California Societies: Difference between revisions

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Latest revision as of 06:11, 19 August 2025

California Wiki Topics

Beginning Research

Record Types

California Background

Cultural Groups

Local Research Resources

Genealogical, historical, lineage, veterans, fraternal, family name, and ethnic societies often collect, transcribe, and publish records useful to family historians. Local genealogical societies often help family history researchers contact local record searchers or copy records that mention the researcher's ancestors. A current list of archives and libraries can be found in the California Archives and Libraries Wiki article. Some of these organizations have their own Internet sites. You can also find local society addresses by using directories cited in the United States Societies Wiki article.

To learn of California genealogical and historical societies that have records and services that may help you, contact:

Statewide Genealogical Societies

California Genealogical Society and Library
2201 Broadway Street, Suite LL 2
Oakland, CA 94612-3031
Telephone: (510) 663-1358
Email: president@californiaancestors.org
Facebook: California Genealogical Society and Library

San Diego Genealogical Society
P.O. Box 33725
San Diego, CA 92163
Telephone: (858) 672-2593
Email: sdgs2012pres@gmail.com

Regional Genealogical Societies

South Bay Cities Genealogical Society
4733 Torrance Blvd #814
Torrance, California 90503
Facebook: South Bay Cities Genealogical Society

Southern California Genealogical Society and Family Research Library
417 Irving Drive
Burbank, CA 91504-2408
Telephone: (818) 843-7247 or (818) THE-SCGS
Email: naomital@sbcglobal.net
Facebook: Southern California Genealogical Society and Family Research Library

Lineage and Hereditary Societies

The California Commandery
Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States
600 South Central Avenue
Glendale, CA 91204
Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States - Parent organization

California Mayflower Society
Historians and the Mayflower Library
405 Fourteenth Street, Basement Level
Oakland, CA 94612-2704
Telephone: (510) 451-9599
Facebook: Society of Mayflower Descendants in the State of California

The California Society of the Order of the Founders and Patriots of America
The Order of the Founders and Patriots of America - Parent organization
Email: info@founderspatriots.org
Facebook: Founders and Patriots of America

Sons of Confederate Veterans California Division
Sons of Confederate Veterans - Parent organization
SCV
P.O. Box 59
Columbia, TN 38402
Telephone: (800) MY-DIXIE
Facebook: Sons of Confederate Veterans

Society of California Pioneers
101 Montgomery, Suite 150
Presidio of San Francisco, CA 94129
Call 415.957.1849 to schedule a research appointment or a tour of Pioneer Hall at The Presidio
Membership is open to direct descendants of pioneers who arrived in California prior to January 1st, 1850

Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War
Department of California and Pacific
5017 Alan Avenue
San Jose, CA 95124-5744
Email: commander@suvpac.org

United Daughters of the Confederacy, California Division
United Daughters of the Confederacy - Parent organization
328 North Boulevard
Richmond, VA 23220-4009
Telephone: (804) 355-1636
Email: udc@hqudc.org

Ethnic and Religious Societies

African American

African American Genealogical Society of Northern California
AAGSNC
P.O. Box 27485
Oakland, CA 94602-0985
Telephone: (877) 884-2843

Afro-American Historical & Genealogical Society of Central California
AAHGSCC
P.O. box 9161
Fresno, CA 93790
Telephone: (559) 213-7602
Email: aahgscc@gmail.com

California African American Genealogical Society
P.O. Box 8442
Los Angeles, CA 90008-0442
Telephone: (323) 806-5634
Email: info@caags.org
Facebook: California African American Genealogical Society (CAAGS)

British Isles

British Isles Family History Society - USA (Los Angeles)
British Isles Family History Society - U.S.A. - Parent organization
BIFHS–USA
9854 National Blvd #304
Los Angeles, CA 90034-2713
Telephone: (626) 359-1729
Email: president@bifhsusa.org
Facebook: British Isles Family History Society - USA

California Cornish Cousins
Kitty Quayle, Membership
6041 Foxtail Road
Somerset, CA 95684
Facebook: California Cornish Cousins

Chinese

Chinese Historical Society of America
CHSA Museum
965 Clay Street
San Francisco, CA 94108
Telephone: (415) 391-1188 Ext 101
Email: info@chsa.org
Facebook: Chinese Historical Society of America

