This file is as complete and accurate as possible, however if you
should find errors, have additions or deletions, send them to me
and I will update the file.
 
Bill Green         bgreen@milo.nodak.edu     bill90@Delphi.Com
 
Date of last update: 4 November 1993
 
***************************************************************************
 
      GENEALOGICAL AND HISTORICAL SOCIETIES OF CALIFORNIA
                     (C) 5 March 1989
                      Robert McLaren
                    7810 Kincardine Ct.
                 Alexandria, VA 22310-4025
 
The following file contains a listing of genealogical and historical
societies in California.  Included in the listing, where known, are telephone
numbers and yearly dues.  This listing is donated to the public domain and
may be freely  copied.  Under no conditions can this listing be sold or used
in any other commercial fashion.  If you think this list has any value, then
donate that value in helping your local genealogical society (or the National
Genealogical Society).
 
If you write to any of the societies on this list for information, remember
to include a self addressed stamped envelop (SASE).  Many of these societies
work with a limited budget, supplemented by volunteers, and can not afford to
respond unless a SASE is included in your letter.
 
****************************************************************************
 
          CALIFORNIA
 
     California State Library
     P.O. Box 942837
     914 Capitol Mall
     Sacramento, CA 94237-0001
 
     Children's Home Society of California
     2727 W. 6th St.
     Los Angeles, CA  90057-0922
          voice:  213.389.6750
          fax:    213.732.1063
 
     Society of California Pioneers
     456 McAllister Street
     San Francisco, CA 94102
 
     California Genealogical Society
     P.O. Box 77105
     San Francisco, CA 94107-0105
       Dues:
 
     Southern California Genealogical Society
     P.O. Box 4377
     Burbank, CA 91503
       Dues:  $18.00 per year
 
     Historical Society of Southern California
     200 East Avenue 43
     Los Angles, CA 90031
       Dues:
 
Amador County
 
     Amador County Genealogical Society
     322 Via Verde
     Sutter Ter.
     Sutter Creek, CA 95685
       Dues:
 
Alameda County
 
     East Bay Genealogical Society
     P.O. Box 20417
     Oakland, CA 94620-0417
       Dues:
 
     Livermore-Amador Genealogical Society
     P.O. Box 901
     Livermore, CA 94550
       Dues:  $10.00 per year
 
     Hayward Area Genealogical Society
     P.O. Box 754
     Hayward, CA 94543
       Dues:
 
Butte County
 
     Paradise Genealogical Society
     P.O. Box 460
     Paradise, CA 95969
       Dues:
 
     Butte County Historical Society
     P.O. Box 2195
     Oroville, CA 95969
       Dues:
 
Colusa County
 
     Colusa County Genealogical Society
     P.O. Box 973
     Williams, CA 95987
       Dues:
 
Contra Costa County
 
     Contra Costa Genealogical Society
     Box 910
     Concord, CA 94522
       Dues:  $8.00 per year (single); $12.00 per year (family)
 
     Mt. Diablo Genealogical Society
     Box 4654
     Walnut Creek, CA 94596-9998
       Dues:  $7.50 per year
 
Del Norte County
 
     Del Norte County Historical Society
     577 H Street
     Crescent City, CA 95531
       Dues:
 
El Dorado County
 
     El Dorado County Genealogical Society
     P.O. Box 1321
     Placerville, CA 95667
       Dues:
 
Fresno County
 
     Fresno Genealogical Society
     P.O. Box 1429
     Fresno, CA 93716-1429
       Dues:
 
Humboldt County
 
     Humboldt County Genealogical Society
     P.O. Box 882
     Eureka, CA 99502
       Dues:
 
     Southern Humboldt Historical and Genealogical Society
     Box 785
     Garberville, Ca 95440
       Dues:
 
     Redwood Genealogical Society
     P.O. Box 645
     Fortuna, CA 95540
       Dues:
 
Kern County
 
     Kern County Genealogical Society
     P.O. Box 2214
     Bakersfield, CA 93303
       Dues:
 
