San Ramon Valley Genealogical Society

Area Libraries with holdings of Genealogical Interest

(Click on a resource name to to visit web site.)

CALIFORNIA GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY and LIBRARY

A California Resource for Genealogy

2201 Broadway, Suite LL2, Oakland, CA 94612-3031

A few blocks from the 12th St. or 19th St. BART Stations. Merchants’ parking lot at 12th and Franklin Street.

Phone: (510) 663-1358

Hours: Thurs.-Fri.: 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., Sat.: 10 a.m. –4 p.m.
Fee: $5.00 fee for non-members. No fee the 1st Saturday of the month and the entire month of October.
Holdings: Extensive California and San Francisco materials, includes California Marriage and Death Index, U.S. Census for California, Bay Area city directories, passenger lists, bibles, wagon train unpublished manuscripts, some lineage charts, and an extensive collection of New England and Eastern States. Included are the published Pennsylvania Archives Series and the Official Records of the Army and Navy for the War of the Rebellion.

CALIFORNIA HISTORICAL SOCIETY

678 Mission St., San Francisco, CA 94105.

Phone: (415) 357-1848

Website: http://www.californiahistoricalsociety.org

Hours: Wed.- Fri.: Noon - 5:00 p.m.; please call ahead.
Holdings: San Francisco and California histories, manuscripts, maps, and some city directories.

CALIFORNIA STATE ARCHIVES

1020 “O” St., Sacramento, CA 95814.

Phone: (916) 653-2246

Website: http://www.ss.ca.gov/archives/archives.htm

Hours: Mon.-Fri.: 9:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.; 1st Sat. of the month: 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Closed state and national holidays.
Holdings: 1852 state census, 1860 and 1880 Federal Census for California. County records include some probate court records, wills, naturalizations, deeds, homesteads, and vital records for 1850-1987, Registered trademarks; also some school records, military records, prison records, and Supreme and Appellate Court cases.

CALIFORNIA STATE LIBRARY, CALIFORNIA HISTORY ROOM

900 “N” St., Rm. 200, Sacramento, CA 95814.

Phone: (916) 654-0176

Website: http://www.library.ca.gov/calhist/Visiting.html

Hours: Mon.-Fri.: 9:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Closed state and national holidays.
Holdings: Extensive microfilm collection of California newspapers, early San Francisco newspaper index. State wide birth and death records. The Great Register of Voters, census records for California, county histories, city and town directories, DAR extraction index. Also included are a card file and folders of early California pioneers, public officials, and notables. Material on many other states.

CALIFORNIA STATE LIBRARY, SUTRO

480 Winston Dr., San Francisco, CA 94123.

Phone: (415) 731-4477

Website: http://www.library.ca.gov/collections/index.html#sutro

Hours: Monday - Thursday and fourth Friday (also fifth Friday when there is one): 10:00 a.m.-5:p.m.,
Closed on the first, second and third Friday of each month, on Saturday, and state and national holidays.
Holdings: Largest local collection (40,000+) of genealogy books, printed and microform. U.S. county histories, city directories, 10,000 early telephone books; index, Soundex, and census for 1790-1930; ship records for New York and other eastern ports; DAR lineage books; and an extensive card index file. Included are early English and European church records. Most California genealogical resources are at the California State Library in Sacramento. Occasionally, books and microform may not be available as patrons may check out some materials.

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY LIBRARY, The Heritage Collection

1750 Oak Park Blvd., Pleasant Hill, CA 94523.

Phone: (925) 646-6434

Website: http://ccclib.org/genealogy/

Hours: Mon., Tues., Thurs.: 12:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.; Wed., Fri., Sat.: 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. Docents available, call for schedule.
Holdings: A noteworthy collection of genealogical and related reference materials. "The Vault" contains local and state historical material and some California census records. Periodical section houses a collection of newspapers on microfilm including Contra Costa County nd San Francisco newspapers.