Chinese Historical Society of Southern California
411 Bernard Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Telephone: (323) 222-0856
Email: chssc@hotmail.com
Facebook: Chinese Historical Society of Southern California

German

Sacramento German Genealogy Society
P.O. Box 660061
Sacramento, CA 95866-0061
Telephone: (916) 361-2956
Email: sggs@sggs.us
Facebook: Sacramento German Genealogy Society (SGGS)

Southern California Chapter of Germans from Russia
David Karber
4350 Linden Ave
Long Beach, CA 90807-2725
Telephone: (562) 424-3747
Email: dekarber@verizon.net

Hispanic

Genealogical Society of Hispanic America-Southern California
P.O. Box 2472
Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670
Facebook: Genealogical Society of Hispanic America-Southern California
Genealogical Society of Hispanic America GSHA - Parent organization

Hispanic Genealogical Society
Databases include California
P.O. Box 231271
Houston, Texas 77223-1271
Email: joguerra@hispanicgs.com

Huguenot

The Huguenot Society of California
The National Huguenot Society - Parent organization
7340 Blanco Road
Suite 104
San Antonio, TX 78216-4970
Telephone: (210) 366-9995

Japanese

National Japanese American Historical Society
1684 Post Street
San Francisco, CA 94115
Telephone: (415) 921-5007
Email: njahs@njahs.org
Facebook: National Japanese American Historical Society

Jewish

Jewish Genealogical Society of Los Angeles
P.O. Box 55443
Sherman Oaks, CA 91413
Telephone: (818) 433-6599
Email: president@jgsla.org

San Francisco Bay Area Jewish Genealogical Society (SFBAJGS)
SFBAJGS
P.O. Box 318214
San Francisco CA 94131
Email: membership@sfbajgs.org
Facebook: San Francisco Bay Area Jewish Genealogical Society

Polish

Polish Genealogical Society of California
P.O. Box 307
Buena Park, CA 90621-0307
Email: president@pgsca.org
Facebook: PGS-CA Polish Genealogical Society - California

Historical Societies

California Historical Society
678 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
Telephone: (415) 357-1848
Email: info@calhist.org
Facebook: California Historical Society

Donner Summit Historical Society

P.O. Box 1
Norden, CA 95724
Links and Sources

Additional California Societies (Local or Special Interest)

For a comprehensive list of Historical & Genealogical Societies in California, see the

For a comprehensive list of County and Local Historical Societies in California, see California Historical Societies and Museums

Additional California genealogical and historical societies may be listed in the following directories:

National Genealogical Society Includes a search function for societies and organizations

