Home
USGENWEB
San Francisco County
CAGENWEB
Welcome!
My name is Joyce (Bickerton) Pilgrim. I am the San Francisco County coordinator. This site if part of "The CAGENWEB Project" and "The USGENWEB Project" providing free genealogy resources. If you would like to contribute your San Francisco information to this site, please contact me at jpilgrim@pacebll.net. If you would like to host a county of your own please contact the California State Coordinator Richard S. Wilson.
Photographs
USGENWEB
San Francisco County
CAGENWEB
Donated by Natalie Huntley
These photographs were kindly donated by Natalie Huntley. Click on the thumbnail photograph to view a larger image. If you recognize anyone or anyplace please contact
Natalie
Old Folks Home
USGENWEB
San Francisco County
CAGENWEB
Board of Examiners Records 1883-1889
A-C
C-G
G-L
L-P
P-U
V-W
Images provided by Martha Graham. You may need to scroll up or down to see the entire page
History
USGENWEB
San Francisco County
CAGENWEB
1850s |
1860s |
1870s |
1880s |
1890s |
1900s |
1910s |
1920s |
1930s |
1940s
Some of the events preceeding 1850 include: the discovery of San Francisco Bay in 1769 by Don Gapar de Portola; the establishment of Mission Dolores in 1776; the founding of the Presidio in 1776; the first home built by Captain William A. Richardson in 1835; the city's first newspaper the California Star began in 1847 and later merged with the Alta.
Gold was found in the American River 1848 starting a population explosion in San Francisco that increased the population from a few hundred in 1848 to over 30,000 by 1849. Between 1849 and 1951 there were six major fires that destroyed the City almost faster than it could be rebuilt. One of these fires is described in a transcribed letter from 1849.
The 1850s were a time of building and coming to grips with the population explosion.
- San Francisco County was formed and the San Francisco City Charter was approved by the California Legislature.
- 1850 Transbay ferry service began with the establishment of a route between San Francsico and the Oakland Estuary.
- 1850 Yerba Buena Cemetery opened.
- 1851 Crime gets out of control. The first Committee of Vigilance was established.
- 1854 Lone Mountain (Laurel Hill) cemetery established.
- 1856 The City and County of San Francisco were combined. San Mateo was split off as a separate county.
- 1858 The Overland Stage begins between Sanfrancisco and the East.
Letter transcribed from a copy of a hand written letter by Linda McDowell.
San Francisco Dec 30th, 1849
My Dear Friend Morris,
With me this far alls well. I am still here going forward as when you last heard from me, but this being "the winter of our discontent", business is neither as great or profitable as when I last wrote. We have branched out once more & now have three stores in operation. Our saw mill is also going which will bring in 'the dimes', notwithstand the large number of houses & great quantities of lumber that are on the way around the horn. The greater part of this month the weather has been awful, "the rain it raineth every day", nearly causing the streets to resemble some great mud hole, more than a high way. It is almost impossible for teams to get along & much of the carrying trade is done on mens backs, for carting a good sized wheelbarrow load two or three squares, $5 is to pay, and the greasers backs are equally as expensive. Last week I started to ride down to our saw mill, some 70 miles from here, but one of these California rains set in, and raised the streams so that the!
y became impossible. I not feeling like taking a swim, which would have been necessary had I proceeded, turned back, escaping with one ducking in which I came near losing my horse & life too--I managed however to get out of the troubled waters & leading my horse five miles stopped for the night.
On Monday morning last a large fire took place which destroyed property to over one million dollars in value. By the hardest work imaginable, the fire was kept from ? (can't read) the street which had it done would have closed up two of our stores as well as hundreds of others. But as you will have all the particulars, & mine too, in the papers I will not go into details. From the mines we have no very interesting news, most of the miners have gone into winter quarters, working but occasionally, making on an average, I am informed, about $12 per diem. Sacramento City is in a wretched state, there, as here the cry is Mud! Mud!! Mud!!! Stockton was also visited by fire, much property having been consumed.
