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 Genealogy Projects in the Works

A History of the New California
A History of the New California delves into the multifaceted history of California, 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 invaluable for genealogists seeking to trace lineage and understand the historical context of their ancestors’ lives in California.

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.

Recent California Genealogy

Biography of Frank Mattison of Santa Cruz

Frank Mattison, born near Santa Cruz, California, on February 5, 1860, served as a member of the state board of equalization from the fourth district of California. He was the son of John S. Mattison, an English-born original California forty-niner, and Lila Miles, of Pennsylvania. Frank’s career began in agriculture…
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Biography of James T. Martin, M. D. of Sacramento

Dr. James T. Martin, born on November 26, 1850, in Yamhill County, Oregon, achieved considerable success as a physician in Sacramento. His early years were marked by significant hardships, including working in harvest fields and on fishing boats to fund his education at Pacific University and later the University of…
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Biography of James Marsh of Stockton

The history of the Marsh family in California dates back to 1835 when Dr. John Marsh, one of the first American pioneers in the region, settled in Contra Costa County. A leading physician and surgeon, Dr. Marsh was influential in the early development of California, also engaging in cattle ranching…
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Biography of John Manuel of Stockton

John Manuel, born on October 11, 1840, in England, passed away on November 19, 1898, in Stockton, California. Emigrating to America in his youth, Manuel initially worked as a gold miner in Calaveras County before establishing a successful lumber business in Murphys. He also engaged in extensive ranching in Calaveras…
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Biography of Joseph G. Mansfield of San Francisco

Joseph G. Mansfield, born on August 18, 1866, in Leavenworth, Kansas, was the city editor of the San Francisco Call and a notable journalist on the Pacific coast. Moving to San Francisco at age eight, he pursued an education in local schools before training as a printer at the Bulletin….
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Biography of Daniel Maclean, M. D.

Dr. Maclean, a prominent medical professional, was born on January 7, 1843, in Prince Edward Island. His father, Duncan Maclean, emigrated from Scotland in 1806. Educated in Charlottetown, Dr. Maclean initially taught before pursuing medicine at Rush Medical College and Bennett Medical College in Chicago, graduating in 1874. He practiced…
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Biography of Frederick William Mahl of Sacramento

Frederick William Mahl, born on July 21, 1866, in Louisville, Kentucky, served as a mechanical engineer for the Southern Pacific Company from February 15, 1895, with headquarters in Sacramento. His father, William Mahl, originally from Karlsruhe, Germany, was a prominent railroad comptroller based in New York. Frederick Mahl received his…
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Biography of Charles James Luttrell

Charles James Luttrell, born on January 18, 1875, in Fort Jones, Siskiyou County, served as district attorney of Siskiyou County. He actively participated in the professional, public, and political affairs of his community, focusing on the county’s agricultural and mineral resources. Luttrell, the son of Lloyd Benjamin Luttrell and Lizzie…
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Biography of Olaf A. Lovdal of Sacramento

Olaf A. Lovdal, born in 1856 in St. Joseph, Missouri, was the president of Lovdal Brothers Company, the world’s largest hop-growing firm with extensive hop farms and drying facilities in Sacramento and New York City. The company owned over 3,000 acres of rich alluvial land in Yolo County, California, and…
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Biography of Hallock Hart Look, M. D.

Dr. Hallock Hart Look, a distinguished oculist, aurist, and general practitioner, was born on August 9, 1862, in Hocking County, Ohio. Of English Puritan lineage, his family settled in Massachusetts during early American colonization. His grandfather served in the War of 1812. Dr. Look’s medical education includes Kansas City Medical…
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Surrounding States

California has borders with Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, and Mexico.

Other California Genealogy Websites