US GenNet

Roots-L Go to Societies

Linkpendium Click on location and go to Societies

Cyndi's List

@@ Line 17: / Line 17: @@
 Oakland, CA 94612-3031<br>
 Telephone: (510) 663-1358 <br>
-E-mail: [mailto:president@californiaancestors.org president@californiaancestors.org]<br>
+Email: [mailto:president@californiaancestors.org president@californiaancestors.org]<br>
 Facebook: [https://www.facebook.com/CAancestors/ California Genealogical Society and Library]<br>
@@ Line 24: / Line 24: @@
 San Diego, CA 92163 <br>
 Telephone: (858) 672-2593 <br>
-E-mail: [mailto:sdgs2012pres@gmail.com sdgs2012pres@gmail.com] <br>
+Email: [mailto:sdgs2012pres@gmail.com sdgs2012pres@gmail.com] <br>
 ==Regional Genealogical Societies==
@@ Line 37: / Line 37: @@
 Burbank, CA 91504-2408 <br>
 Telephone: (818) 843-7247 or (818) THE-SCGS <br>
-E-mail: [mailto:naomital@sbcglobal.net naomital@sbcglobal.net]<br>
+Email: [mailto:naomital@sbcglobal.net naomital@sbcglobal.net]<br>
 Facebook: [https://www.facebook.com/SCGSGenealogy?ref=ts Southern California Genealogical Society and Family Research Library]<br>
@@ Line 57: / Line 57: @@
 [http://www.americanrevolution.org/ofpa.php '''The California Society of the Order of the Founders and Patriots of America'''] <br>
 [http://www.founderspatriots.org/ The Order of the Founders and Patriots of America] - Parent organization <br>
-E-mail: [mailto:info@founderspatriots.org info@founderspatriots.org]<br>
+Email: [mailto:info@founderspatriots.org info@founderspatriots.org]<br>
 Facebook: [https://www.facebook.com/founderspatriots Founders and Patriots of America] <br>
@@ Line 78: / Line 78: @@
 Alan Avenue <br>
 San Jose, CA 95124-5744 <br>
-E-mail: [mailto:commander@suvpac.org commander@suvpac.org]<br>
+Email: [mailto:commander@suvpac.org commander@suvpac.org]<br>
 [http://sites.rootsweb.com/~caudc/ '''United Daughters of the Confederacy, California Division''']<br>
@@ Line 85: / Line 85: @@
 Richmond, VA 23220-4009 <br>
 Telephone: (804) 355-1636 <br>
-E-mail: [mailto:udc@hqudc.org udc@hqudc.org]<br>
+Email: [mailto:udc@hqudc.org udc@hqudc.org]<br>
 ==Ethnic and Religious Societies==
@@ Line 102: / Line 102: @@
 Fresno, CA 93790 <br>
 Telephone: (559) 213-7602 <br>
-E-mail: [mailto:aahgscc@gmail.com aahgscc@gmail.com]<br>
+Email: [mailto:aahgscc@gmail.com aahgscc@gmail.com]<br>
 [http://caags.org/ '''California African American Genealogical Society'''] <br>
@@ Line 108: / Line 108: @@
 Los Angeles, CA 90008-0442 <br>
 Telephone: (323) 806-5634 <br>
-E-mail: [mailto:info@caags.org info@caags.org]<br>
+Email: [mailto:info@caags.org info@caags.org]<br>
 Facebook: [https://www.facebook.com/California-African-American-Genealogical-Society-CAAGS-184305884939503/ California African American Genealogical Society (CAAGS)] <br>
@@ Line 119: / Line 119: @@
 Los Angeles, CA 90034-2713 <br>
 Telephone: (626) 359-1729 <br>
-E-mail: [mailto:president@bifhsusa.org president@bifhsusa.org]<br>
+Email: [mailto:president@bifhsusa.org president@bifhsusa.org]<br>
 Facebook: [https://www.facebook.com/bifhsusa British Isles Family History Society - USA] <br>
@@ Line 135: / Line 135: @@
 San Francisco, CA 94108 <br>
 Telephone: (415) 391-1188 Ext 101 <br>
-E-mail: [mailto:info@chsa.org info@chsa.org]<br>
+Email: [mailto:info@chsa.org info@chsa.org]<br>
 Facebook: [https://www.facebook.com/chsamuseum Chinese Historical Society of America] <br>
@@ Line 142: / Line 142: @@
 Los Angeles, CA 90012 <br>
 Telephone: (323) 222-0856 <br>
-E-mail: [mailto:chssc@hotmail.com chssc@hotmail.com]<br>
+Email: [mailto:chssc@hotmail.com chssc@hotmail.com]<br>
 Facebook: [https://www.facebook.com/ChineseHistoricalSocietyofSouthernCalifornia/ Chinese Historical Society of Southern California] <br>
@@ Line 151: / Line 151: @@
 Sacramento, CA 95866-0061 <br>
 Telephone: (916) 361-2956 <br>
-E-mail: [mailto:sggs@sggs.us sggs@sggs.us]<br>
+Email: [mailto:sggs@sggs.us sggs@sggs.us]<br>
 Facebook: [https://www.facebook.com/Sacramento-German-Genealogy-Society-SGGS-113538848669737/ Sacramento German Genealogy Society (SGGS)] <br>
