R E S E A R C H   G U I D A N C E

California
Research Outline
   

Table of Contents
Records Of The Family History Library
Family History Library Catalog
Archives And Libraries
Bible Records
Biography
Cemeteries
Census
Church Records
Court Records
Directories
Emigration And Immigration
Gazetteers
Genealogy
History
Land And Property
Maps
Military Records
Naturalization And Citizenship
Newspapers
Periodicals
Probate Records
Vital Records
Voting Registers
For Further Reading
Comments And Suggestions

BIBLE RECORDSLook this term up in the glossary.

The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) collection contains many volumes of Bible records for families from California and other states. Volumes 2 through 24 of this set were microfilmed in 1972 at the DAR Library, Washington, D.C. (FHL films 844415-21). Each volume is individually indexed. Another partial index to these volumes and the collection described under “Genealogy” is E. Kay Kirkham, An Index to Some of the Family Records of the Southern States (Logan, Utah: Everton Publishers, 1979; FHL book 973 D22kk v. 1; fiche 6089183).


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BIOGRAPHYLook this term up in the glossary.

The California State Library and the Bancroft Library at the University of California-Berkeley have major collections of California biographies. Between 1929 and 1962 the Daughters of the American RevolutionLook this term up in the glossary. (DAR) prepared a 26-volume biographical collection, Records of the Families of California Pioneers. It is found at the DAR Library in Washington, D.C., and at the Family History Library (films 844436-46). Each volume has an every-name index. An index to the principal persons in each biography is Robert L. Davignon, Pioneers of California Index (Salt Lake City: Family History Library, 1986; FHL book 979.4 D32pi 1986; film 1421606 item 7; fiche 6051447).

There are many published statewide, regional, and county biographical collections. A representative biographical encyclopediaLook this term up in the glossary. is Alonzo Phelps, Contemporary Biography of California— Representative Men, 2 vols. (San Francisco: A.L. Bancroft and Co., 1881; FHL film 468754 item 2).

An index of biographies published in 61 county histories from 1855 to 1898 is J. Carlyle Parker, An Index to the Biographies in the 19th Century California County Histories, Gale Genealogy and Local History Series, Vol. 7 (Detroit: Gale Research Co., 1979; FHL book 979.4 D32p).


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CEMETERIESLook this term up in the glossary.

The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) collection contains tombstone inscriptions from California cemeteries. This collection is described in the “Genealogy” section of this outline. A separate DAR collection of cemetery records from some counties is in Vital Records from Cemeteries in California to 1962, 17 vols. (N.p.: Daughters of the American Revolution. California, 1968; FHL films 558288-91).

Another important collection is Cemetery Records of California, 11 vols. (Salt Lake City: Genealogical Society, 1954-63; FHL book 976.7 V22L; films 874068 items 1-3, vols. 1-3 and 874075-77, vols. 4-11).


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CENSUSLook this term up in the glossary.


FederalLook this term up in the glossary.

Many federal census records are at the Family History Library, the National Archives, and other federal and state archives. The United States Research Outline provides more detailed information on these records.

The Family History Library has the U.S. federal censuses for the state of California for 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1920. The 1890 census has been destroyed.

Statewide indexesLook this term up in the glossary. are available in book format for the 1850, 1860, and 1870 censuses. SoundexLook this term up in the glossary. (phonetic) indexes are available on microfilm for part of the 1880 and all of the 1900, 1910, and 1920 censuses.

Mortality schedulesLook this term up in the glossary. for the 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880 censuses are at the California State Library. A published index to the 1850 schedule is available at the Family History Library.


ColonialLook this term up in the glossary. and StateLook this term up in the glossary.

Pre-statehood lists (called padronsLook this term up in the glossary.) of Spanish, Mexican, and Indian residents have been published in The Quarterly (Historical Society of Southern California), vols. 15, 18, 41-43, 54 (FHL book 979.4 B2s). Especially helpful are the Los Angeles censuses of 1790, 1836, and 1844. The original records are scattered among various archives. The Family History Library has copies on microfilm.

The California State Library and the Family History Library have copies of a state census of 1852 (FHL films 909229-34). This census gives information on the entire household, including an individual's state or country of birth and last residence.

The California State Archives also has some censuses for California citiesLook this term up in the glossary. covering the period 1897 to 1938. These generally contain only the names and addresses of the persons enumerated, although some records give more information. The Family History Library has copies of several of these censuses through 1910, including:


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