Most of the Philadelphians of our acquaintance remain here about town. McKinley looks as cheerful as ever & is doing well. (Poor Charley) Smiley is making money fast--Dixey is here working at his trade & is making something--the McKissicks are also working at their trade & I suppose, make money, as any kind of thick boot brings an ounce & from there to $100 per pair. Big Tom Edwards has a team running hauling paid for the city, at $5 per load--he makes money, but whether he loses it again I know not--he runs the risk, however. Ned McGowan is here twirling the little ball & crying out "eagle bird by chance"--of late I have seen nothing of him--he has probably declined the banking business & left this Darling -town. John Arentrue tried his luck at his old trade but got broke, the boys being too much for him--he now has an appointment from the Alcade & rides a good horse, the streets being too bad to walk, at $1000 per month--he is street inspector. Long Tom Morris is knocking !
about town & takes his liquor as much as ever--he is not doing much for himself. Middleton & Berry, the balance of the Algoma Company are doing an auction business & have had since good sales. Brown of Bank Alley, & more recently of 8th street, had done remarkably well--Manard is making money-
I have just returned after dining at old Shong, the principal Chinese Restaraunteers of this mongrel place--old Shong and his assistants are a great curiosity, & if Burton had them, he never need come to California. After the sound of the gong the table is filled by at least fifty of us "outside barbarians" at which Shong's attendants work out of a suspicious looking back room bearing soup plates & all bawling out "tong aw" which I supposed means rat soup. After this course comes the roasts, boils and stews which are awfully hot & look & smell delicious, but then one attempts to cut up one of the pieces of meat or pies he imagines he sees the leg of a blind puppy or the tail of a rat in every smoking piece--but here vittals are vittals & we goes it cat or not cat--all this being over you are served with a square piece of pie, the size a female celestials foot, together with a cup of good coffee--this being through we left Shong and his big trousered--cat eyed,-- long tailed,!
--black haired & wooden shoed celestials--as we pass out old Chew Chaw takes our $1.50 & rubs off his slate one of those spider looking words.
The vessel your brother embarked in has not yet arrived, although she is out near six months--The Maria that left a month later from Philadelphia has been here some weeks, making a very good trip. I have been anxiously looking for it for a long time, the vessel ought to have been here some time since, but some ships have had much longer passages than six months I have no fears of any accident happening to the E, as she doubled the cape at a favorable season. Had he been here a month ago he could have sold out his clothing at $100 percent advance, at wholesale--prices are still good, but not as high as they have been several large invoices having lately arrived. Remember me to all our friends.
Believe me as ever your friend J. H. Gardiner
along left margin it says "Write me & be particular to address John H Gardiner"
(the author of this letter was b. in NJ in 1818, died in Rio Vista. CA in 1906 and is buried in Rio Vista)
The 1860s brought continued population growth with the Pony Express and railroad connecting San Francisco to the East Coast. Some of the highlights include:
- 1860 The Pony Express began service from St. Joseph, Missouri to San Francisco.
- 1860 The "Pioche Railroad" was started by the Market Street Railway Company, which graded Market Street. This road at first was operated by steam dummies, later by means of horses.
- 1861 Fort Point was completed. It was built to protect San Francisco from some one who never came. The fort was never fired on nor did it ever have to defend the Gate.
- 1861 Pony Express ceased opetions 19 months after it began.
- 1862 Telegraph services was established between San Francisco and New York.
- 1864 San Francisco Railroad line (predecessor to CalTrain) was completed to San Jose.
- 1865 The Dramatic Chronical (later The Chronicle) was first published.
- 1865 The Examiner was first published.
- 1865 A great earthquake hit San Francisco causing extensive damage.
- 1868 A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck along the Hayward fault causing much damage and loss of life.
- 1869 The first westbound train arrived in San Francsico.
The 1870s were a time of city expansion with the Golden Gate park being created and the first cable car system started. By the late 1870s San Francisco began to suffer difficult and bitter economic times. The white workers blamed the chinese for their high unemployment rate. Chinese withdrew into what we now call Chinatown. The following highlights some of the events.
- 1870 San Francisco became the tenth largest city in the United States.
- 1870 Golden Gate park was created.
- 1871 Yerba Buena Cemetery removed.
- 1873 Andrew S. Hallidie tested his first cable car system near the top of Nob Hill at Clay and Jones streets and the next month started public service.
- 1876 Southern Pacific Railroad line connecting Los Angeles and San Francisco was completed.
- 1876 Diptheria epidemic.
