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. 

Membership Meeting July 14.

 
LGBTQ Genealogy

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Queer folk have always been a part of our history and family stories. The confirmed bachelor or spinster aunt in our trees may not have been single. Perhaps they did have partners but there is no legal documentation or family acknowledgment. This class will explore census, newspapers, obituaries, military records, photographs, phone books and archives for clues on our ancestor’s sexuality. We will also explore LGBTQ History and many individual stories giving context to the available records. Discovering our LGBTQ ancestor’s stories will enrich our entire family history. 

Join CGS Recording Secretary Stewart Blandón Traiman at the CGS library on Saturday, June 23 from 1-3 PM. Register soon, no walk-ins.
 
Quarterly Membership Meeting

The membership committee is launching a new format for membership meetings to provide more opportunities for members to network and to be better informed about our society.

PLANNED AGENDA 12:00 ­ Members and their guests are encouraged to bring lunch and join others for casual conversation. We will have special nametags that include some family names and places where you are researching. 

  • 1:00 ­ A welcome and introductions along with an update of what is happening at CGS.
  • 1:20-­2:20 ­ Two or three members will provide 20 minute talks on an interesting topic or discovery. (Maybe you have one you would like to share) This month we will have:
    1. Tales From the Research Committee revealing some amusing/interesting discoveries they have uncovered.
    2. Stewart Traiman will talk about plans to develop a CGS member interest database that can be used to connect with other members.
    3. Your ideas for this segment
  • 2:20 ­ 2:30 ­ Announcements & reminders from our members ­ a new database, a special meeting, a fun discovery.
  • 2:30 ­ Adjourn and Mingle with others.

At the library Saturday July 14, 12:00-2:30 p.m. 
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.