California, Collections of the California Genealogical Society - FamilySearch Historical Records

Record Description
This Collection will include records from 1700 to 1942.

The records consist of genealogical collections located at the California Genealogical Society in Oakland. They include:


 * Original ledger listing burials in the San Francisco Odd Fellows (IOOF) cemetery, 1866-1905. The cemetery no longer exists.
 * Records of the San Francisco IOOF crematory and columbarium, 1865-1932. Includes records for individual cremations and inurnments as well as papers pertaining to the organization.
 * San Francisco Probate Register of Actions, 1906-1942. Ledgers listing all actions pertaining to each probate case in the period covered.
 * Surname index to vital records appearing in the Alta California and other Northern California newspapers, 1860-1861.
 * Records of the Phillips family in America, compiled by Henry Byron Phillips, former President of the California Genealogical Society. Each index card contains information on a specific individual related to the Phillips family.
 * Papers and index cards pertaining to the descendants and ancestors of Humphrey Griffin of Ipswich, Massachusetts, covering the period from 1600 to 1943.Compiled by Charles Frances Griffin, MD, former President of the California Genealogical Society.

The collection is arranged by sub-collection and then date.

Note: Digital images may only be used by registered users of FamilySearch.

For a list of localities currently published in this collection, select the Browse link from the collection landing page.

The California Genealogical Society (CGS) was the first genealogical society formed in California, organized in San Francisco on February 12, 1898. One of the premier genealogical resources in Northern California, the society maintains a library in downtown Oakland in the historic Breuner Building.

The CGS Library is rich in genealogy reference materials, both standard and unique. California is the major focus with special emphasis on the San Francisco Bay Area; however, the library is also particularly strong in other geographical areas such as New England, Kentucky, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. The library has titles representing all fifty states.

Each type of record was created for a different purpose. Cemetery records are kept as a permanent record of who was buried and usually who purchased the burial plot. Indexes were created as a rapid access to specific records or pieces of information.

The records are usually reliable.

Record Content
This collection may include the following information:


 * Names
 * Birth, marriage, or death dates
 * Relationships
 * Residencies
 * Family groupings
 * Burial information

How to Use the Record
To browse this collection you will need to follow this series of links: ⇒ Select the "Browse" link in the initial search page ⇒ Select the “County” category ⇒ Select the “Town” category ⇒ Select the “Record Type, Date Range and Volume” category which takes you to the images.

Indexes are available on some of these groups of images. If indexes are available, check these for the name first. Indexes are usually located at the beginning of a group of images or at the end. They may also be found in individual folders. Find your ancestors name and look for the locator information next to the name (such as page, entry, or certificate number). This will help you find the record you are looking for in the collection.

Search the collection by image comparing the information with what you already know about your ancestors to determine which one is your ancestor. You may need to compare the information about more than one person to make this determination.

This collection is considered a secondary source, but the information on the cards can lead you to other primary records. Compare the information in the records to what you already know to make sure that you have the correct family or individual. Add any new information to existing records about your family. You may find the following suggestions helpful:


 * Use the names, dates, and places as the basis for family groups or to build a family pedigree.
 * Use the dates along with places or residences to help you locate the family in other records such as census, church, and land records.
 * Burial information may lead you to mortuary or funeral records, which could include names and addresses of family members. Be aware that many mortuary and funeral records did not survive the earthquake and fire in 1906.
 * Compile the entries for every person who has the same surname.
 * Continue to search the records to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives of the deceased who may have been buried in the same cemetery or nearby. This can help you identify other generations of your family. Repeat this process for each new generation you identify.
 * When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct.
 * If you are unable to find the ancestors you are looking for, check for variant spellings of the surnames.

Note: Digital images may only be used by registered users of FamilySearch.

Related Websites
California Genealogical Society and Library

Related Wiki Articles

 * San Francisco County, California
 * Alameda County, California
 * Contra Costa County, California

Citing FamilySearch Historical Collections
Citations for individual image records are available for this collection. Browse through images in this collection and click on the "Show Citation" box: California, Collections of the California Genealogical Society, 1700-1942

When you copy information from a record, you should list where you found the information. This will help you or others to find the record again. It is also good to keep track of records where you did not find information, including the names of the people you looked for in the records.

Citation for This Collection
The following citation refers to the original source of the information for collections published in FamilySearch.org. Source citations include the author, custodian, publisher, and archive for the original records.