- 1877 Angry mobs killed 4 and wounded 18 when more Chinese immigrants arrived.
The Indian Wars of the 1870s and 1880s resulted in additional growth of the Presidio. Soldiers stationed here saw action against the Modoc Indians in the Lava Beds of northern California and against the Apache Indians in the southwest. In the 1880s a large-scale tree planting and post beautification program was started. Some of the highlights from the 1880s are listed below.
- 1880 George Hearst accepted a small daily newspaper, the San Francisco Examiner, as payment for a gambling debt. The elder Hearst, now a U.S. senator from California, had little interest in the newspaper business as such, but the event proved pivotal for his son. In the mid-1880s, young Will (William Randolf Hearst), a Harvard student at the time, wrote his father a now-famous letter requesting that he be permitted to take over the Examiner.
- 1880 The Irish make up nearly one-third of the City's population.
- 1886 Anti-Chinese mobs in Seattle force about 200 Chinese to flee to San Francisco.
- 1887 A snowstorm covered the entire city making San Francisco a winter wonderland.
The 1890s brought a depression although San Francisco continued some growth and building. Some of the highlights from this period follow.
- 1890 USS San Francisco, a 4088-ton protected cruiser, was built at San Francisco, California, and commissioned in November 1890. She served in the Pacific until 1893, then steamed to the Atlantic. Operations followed in the North and South Atlantic, and in European waters. During the Spanish-American War, in 1898, San Francisco was stationed off Cuba
- 1892 Sierra Club was founded with 182 members and John Muir as president.
- 1898 American Anti-Imperialist League founded. It was created to protest the annexation of Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines after the Spanish-American War, the Anti-Imperialist League was the first national anti-imperialist organization formed in the United States.
- 1898 The Ferry Building was built. By the early 1930s it was The Ferry Building was the second busiest transportation terminal in the world.
One of the wonderful aspects of the turn-of-the-century era was the multitude of grandious schemes for the development of California. In the early 1900's, the country had rebounded from the depression of the 1890's, so a renewed sense of optimism was the mood of the day although in 1906 a major earthquake caused much death and destruction in the City. Following are some hightlights from this era.
- 1903 The Commonwealth Club of California was founded in 1903 by San Francisco Chronicle editorial writer Edward F. Adams.
- 1905 A coast railroad from San Francisco to Santa Cruz was created. It was initially called the Ocean Shore Electric Railway. Initial work began in 1905.
- 1906 A major earthquake struck the San Francisco Bay Area.
- 1907 San Francisco Streetcar strike.
- 1909 John Muir led a movement to save the Hetch Hetchy Valley from ruin at the hands of the City and County of San Francisco who wanted the valley for a municipal water supply.
The period from 1910 to 1919 was one of continued immigration and growth of San Francisco although mared by World War I. The following are some hightlights from this era.
- 1910 Angel Island opened. For 30 years, Angel Island served as a point of entry to the United States for many immigrants. Like Ellis Island in New York, it processed the entry of people from different parts of the world. Unlike Ellis Island, it also served as a prison for hundreds of Chinese immigrants.
- 1911 Women given the right to vote in California.
- 1912 Souther Pacific Railroad terminal built at Third and Townsend streets in anticipation of the 1915 Exposition.
- 1914-1918 WWI
- 1915 Palace of Fine Arts created by architect Bernard R. Maybeck for the Panama-Pacific International Exposition.
- 1915 Panama Pacific International Exposition
- 1918 Great Flu epidemic
- 1918 The end of the war to end all wars. Soldiers came home with a victory parade down Market Street, and the City looked forward to an era of peace and prosperity
The Roaring '20s as they are commonly referred to. Despite prohibition laws San Francisco remained the wettest city in the West. Some of the highlights from this era follow.
- 1920 The Great Highway and Ocean Beach Esplanade completed. More than 50,000 people joined in the festivities and celebration.
- 1921 Fatty Arbuckle arrested for the murder of Virginia Rappe after a lavish party at the St. Francis Hotel.
- 1922 Statute took away citizenship from any American woman who married a man not elibilbe for citizenship
- 1929 Black Tuesday, stock market crashed.
