California Genealogy - California Genealogy

California Genealogy is being developed as a genealogical and historical resource for your personal use. It contains information and records for California ancestry, family history, and genealogy. Specifically, it provides sources for birth records, death records, marriage records, census records, tax records, court records, and military records. It also provides some historical details about different times and people in California history.

We will be updating these pages frequently with additional California genealogy and historical data, so please subscribe to our website to receive notifications.

California Genealogy by Category

California Archives and Libraries
California Biographies
California Cemeteries
- Cemeteries of California – List of all known cemeteries in California.
California Census Records
California Church Records
California Court Records
California Directories
California Genealogy
California Genealogy Databases at Ancestry
California Genealogy Societies
California Newspapers
California Obituaries

California Genealogy Projects in the Works

A History of the New California
A History of the New California is a 2-volume history of California written in 1903, providing a wealth of information for genealogists and history enthusiasts alike. The book is organized into chapters that cover a broad spectrum of topics, from California’s contributions to civilization and its diverse climate to detailed accounts of early Californian history and the discovery of gold. Notable sections include insights into the habits and lives of native Californians, the role of vigilance committees, and the development of major institutions such as the public school system and universities. Additionally, the book offers a detailed alphabetical list of biographies, presenting the lives of individuals who played significant roles in California’s history. This resource is important for genealogists whose ancestor’s can be found within it, or to understand the historical context of their ancestors’ lives in California.

Biographies of Monterey County, California
These biographies are extracted from a variety of sources and cover the men and women in Monterey County California’s history.

Biographies of Santa Cruz County, California
These biographies are extracted from a variety of sources and cover the men and women in Santa Cruz County California’s history.

California Genealogy Books

Please take some time and read the free genealogy books we have put online for you research:

1876-1878 Pacific Coast Business Directory
The triennial business directory, containing the name of each merchant, manufacturer, and professional in the States of California, Oregon, Nevada, the Territories of Washington, Idaho, Montana, Utah, Arizona, and Alaska, and the Colony of British Columbia.
Membership Roll of the Pioneers of Los Angeles County
Provides pioneers name, birthplace, occupation, year arrived in Los Angeles County, town of residence, and when arrived in state.
Register of Officers of the National Guard and Naval Militia of California
This book provides some insight into the National Guard and Naval Militia in California in 1917. We have listed only the people who served and not the structure of the military. In some cases, there were blank lines where it was thought there should be another officer, they were removed. The book does not provide information as to the dates after the names, we can only guess it is the date of the start of their service.
Cemeteries of California
A list of all cemeteries in California, first by name, county and location. A great tool to help with cemeteries that have the same name within the state.
1922 Householders’ Guide of the City of Watsonville
Alphabetical listing of names, including address
1948 Directory, Alturas, Modoc County
A listing as of June 1948 of the citizens of Alturas
Death Valley In ’49
Autobiography of a Pioneer, Detailing His Life from a Humble Home in the Green Mountains to the Gold Mines of California; And Particularly Reciting the Sufferings of the Band of Men, Women and Children Who Gave “Death Valley” Its Name.
The Adventures of a Forty-niner
An Historic Description of California, with Events and Ideas of San Francisco and Its People in Those Early Days, By Daniel Knower. Daniel went to California in 1849 during the start of the gold-rush days. This manuscript provides sketches on events and ideas that he saw, as well as detailing his trek to the gold rush town of Coloma.
Old Mission Stories of California
In these quiet, unpretending stories the writer has attempted to give a faithful picture of life among the Indians and Spaniards in Nueva California during the early days of the past century.
La Baja California
Very soon after the conquest of Mexico the attention of Cortez was attracted by certain stories told by some of the conquered tribes regarding a mysterious but wonderful country, lying far to the northwestward. This land they called Ciguatan, or The Realm of Women; and they declared that it abounded in gold, in pearls, rubies, garnets, turquoises, and many other products, rich and precious.