@@ Line 159: / Line 159: @@
 Long Beach, CA 90807-2725 <br>
 Telephone: (562) 424-3747 <br>
-E-mail: [mailto:dekarber@verizon.net dekarber@verizon.net]<br>
+Email: [mailto:dekarber@verizon.net dekarber@verizon.net]<br>
 ===Hispanic===
@@ Line 173: / Line 173: @@
 P.O. Box 231271 <br>
 Houston, Texas 77223-1271 <br>
-E-mail: [mailto:joguerra@hispanicgs.com joguerra@hispanicgs.com]<br>
+Email: [mailto:joguerra@hispanicgs.com joguerra@hispanicgs.com]<br>
 ===Huguenot===
-[http://www.huguenot.netnation.com/states/california/index.htm '''The Huguenot Society of California'''] <br>
+'''The Huguenot Society of California'''<br>
 [http://www.huguenot.netnation.com/general/index.htm  The National Huguenot Society] - Parent organization<br>
 Blanco Road <br>
@@ Line 190: / Line 190: @@
 San Francisco, CA 94115 <br>
 Telephone: (415) 921-5007 <br>
-E-mail: [mailto:njahs@njahs.org njahs@njahs.org]<br>
+Email: [mailto:njahs@njahs.org njahs@njahs.org]<br>
 Facebook: [https://www.facebook.com/nationaljapaneseamericanhistoricalsociety?fref=ts National Japanese American Historical Society] <br>
@@ Line 199: / Line 199: @@
 Sherman Oaks, CA 91413 <br>
 Telephone: (818) 433-6599 <br>
-E-mail: [mailto:president@jgsla.org president@jgsla.org]<br>
+Email: [mailto:president@jgsla.org president@jgsla.org]<br>
 [http://www.jewishgen.org/sfbajgs/ '''San Francisco Bay Area Jewish Genealogical Society (SFBAJGS)'''] <br>
@@ Line 205: / Line 205: @@
 P.O. Box 318214 <br>
 San Francisco CA 94131 <br>
-E-mail: [mailto:membership@sfbajgs.org membership@sfbajgs.org]<br>
+Email: [mailto:membership@sfbajgs.org membership@sfbajgs.org]<br>
 Facebook: [https://www.facebook.com/San-Francisco-Bay-Area-Jewish-Genealogical-Society-54214774804/ San Francisco Bay Area Jewish Genealogical Society] <br>
@@ Line 213: / Line 213: @@
 P.O. Box 307 <br>
 Buena Park, CA 90621-0307 <br>
-E-mail: [mailto:president@pgsca.org president@pgsca.org]<br>
+Email: [mailto:president@pgsca.org president@pgsca.org]<br>
 Facebook: [https://www.facebook.com/groups/PGSCA/ PGS-CA Polish Genealogical Society - California] <br>
@@ Line 222: / Line 222: @@
 San Francisco, CA 94105 <br>
 Telephone: (415) 357-1848 <br>
-E-mail: [mailto:info@calhist.org info@calhist.org] <br>
+Email: [mailto:info@calhist.org info@calhist.org] <br>
 Facebook: [https://www.facebook.com/californiahistoricalsociety California Historical Society] <br>
 '''[http://donnersummithistoricalsociety.org/ Donner Summit Historical Society]
 *P.O. Box 1
 *Norden, CA 95724
@@ Line 238: / Line 238: @@
 *Additional California genealogical and historical societies may be listed in the following directories:
-::[http://www.fgs.org/cstm_societyHall.php?page=1&nr=50&scl=fna&sl=CA  '''Federation of Genealogical Societies''']
+{{Block indent|1='''[https://ngsmembers.ngsgenealogy.org/Societies-and-Organizations-Directory2?sso= National Genealogical Society]''' Includes a search function for societies and organizations|2=2}}
-::[http://www.daddezio.com/society/hill/SH-CA-NDX.html '''Society Hill'''] Click the link under Alphabetical Listings
+{{Block indent|[http://www.usgennet.org/socadmin/ca.html '''US GenNet''']|2}}
-::[http://www.usgennet.org/socadmin/ca.html '''US GenNet''']
+{{Block indent|[https://web.archive.org/web/20160512132035/http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/roots-l/USA/ca/research.html '''Roots-L'''] Go to Societies|2}}
-::[https://web.archive.org/web/20160512132035/http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/roots-l/USA/ca/research.html '''Roots-L'''] Go to Societies
+{{Block indent|[http://www.linkpendium.com/ca-genealogy/ '''Linkpendium'''] Click on location and go to Societies|2}}
-::[http://www.linkpendium.com/ca-genealogy/ '''Linkpendium'''] Click on location and go to Societies
+{{Block indent|[http://www.cyndislist.com/us/ca/societies/ '''Cyndi's List''']|2}}
-::[http://www.cyndislist.com/us/ca/societies/ '''Cyndi's List''']