The early 30s were years of the great depression however by the mid to late 30s the worst had passed. The great period of ferry transit reached its peak in the 1930's, when 60 million persons crossed the bay annually, along with 6 million autos. Highlights from this era follow.
- 1933 San Francisco Ballet Company founded.
- 1934 San Francisco Maritime strike began May 9th. Running battles between unionists and police began July 3rd with July 5th known as "Bloody Thursday".
- 1935 San Francisco Museum of Art opens under the leadership of founding directory Grace L. McCann Morley in the fourth floor of the War Memorial Veterans Building.
- 1935 City College of San Francisco, a public two-year college, opens.
- 1936 San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge opens.
- 1926 Herb Caen landed a job writing a column for the San Francisco Chronicle.
- 1937 Golden Gate Bridge opens.
- 1939 Golden Gate Internation Exposition and fair, also known as Treasure Island.
The first half of the 40s saw men and women from every walk of life flocking to the shipyards to find work and support the war effort. San Francisco was referred to as "Baghdad by the Bay" by Herb Caen. It was possible to drink 24 hours a day. Sally Stanford the famous madam had a hugh house on Russion Hill and her girls were like socialites. Some highlights from this era follow.
- 1939-1945 WWII. During the war 120,000 Japanese aliens and American citizens with Japanese faces were removed from the theirhomes in California, Oregon, Washington and taken to internment camps. Of those, 18,000 were from the San Francisco Bay Area.
- 1940 The 2nd Golden Gate Internation Exposition and fair was held
- 1940 Navy purchases Hunter's Point.
- 1945 UN Charter creating the United Nations was signed in San Francisco.
North Beach
|
North Beach stuff goes here
North Beach stuff goes here
North Beach stuff goes here
North Beach stuff goes here
North Beach stuff goes here
North Beach stuff goes here
North Beach stuff goes here
North Beach stuff goes here
North Beach stuff goes here
North Beach stuff goes here
North Beach stuff goes here
North Beach stuff goes here
North Beach stuff goes here
North Beach stuff goes here
North Beach stuff goes here
North Beach stuff goes here
North Beach stuff goes here
North Beach stuff goes here
North Beach stuff goes here
North Beach stuff goes here
North Beach stuff goes here
Close
|
Jewelers
USGENWEB
San Francisco County
CAGENWEB
Jewelers advertising in the San Francisco City Directories from 1910 through 1939 have been extracted and compiled by Joyce Pilgrim to give you an at-a-glance view of the time frame they were in business (and advertising).
The jewelers in the City Directories are categorized as Importers, manufacturing, wholesale, and retail. The entries include the name and location of the business. In some cases, only a building name is listed rather than the address. The buildings that I've been able to locate addresses for are:
| Flood Building: |
870 Market |
Phelan Building: |
760-784 Market Street |
| Head Building: |
209 Post |
Shreve Building: |
210 Post Street |
| Hearst Building: |
5 Third Street |
Tanama Buidling: |
166 Geary |
| Jewelers Building: |
150 Post |
Whitney Buidling: |
133 Geary |
Pacific Building
(Evans Pacific Building): |
1409 Sutter |
The 1910 through 1916 compilation is complete with all categories of jewelers. The other years are currently incomplete but entries are being added weekly so check back often. Click on the link below to see if your ancestor was a jeweler in San Francisco!
Jewelers
USGENWEB
San Francisco County
CAGENWEB
| Jewelers 1910-1939 |
1910 |
1915 |
1920 |
1925 |
1930 |
1935 |
| |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
Legend: (I)=Importer; (M)=Manufacturer; (R)=Retail; (W)=Wholesale; (1),(2),(3)... correspond to jeweler's addresses
Look Ups
USGENWEB
San Francisco County
CAGENWEB
If you would like to be a Lookup Volunteer for San Francisco County, please email Joyce Pilgrim.