DANVILLE LIBRARY; SRVGS Genealogical Library Collection

400 Front St., Danville, CA 94526.

Phone: (925) 837-4889

Website: http://ccclib.org/locations/danville.html

Hours: Mon.-Thurs.: 10:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.; Fri., Sat.: 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.; Sun.: 1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
Holdings: Strong basic collection is housed in the Reference Section. The Library has most Family Tree Maker CDs and a dedicated computer. There are no microfilm readers.

GRADUATE THEOLOGICAL UNION LIBRARY

FLORA LAMSON HEWLETT LIBRARY

2400 Ridge Rd., Berkeley, CA 94709.

Phone: (510) 649-2500 (Library)

Website: http://www.gtu.edu/library

Hours: Mon.-Thurs.: 8:30 a.m.-9:00 p.m.; Fri. & Sat.: 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; Sun.: closedsummer & holiday weekends [open 1:00 to 7:00 pm. in school term]. (Call to confirm hours in the summer.)
Holdings: Combined resources of three Roman Catholic Orders (Dominican, Franciscan, Jesuit), five Protestant denominations (Baptist, Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Unitarian-Universal), and a non-denominational seminary. Included in the collection are denominational histories, directories, yearbooks, and conference and annual meeting proceedings.

HOLOCAUST CENTER OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

121 Steuart St., Suite #10., San Francisco, CA 94105.

Phone: (415) 777-9060.

Website: http://www.hcnc.org/

Hours: Mon. - Thurs.: 10:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Fri. – Sat.: Closed; Sun.: by appointment
Holdings: 15,000 volumes of holocaust and holocaust related information. Thousands of photographs and artifacts.

LDS FAMILY HISTORY CENTER, ALAMO

2949 Stone Valley Rd., Alamo, CA 94507.

Phone: (925) 552-5920

Website: http://www.familysearch.org/

Hours: Mon., Wed., Thurs.: 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.; Tues.: 7:00-9:00 p.m. (Closed month of August; all major holidays, Thanksgiving week and last 2 weeks of Dec.)
Holdings: Computers with Family Search, internet access with Ancestry.com archives, LDS 1880 census, genealogy CD collection, Ellis Island immigration records, and many others. Film and fiche readers/copiers and film to CD or memory stick copiers. Expanding collection of reference materials. Microfilm from Salt Lake Genealogical Library may be ordered for use in this Center.

LDS FAMILY HISTORY CENTER, CONCORD

3700 Concord Blvd., Concord, CA.

Phone: (925) 686-1766

Website: http://www.familysearch.org/

Hours: Tues. & Thurs. 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; Wed. 9:00 am - 8:00 pm; Sat.: 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. (Check Summer hours)
Holdings: Computers with Family Search, film and fiche readers. Reference materials. Microfilm from Salt Lake Genealogical Library may be ordered for use in this Center.

LDS FAMILY HISTORY CENTER, OAKLAND

4766 Lincoln Ave., Oakland, CA 94602.

Phone: (510) 531-3905

Website: http://www.oaklandfhc.org/

Hours: Tues., Wed.: 10:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.; Thurs.,Fri., Sat.: 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Hours may vary in July or August.
Holdings: Census microfilm, Soundex, and index for most of the U.S. for 1790-1900, no 1910 census; expanding collection for 1920, minimal 1930. Computers with Family Search, some have PAF available. Strong microform and book collection. Also included are Germans to America and Filby immigration series. Microfilm from Salt Lake Genealogical Library may be ordered for use at this Center.

NATIONAL ARCHIVES, PACIFIC REGION

1000 Commodore Dr., San Bruno, CA 94006.

Phone: (650) 238-3500

Website: http://www.archives.gov/pacific/san-francisco/

Hours: Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri.: 7:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.; Wed.: 7:30 a.m.-5:10 p.m. Closed weekends and federal holidays.
Holdings: U.S. Census Records, index books, Soundex films for 1790-1920; 1930 Census films and Ancestry.com, 1930 Census index. Military records include Revolutionary War service and pension files; Civil War service and general index for pension files; service records for War of 1812, Mexican War, Indian War and more. Passenger arrival records for Philadelphia, New Orleans, Galveston, Honolulu, San Francisco, and other West Coast ports, and an expanding list for New York. Chinese and Japanese arrivals. Immigration and naturalization records, and much, much more.

