San Mateo County, California Genealogy and History

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This site is a county site for California AHGP, a state organization of the American History and Genealogy Project (AHGP). AHGP is a group of volunteers working together to provide free genealogy websites for genealogical research in every county and every state of the United States. You have apparently stumbled upon my contribution to this effort. Our name are Judy White and Dennis Partridge, and we are the joint CAAHGP county coordinators (cc) for San Mateo County, California.

If you would like to contribute data to this website please contact us, using the comment form!

San Mateo County Biographies

San Mateo County Cemetery Records

 

San Mateo County Court & Criminal

  • Sheriff’s Office Booking Registers
    It was not uncommon for homeless residents to lodge in the jail. You can find not only the aged and disabled who had no means of support, but also those travelling into the county to find work. Often time of residence is listed as one day. The records give a wealth of information. Besides the surname, given name and alias you will find the day of incarceration, occupation, age, height, weight, time in county, state and U, where picked up, by whom, the justice, the code under which the person was picked up, hour of arrest, hour of release, number of meals served, sentence, date of commitment, date of discharge, fines paid and a column for further remarks. This index which includes volumes 7-12 and 14-16 includes more than 60,000 entries. Copies of the registers (which were located in the SMC Jail) are in the SMCGS Library. Visit the library or see the research page to obtain a copy. The location of Volumes 1-6 and Volume 13 is unknown. We believe that 1-6 may be in the Historical Association offsite collections. It is possible that volume 13 which would have entries during WWII years was not bound and did not survive.

San Mateo County History

In the following brief historical sketch are shown only the main phases of San Mateo County’s growth, as it would be impossible to portray in detail all the events of historical importance which have occurred in the county during the last one hundred and forty years; since the white man first set foot upon peninsular soil.

First were the Indians already in loose and scattered possession of the soil; then the Spanish explorers, followed by the Jesuit and Franciscan fathers. Next came the great land grants or ranchos with titles from the Spanish crown itself. These in turn were divided into lesser estates consisting, nevertheless, of thousands of acres apportioned among various rich men with their stately country seats. The last stage of development of the county is now at hand, that in which the land is divided into its final segments consisting of smaller country estates and lots of the suburban home dweller.

History of San Mateo County, from the earliest times with a description of its resources and advantages: and the biographies of its representative men. Compiled and written by Philip W. Alexander and Charles Hamm, 1916.

San Mateo County Land Records

  • California, San Mateo County Records, 1851-1991
    This collection primarily includes land records – deeds, patents, and homesteads. However, the following various county records may also be intermixed within the land records. The Collection includes records from 1851 to 1991:

    • Land Records 1879-1965
  • Land
    An index to the land records of San Mateo County. This index currently includes Patent Books 1-3, Record of Deeds 1-4, Mortgage Books 1-2. See the pdf file for information on where to find the records
  • Miscellaneous Land Records
    An index to volumes 1-7 of San Mateo County Miscellaneous Registers. Miscellaneous records include builders contracts, leases, assignmens, mortgages, lis pendens and much more. Copies are available from the San Mateo County Recorders Office.
  • Sole Traders
    Index to the Register of Separate Property of Married and Sole Traders (1856-1913). Indexed by Barry Goyette. The register is labeled Volume 1, but no other volumes appear to exist, this register is not full. There are 100 documents. You will find a digital version of this volume on FamilySearch
  • Professional Registers
    An index to the Register of Chiropractors, Osteopaths, Pharmacists, Dentists and Dental Hygenists (1923-1952); Physicians, Surgeons & Optometrists (1876-1929); Register of Dentists (1903-1935) and the Register of Doctor’s Certificates (1914-1951) working from the Index to Medical Licenses 1876-1931 and rechecking the original volume. Records are available from the Recorders Office.

San Mateo County Military Records

  • California, San Mateo County Records, 1851-1991
    This collection primarily includes land records – deeds, patents, and homesteads. However, the following various county records may also be intermixed within the land records. The Collection includes records from 1851 to 1991:

    • Military service discharges (1856 to 1965)

San Mateo County Naturalization and Electoral Records

  • Naturalization Prior to 25 Sep 1906
    Index to the Naturalization Records of San Mateo County. Includes Declaration of Intention to Become a Citizen, Petitions and Certificates. These records are available unindexed on FamilySearch.
  • Camp Fremont Naturalization Records
    Those non-citizens who served in the US Forces during WWI were able to become naturalized before they were discharged. This is an index to the 13 volumes of Petitions of those who were discharged from Camp Fremont (Menlo Park) in 1918 and 1919. No Declaration of Intention was required.
  • Naturalization 1907-1925
    Index to the Naturalization Records of San Mateo County. Includes Declaration of Intention to Become a Citizen, Petitions and Certificates. These records are available unindexed on FamilySearch.
  • Naturalization 1926-1945
    Index to the Naturalization Records of San Mateo County. Includes Declaration of Intention to Become a Citizen, Petitions and Certificates. These records are available unindexed on FamilySearch.
  • Naturalization 1946+
    Index to the Naturalization Records of San Mateo County. Includes Declaration of Intention to Become a Citizen, Petitions and Certificates. These records are available unindexed on FamilySearch.
  • Naturalized Voters
    Transcription of a card file of Naturalized Voters circa 1930s. Information might include name, date naturalized, place naturalized, person actually naturalized (self, father, husband), marriage date, voting district and place of birth.
  • California, San Mateo County Records, 1851-1991
    This collection primarily includes land records – deeds, patents, and homesteads. However, the following various county records may also be intermixed within the land records. The Collection includes records from 1851 to 1991:

    • Naturalization (1856 to 1930)

San Mateo County Newspapers

  • San Mateo Times Gazette Index : 1859-1899
    An index to vital statistics listed in the San Mateo Times Gazette. The paper is available on microfilm in the Redwood City Main Library.
  • San Mateo County Obituary Collection
    This collection currently includes over 57,000 indexed and scanned obituaries as well as a large collection of obituaries that are indexed elsewhere. Included are the Redwood City/ Peninsula Times Tribune Obituary Morgue (1969-1992); The SMCHA obituary Collection which includes obituaries culled from the historical societies biographical files; The Daily Post; The Daily Journal; The Daily Post; The San Mateo County Times (assorted); Veteran’s Memorials; and a collection of obituaries of former San Mateo County residents from other papers. The scanned images include the Pacifica Times Tribune and the San Mateo Times from 1999, which were indexed by Chris Havanar on The Obituary Daily Times The original index was created by the SMCGS Computer Club. The original collection of obituaries is available in the SMCGS Library. See research to obtain copies of those as well as the added obituaries.

San Mateo County Obituaries

  • San Mateo County Obituary Collection
    This collection currently includes over 57,000 indexed and scanned obituaries as well as a large collection of obituaries that are indexed elsewhere. Included are the Redwood City/ Peninsula Times Tribune Obituary Morgue (1969-1992); The SMCHA obituary Collection which includes obituaries culled from the historical societies biographical files; The Daily Post; The Daily Journal; The Daily Post; The San Mateo County Times (assorted); Veteran’s Memorials; and a collection of obituaries of former San Mateo County residents from other papers. The scanned images include the Pacifica Times Tribune and the San Mateo Times from 1999, which were indexed by Chris Havanar on The Obituary Daily Times The original index was created by the SMCGS Computer Club. The original collection of obituaries is available in the SMCGS Library. See research to obtain copies of those as well as the added obituaries.

San Mateo County Vital Records

San Mateo County Birth Records

San Mateo County Marriage Records

  • San Mateo County Marriage Index : 1853-1948
    An index of the San Mateo County Marriage Certificates from the earliest times to the end of 1948 when the state index begins.
  • San Mateo Times Gazette Index : 1859-1899
    An index to vital statistics listed in the San Mateo Times Gazette. The paper is available on microfilm in the Redwood City Main Library.
  • California, San Mateo County Records, 1851-1991
    This collection primarily includes land records – deeds, patents, and homesteads. However, the following various county records may also be intermixed within the land records. The Collection includes records from 1851 to 1991:

    • Marriage intentions (1856 to 1943)

San Mateo County Death Records

  • San Mateo Times Gazette Index : 1859-1899
    An index to vital statistics listed in the San Mateo Times Gazette. The paper is available on microfilm in the Redwood City Main Library.
  • San Mateo County Obituary Collection
    This collection currently includes over 57,000 indexed and scanned obituaries as well as a large collection of obituaries that are indexed elsewhere. Included are the Redwood City/ Peninsula Times Tribune Obituary Morgue (1969-1992); The SMCHA obituary Collection which includes obituaries culled from the historical societies biographical files; The Daily Post; The Daily Journal; The Daily Post; The San Mateo County Times (assorted); Veteran’s Memorials; and a collection of obituaries of former San Mateo County residents from other papers. The scanned images include the Pacifica Times Tribune and the San Mateo Times from 1999, which were indexed by Chris Havanar on The Obituary Daily Times The original index was created by the SMCGS Computer Club. The original collection of obituaries is available in the SMCGS Library. See research to obtain copies of those as well as the added obituaries.
  • James Crowe Register of Deaths : 1880s – 1920s
    James Crowe (1841-1913) was an undertaker who served as the coroner for San Mateo County for many years. This book appears to be an early register of burials that he handled rather than an official county birth register. It is, however, housed in the San Mateo County Recorders Office Records Center. This is a full transcription of what is in the register.
  • Crowe Mortuary’s Burial Records Index
    The last column ‘Page’ refers to the Page below…”

  • Coroner’s Records
    An index by Russ Brabec to the Coroner’s Collection from the earliest to 1971. Some of the coroner’s records are available unindexed on FamilySearch. Those not included in the San Mateo County Browsable Collection can be ordered from the San Mateo County Recorder’s Office.
  • Coroner’s Records – Finding Aid
    A lising of available records on FamilySearch with links to each record set.
  • Layng & Tinney Mortuary File
    Index to the Layng & Tinney Mortuary File Collection housed in the San Mateo County Genealogical Society Library. Contact SMCGS Research to obtain a copy of the contents of a file.

Last Updated: May 7, 2019 @ 11:13 pm
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