     Clan Diggers Genealogical Society, Inc., of the Kern River Valley
     P.O. Box 531
     Lake Isabella, CA 93240
       Dues:
 
Lake County
 
     Lake County Genealogical Society
     P.O. Box 1011
     Lakeport, CA 95453
       Dues:
 
     Pocahontas Trails Genealogical Society
     6015 Robin Hill Drive
     Lakeport, CA 95453
       Dues:
 
Lassen County
 
     Lassen County Historical Society
     P.O. Box 321
     Susanville, CA 96130
       Dues:
 
Los Angeles County
 
     Los Angeles Westside Genealogical Society
     P.O. Box 10447
     Marina del Rey, CA 90295
       Dues:  $15.00 per year
 
     Glendora Genealogy Group
     c/o 1025 East Foothill Blvd.
     Glendora, CA 91740
       Dues:
 
     Antelope Valley Genealogical Society
     P.O. Box 1049
     Lancaster, CA 93534
       Dues:
 
     Pasadena Genealogy Society
     P.O. Box 94774
     Pasadena, CA 91109-4774
       Dues:
 
     Pomona Valley Genealogical Society
     P.O. Box 286
     Pomona, CA 91766
       Dues:
 
     South Bay Cities Genealogical Society
     P.O. Box 6071
     Torrance, CA 90504
       Dues:
 
     Whittier Area Genealogical Society
     P.O. Box 4367
     Whittier, CA 90607
       Dues:
 
     Jewish Genealogical Society of Los Angeles
     c/o Norma Arbit
     4530 Woodley Avenue
     Encino, CA 91436
       Dues:
 
Madera County
 
     Genealogical Society of Madera
     P.O. Box 495
     Madera, CA 93639
       Dues:
 
Marin County
 
     Marin County Genealogical Society
     P.O. Box 1511
     Novato, CA 94948
       Dues:
 
Mendocino County
 
     Mendocino Coast Genealogical Society
     P.O. Box 762
     Fort Bragg, CA 95437
       Dues:
 
     Southern Humboldt Historical and Genealogical Society
     Box 656
     Garberville, CA 95440
       Dues:
 
     Ukiah Tree Tracers Genealogical Society
     P.O. Box 72
     Ukiah, CA 95482
       Dues:
 
Merced County
 
     Merced County Genealogical Society
     P.O. Box 3061
     Merced, CA 95344
       Dues:
 
     Dos Palos Historical Society
     1273 California Avenue
     Dos Palos, CA 93620
       Dues:
 
     Los Banos Genealogical Society
     P.O. Box 1106
     Los Banos, CA 93635
       Dues:
 
Modoc County
 
     Modoc County Historical Society
     600 Main Street
     Alturas, CA 96101
       Dues:
 
Mono County
 
     Mono County Historical Society
     P.O. Box 417
     Bridgeport, CA 93517
       Dues:
 
     Southern Mono Historical Society
     P.O. Box 65
     Mammoth Lakes, CA 95346
       Dues:
 
Napa County
 
     Napa Valley Genealogical Society
     P.O. Box 385
     Napa, CA 94558
       Dues:
 
Nevada County
 
     Nevada County Historical Society
     214 Church Street
     Nevada City, CA 95959
       Dues:
 
Orange County
 
     Orange County Genealogical Society
     P.O. Box 1587
     Orange, CA 92668
       Dues:
 
     Orange County Historical Society
     P.O. Box 10984
     Santa Ana, CA 92711
     (714) 972-8462
       Dues:  $15.00 per year (single); $25.00 per year (family)
 
     Yorba Linda Genealogical Society
     P.O. Box 706
     Yorba Linda, CA 92686
       Dues:
 
     Jewish Genealogical Society of Orange County
     P.O. Box 2034
     Cypress, CA 90630
       Dues:
 
Placer County
 
     Placer County Genealogical Society
     P.O. Box 7385
     Auburn, CA 95604-7385
       Dues:  $7.50 per year
 