OAKLAND MAIN PUBLIC LIBRARY HISTORY ROOM

125 14th St., Oakland, CA 94612.

Phone: (510) 238-3222;

Website: http://www.oaklandlibrary.org

Hours: Mon., Tues., Sat.: 10:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Wed., Thurs.: 12:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.; Fri.: 12:00 p.m.-5:30 p.m.;
Sun.: 1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
Holdings: Extensive collective of Alameda County materials; including city directories, Oakland newspapers on microfilm, and World Wide Gazetteer on microfiche.

PLEASANTON LIBRARY

400 Old Bernal Ave., Pleasanton, CA 94566.

Phone: (925) 931-3400

Website: http://www.ci.pleasanton.ca.us/services/library/lib-genealogy.html

Hours: Mon.-Thurs.: 10:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.; Fri., Sat.: 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; Sun.: 1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
Holdings: Good collection of printed genealogical and reference materials. CD collection includes 1870 Census, LDS 1880 Census, an extensive collection of Family Tree Maker CDs, and more. Includes Livermore-Amador Genealogy Society Collection (http://www.l-ags.org).On-line access to Ancestry.com, Heritage Quest, and other genealogical sites is available via their website. Go to home page and click on "information resources," then "genealogy" for access.

SANTA CLARA CENTRAL PARK LIBRARY

2635 Homestead Road, Santa Clara, CA 95051.

Phone: (408) 615-2900

Website: http://library.santaclaraca.gov/

Hours: Mon.-Tues.: 9:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.; Wed., Noon- 9:00 p.m.; Thurs.-Sat.: 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.; Sun.: 1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
Holdings: Santa Clara County Historical and Genealogical collection, including local information, Germans to America.

SOCIETY OF MAYFLOWER DESCENDANTS IN CALIFORNIA LIBRARYand East Bay Genealogical Society collection

405 14th St., Oakland, CA 94612.

Phone: (510) 451-9599

Website: http://www.mayflowersociety.com

Hours: Mon.: 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.; or by appointment.
Holdings: Emphasis on New England. Included are early Massachusetts vital reports (except Boston), post 1850 census by town for some New England states, and many city, county, and state histories.

SOLANO COUNTY GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY LIBRARY

610 E. Main St., Vacaville, CA 95688.

Phone: (707) 446-6869 (Suggest call first – staffed by volunteers)

Website: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cascgsi

Hours: Mon. &apms; 3rd Sat. of the month: 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving through December.
Holdings: Extensive Solano County materials include a card file with over 70,000 entries, California Death Index 1940-1989 and marriages 1960-1985. Also included are general reference books, county histories, and some information on most states.

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BANCROFT LIBRARY

U.C. Campus, Berkeley, CA 94720.

Phone: (510) 642-6481 Is closed for major seismic retrofit to reopen Summer '09, is currently open at 2121 Allston Way.

Website: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/

Hours: Mon.-Fri.: 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., closed Sat., Sun. Hours may change during school breaks, call ahead.
Holdings: Premier source for California research, extensive material for western states. Use of materials is strictly regulated.

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DOE LIBRARY

U.C. Campus, Berkeley, CA 94720.

Phone: Reference Desk: (510) 642-6657

Website: http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/doemoff/

Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. daily. Reference service closes at 5:00 p.m. Hours may change during school breaks, call ahead.
Holdings: Extensive historical, periodical, map, newspaper collection, and Government documents. Many bibliographic sources. Draper Manuscript films. Some older and /or less used materials are at the Richmond storage facility and can be sent to Doe with 24 hour advance notice.

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, NORTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY

Bldg. 400, Richmond Field Station,
S. 47th St. and Mead, Richmond, CA 94804.

Phone: (510) 232-7767. Suggested you always call in advance of a visit and schedule with librarian.

Website: http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/NRLF/

Hours: Mon.-Fri.: 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Closed University holidays.
Call for hours and availability. Need a library privilege card and limited to 3 visits per year. Storage facility for all Northern CA UC campuses. Doe with 24 hour advance notice. Single microfilm reader. Materials can be sent to Doe with 24 hour advance notice.