA for adoptees. Therese will share what she has learned and provide an opportunity for questions and strategies, best practices and important cautions.

Thursday, 15 August 6:00 - 7:30 PM. Registration and Details
Irfanview--A Free and Easy to Use Photo Editing Programs

Irfanview is the image editing program installed on all of the computers in the library; among other things it drives the microfilm/microfiche scanner. 

This workshop is comprised of two topics.  The morning will focus on installing and learning the basics of the easy to use Irfanview image editing program.  In the afternoon session you will refine and grow these basic skills as we learn how to create an easy, fun, and very cool framed graphic family tree! 

Saturday, August 25 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM at the Oakland Family History Library. Class is limited to 25 participants, so Register early!
NEHGS is Coming To Oakland!

The Great Migration: Researching 17th Century New England

Learn about early settlement in New England from two of the topic's top experts: Robert Charles Anderson FASG, Director of the Great Migration Study Project, and Christpher C. Child, Senior Genealogist at the Newbury Press and Editor of The Mayflower Descendant.

Presented in partnership with The New England Historic Genealogical Society at the Hilton Oakland Airport Hotel, 1 Hegenberger Avenue, Oakland, on Saturday, September 22 from 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM. Information and Registration.

CGS will conduct a silent auction as a fundraiser during the event. We're looking for donations of items to auction, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  if you have something to offer.

CGS is also offering personal consultations with experienced CGS genealogists and Mayflower researchers on Friday, September 21 at the library. More information and registration
DNA Genealogy Panel
DNA Testing is transforming genealogical research and is having a huge impact on families with adoptions.  Our six panelists' perspectives reflect adoptees, parents of adopted children, and consultants, including a ProGenealogist from Ancestry.com. They will share their experiences with different research methods and from different cultures.  Learn about using this advancement for genealogy, as well as guidelines and personal insights for dealing with the emotional and ethical issues that arise.  
 
Watch the blog for an expanded description of this important event; Register at Eventbrite.

Saturday, September 29 1:00 - 3:00 PM. 
Our Newest Publication

We’re excited to announce that in June we published the highly anticipated book, The Ancestry of Samuel Sterling Sherman and Mary Ware Allen. It tells the stories of nine generations of former California Genealogical Society’s president, Frederick "Rick" S. Sherman’s family as they move from New England and Kentucky westward to California. Whether you love history, individual family stories or learning new research tips, or all three, we think this book has something to offer you. Whether a genealogist or not, readers will be moved by getting to know these diverse human beings.

The California Genealogical Society has publshed Mr. Sherman's incredible research effort as a fitting tribute to a man who gave to the society in so many ways as President, Chief Researcher, and Benefactor. His efforts were suddenly cut short by his death in 2008.
 
 

Biographical sketches of the ancestors of Frederick S. Sherman including Sterling Sherman (1794-1865) and Jane Noble (1788-1852), William Dewey (1793-1880) and Hannah Bond (1794-1827), John J. Hardin (1810-1847) and Sarah Ellen Smith (1811-1874), John J. Jacob (1819-1873) and Evelyn Johnson (1828-1901), Joseph Allen (1790-1873) and Lucy Clark Ware (1791-1866), William Gordon Weld (1775-1825) and Hannah Minot (1780-1860), Benjamin Franklin Copeland (1798-1863) and Julia Fellows Ruggles (1803-1867), Benjamin Kent (1794-1859) and Eleanor Bradford (1802-1885), and many more.

 

 Learn more.
The Ancestry of Samuel Sterling Sherman and Mary Ware Allen Cover
 

The California Nugget – The journal of the California Genealogical Society is published twice a year. Have you read our recent issue? Check out the summary of a recent issue.
 

Tip of the Iceberg Poster – Support the library and help spread this important message. Buy three, get one free! Order now.
 

California Names Index includes pre-1905 deaths in San Francisco. Search for your surnames to see if we have records for your ancestor. Learn more.

WHAT'S HAPPENING

Board of Directors Meeting: Second Saturday Monthly at 10:00 AM.

Read our blog to keep up with the latest news and coming events.

Visit Eventbrite to see and register for CGS events.

Occasionally CGS will partner with the Oakland FamilySearch Library to present events. Visit this Eventbrite page to see the list of upcoming joint events.

Visit Calendar of Events to see future events.

Looking for something genealogical to do this week? The Sutro Library's Genealogy Section maintains a Bay Area Genealogy Calendar with events at many local societies, libraries, and museums.