Plumas County
 
     Plumas County Historical Society
     P.O. Box 695
     Quincy, CA 95971
       Dues:
 
     Chester Genealogy Club
     P.O. Box 107
     Chester, CA 95020
       Dues:
 
Riverside County
 
     Genealogical Society of Riverside
     P.O. Box 2557
     Riverside, CA 92516
       Dues:
 
     Colorado River-Blythe Quartzsite Genealogical Society
     P.O. Box 404
     Blythe, CA 92226
       Dues:
 
     Hemet-San Jacinto Genealogical Society
     P.O. Box 2516
     Hemet, CA 92343
       Dues:
 
     Palm Springs Genealogical Society
     P.O. Box 2093
     Palm Springs, CA 92263
       Dues:
 
     San Gorgonio Genealogical Society
     c/o Joan Carpenter Covington
     1050 Brinton Avenue
     Banning, CA 92220
       Dues:
 
Sacramento County
 
     Root Cellar Sacramento Genealogical Society
     P.O. Box 265
     Citrus Heights, CA 95611
       Dues:
 
     Genealogical Society of Sacramento
     P.O. Box 28297
     Sacramento, CA 95828
       Dues:
 
     Sacramento Genman Genealogy Society
     P.O. Box 660061
     Sacramento, CA 95866-0061
       Dues:
 
San Bernardino County
 
     San Bernardino Valley Genealogical Society
     P.O. Box 26020
     San Bernardino, CA 92406
       Dues:
 
     Genealogical Society of Morongo Basin
     P.O. Box 234
     Yucca Valley, CA 92284
       Dues:
 
     Hi Desert Genealogical Society
     15476-9 Sixth Street
     Victorville, CA 92392
       Dues:
 
     Yucaipa Valley Genealogical Society
     P.O. Box 32
     Yucaipa, CA 92399
       Dues:
 
San Diego County
 
     San Diego Genealogical Society
     3030 Kellogg Street
     San Diego, CA 92106
       Dues:
 
     North San Diego County Genealogical Society
     P.O. Box 581
     Carlsbad, CA 92008
       Dues:
 
     Escondido Genealogical Society
     P.O. Box 2190
     Escondido, CA 92025-0380
       Dues:
 
     Jewish Genealogical Society of San Diego
     c/o Roberta Berman
     5835 Kent Place
     San Diego, CA 92120
       Dues:
 
San Francisco County
 
     Jewish Genealogical Society of San Francisco
     c/o Martha Wise
     19920 20th Avenue
     San Francisco, CA 94116
       Dues:
 
San Joaquin County
 
     San Joaquin Genealogical Society
     Box 4817
     Stockton, CA 95204
       Dues:
 
San Luis Obispo County
 
     California Central Coast Genealogical Society
     P.O. Box 4
     Atascadero, CA 93423-0004
       Dues:
 
     South County Genealogical Society
     P.O. Box 1526
     Arroyo Grande, CA 93420 Dues:
 
San Mateo County
 
     San Mateo County Genealogical Society
     P.O. Box 5083
     San Mateo, CA 94402
       Dues:
 
     San Mateo County Historical Society
     San Mateo Junior College
     San Mateo, CA 94402
       Dues:
 
     Spanishtown Historical Society
     Box 62
     Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
       Dues:
 
Santa Barbara County
 
     Santa Barbara County Genealogical Society
     P.O. Box 1174
     Goleta, CA 93017
       Dues:
 
     Santa Maria Valley Genealogical Society
     P.O. Box 1215
     Santa Maria, CA 93456
       Dues:
 
     Jewish Genealogical Society of Santa Barbara
     c/o Marion Rothstein
     419 Los Verdes
     Santa Barbara, CA 93111
       Dues:
 
Santa Clara County
 
     Santa Clara County Historical and Genealogical Society
     2635 Homestead Road
     Santa Clara, CA 95051
       Dues:
 
