Online Resources and Searchable Finding Aids

Over the years CGS volunteers have spent many hours indexing data from primary sources. Some of this information is available only through our website. Resources that are free to use by anyone include our CGS Names Index and the information in the databases listed below in the “Free To All Records” section. To access the additional information in the “Members-Only Records” section you must be a member of CGS and you need to login.

Free To All Records

The CGS NAMES INDEX, containing more than 410,000 records, is the index to our largest image collections and numerous physical books. See Index Codes for a detailed description of each group. The search results page allows ordering photocopies of book pages or images from Research Services.

  • Biographies of individuals prominent in early 20th century California (Index Code: BIO/ BIO2)
  • Deaths in San Francisco 1865-1873, 1882-1889, 1894-1896, and 1901-1904 (Index Code: EARLY DEATHS)
  • San Francisco IOOF Crematory and Cemetery records (Index Codes: IOOF-CREMATE and IOOF-CEMETERY)
  • San Francisco County Probate Records: Registers of Actions 1906-1942. If your ancestors or relatives appear in the CGS Names Index, you can order copies of the original estate documents from our Research Services.  (Members receive a discount for this service.) (Index Code: PROBATE)
  • Records from the First and Third Congregational Churches of San Francisco (Index Code: CONGR)
  • San Francisco voters registered 1890 (Index Code: SF-VOTERS)

Searchable Finding Aids

CGS Manuscript Collection Index

CGS Vertical File Index

Large Pedigree Charts Index

First Congregational Church Deaths 1915-1917

The Colored Directory of the Leading Cities of Northern California 1916-1917 Every-word searchable image PDF of the Directory.

Alameda County Obituary Forms 1968 – 1977, an all-name index to three binders of obituary forms submitted to the San Leandro Morning News and the Alameda Star Times newspapers.

Collections of the California Genealogical Society on the Family Search Website

Some of the collections held by CGS have been scanned and put on the FamilySearch website. To see these records you must have an account at FamilySearch. Once on the site go to the Search menu and select “Catalog”.  At the “Search By:” prompt choose “Titles” and enter: California, Collections of California Genealogical Society, 1700-1942.

When you select the collection it will show a list of CGS databases that includes:

  • Phillips Family Tombstones Index, 1700-1900[1]
  • Alta and Other Newspaper People Index, 1860-1861
  • San Francisco IOOF Cemetery & Columbarium Records, 1865-1932
  • Griffin Allied Family Records, ca. 1900[2]
  • San Francisco Probate Register of Actions, 1806-1942[3]
to read more....

Profiles of the Signers of the 1849 California Constitution

This e-book was developed by a member of CGS and includes family histories and pictures of the signers of the 1849 California Constitution.

 

Members-Only Records

You must be logged in to access this area.   All files are in PDF format.

Resources Developed by CGS Members

 

    • Notices from San Francisco Newspapers