Santa Cruz County
 
     Genealogical Society of Santa Cruz County
     P.O. Box 72
     Santa Cruz, CA 95063
       Dues:
 
     Pajaro Valley Genealogical Society
     c/o Grace Marie Hackwell
     53 North Drive
     Freedom, CA 95019
       Dues:
 
Shasta County
 
     Shasta Genealogical Society
     Box 793
     Anderson, CA 96007
       Dues:
 
     Shasta Historical Society
     P.O. Box 277
     Redding, CA 96001
       Dues:
 
     Ft. Crook Historical Society
     Box 397
     Fall River Mills, CA 96028
       Dues:
 
     Intermountain Genealogical Society
     P.O. Box 399
     Burney, CA 96013
       Dues:
 
Siskiyou County
 
     Genealogical Society of Siskiyou County
     P.O. Box 225
     Yreka, CA 96097
       Dues:
 
Solano County
 
     Solano County Genealogical Society
     P.O. Box 2494
     Fairfield, CA 94533
       Dues:
 
Sonoma County
 
     Sonoma County Genealogical Society
     P.O. Box 2273
     Santa Rosa, CA 95405
       Dues:
 
Stanislaus County
 
     Genealogical Society of Stanislaus County, California, Inc.
     P.O. Box 4735
     Modesto, CA 95352
       Dues:
 
     Pocahontas Trails Genealogical Society
     3628 Cherokee Lane
     Modesto, CA 95356
       Dues:
 
Sutter County
 
     Sutter-Yuba Genealogical Society
     P.O. Box 1004
     Yuba City, CA 95991
       Dues:
 
Tehama County
 
     Tehama County Genealogical and Historical Society
     P.O. Box 415
     Red Bluff, CA 96080
       Dues:
 
Trinity County
 
     South Humboldt Historical and Genealogical Society
     P.O. Box 785
     Garberville, CA 95440
       Dues:
 
Tulare County
 
     Sequoia Genealogical Society, Inc.
     P.O. Box 3473
     Visalia, CA 93278
       Dues:
 
Tuolumne County
 
     Tuolumne County Genealogical Society
     P.O. Box 3956
     Sonora, CA 95370
       Dues:
 
Ventura County
 
     Ventura County Genealogical Society
     P.O. Box DN
     Ventura, CA 98002
       Dues:  $12.00 per year
 
***************************************************************************
 
                       VITAL RECORDS
 
Local Records of Births and Deaths
 
The church records in California provide the earliest evidences of births and
deaths. County recorders eventually kept vital statistics. Monterey County,
for example, recorded a few births as early as 1824.  Most clerks kept better
records in the decades following the Gold Rush.
 
Delayed registration of births began in 1943. These records are kept by each
county. You can write to the county clerk for information.
 
State Records of Births and Deaths
 
The statewide registration of births and deaths began in July 1905, and was
generally complied with by 1920.
 
          State Dept of Health Services
          Office of State Registrar
          304 S Street
          PO Box 730241
          Sacramento, CA 94244-0241
 
Marriages and Divorces
 
The first law that required the recording of marriages was passed in 1850.
Each county usually kept these records as soon as it was organized.
 
The statewide registration of marriages began in 1905. The state records are
indexed.
 
Divorces records have been kept by the superior court in the county where the
divorces were granted. You can write to the clerk of the court for
information. You can also write to the State Department of Health for records
since 1962.
 
Birth records are $11, death records are $8.
 
***************************************************************************
 
                       STATE ARCHIVES
 
          California State Archives
          Room 130
          1020 "O" Street
          Sacramento, CA 95814
 
***************************************************************************
 
                NEWSPAPER GENEALOGICAL COLUMNS
 
****************************************************************************
*   Bill Green       Minot, North Dakota  58701  *       Home of the       *
*            bgreen@milo.NoDak.Edu               *      NORSK H0STFEST     *
*              Bill90@Delphi.Com                 *                         *
****************************************************************************
 
 
 