To request a lookup, send an email to the volunteer. The subject line of your email should automatically be entered for you. If not, put the words "San Francisco County Lookup" in the subject line of your e-mail. Please limit your request to one year and one name or family group.
| Lookup |
Volunteer |
| 1861-1959 San Francisco City Directories (at Sutro Library) |
Joyce Pilgrim
I only get to Sutro Library once a month so please be patient. |
| 1890 Great Register of Voters |
Sue Scott***
|
| 1901 San Francisco City Directory |
Colleen Norby |
| City of Souls San Francisco's Necropolis at Colma by Michael Gagey based on Annals Compiled by the Research Department of the San Francisco Federal Theatre (1950) |
Sue Scott*** |
| Pillars of the Past (A Guide to Cypress Lawn Memorial Park) by Michael Svane and Shirley Burgett |
Sue Scott*** |
| Rancho San Miguel by Mae Silver (book not indexed) |
Sue Scott*** |
*** Email address has a spam blocker. You will need to respond to a verification email.
Other sources of free lookups
Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness
Rootsweb Genealogy Lookup Forum
City Directories
USGENWEB
San Francisco County
CAGENWEB
City Directories contain a wealth of information. In many cases they not only list a person but show their spouse and occupation. Advertisements give you a sense of what life was like during the time period. Somtimes you will find maps and background information about the City.
You can also find directories at these other locations.
City Directories
USGENWEB
San Francisco County
CAGENWEB
Name Index with Links to Street Cross Reference | Images
Last Name |
First Name |
Occupation |
Street |
Notes |
City Directories
USGENWEB
San Francisco County
CAGENWEB
A
B
C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
1850 - 1879 |
1880 - 1909 |
1910 - 1939 |
1940 - 1969
ANC=Ancestry.com; DCO=DistantCousin.com; FHL=Family History Library; ROOT=Rootsweb.com; SFG=SFGenealogy.com; SFL=San Francisco Main Library; SUT=Sutro Library; VIT=Vitalsearch.com
| Year |
Location |
Year |
Location |
Year |
Location |
| 1850 |
FHL;SFL; SFG |
1860 |
FHL |
1870 |
FHL;SUT |
| 1851 |
FHL |
1861 |
FHL;SUT |
1871 |
FHL;SUT |
| 1852 |
FHL;SFL; SFG |
1862 |
FHL;SUT |
1872 |
FHL;SUT |
| 1853 |
FHL; SFG |
1863 |
FHL;SUT SFG |
1873 |
FHL;SUT |
| 1854 |
FHL;SFL |
1864 |
FHL;SUT SFG |
1874 |
FHL;SUT |
| 1855 |
FHL |
1865 |
FHL;SUT |
1875 |
FHL;SUT |
| 1856 |
FHL;SFL |
1866 |
FHL;SUT |
1876 |
FHL;SUT |
| 1857 |
FHL |
1867 |
FHL;SUT |
1877 |
FHL;SUT |
| 1858 |
FHL |
1868 |
FHL;SUT |
1878 |
FHL;SUT SFG |
| 1859 |
FHL; SFG |
1869 |
FHL;SUT |
1879 |
FHL;SUT |
1850 - 1879 |
1880 - 1909 |
1910 - 1939 |
1940 - 1969
ANC=Ancestry.com; DCO=DistantCousin.com; FHL=Family History Library; ROOT=Rootsweb.com; SFG=SFGenealogy.com; SFL=San Francisco Main Library; SUT=Sutro Library; VIT=Vitalsearch.com
| Year |
Location |
Year |
Location |
Year |
Location |
| 1880 |
FHL;SUT; SFG |
1890 |
FHL;SUT; ROOT; SFG; ANC |
1900 |
FHL;SUT |
| 1881 |
FHL;SUT |
1891 |
FHL;SUT; ROOT; ANC |
1901 |
FHL;SUT;SFL; VIT |
| 1882 |
FHL;SFL |
1892 |
FHL;SUT |
1902 |
FHL;SUT;SFL; SFG |
| 1883 |
FHL; SUT |
1893 |
FHL;SUT SFG |
1903 |
FHL;SUT;SFL; SFG |
| 1884 |
FHL;SUT |
1894 |
FHL;SUT |
1904 |
FHL;SUT;SFL |
| 1885 |
None Published |
1895 |
FHL;SUT |
1905 |
FHL;SUT;SFL; SFG |
| 1886 |
FHL;SUT;SFL |
1896 |
FHL;SUT |
1906 |
SUT;SFL; SFG |
| 1887 |
FHL;SUT |
1897 |
FHL;SUT |
1907 |
FHL;SUT;SFL; SFG |
| 1888 |
FHL;SUT |
1898 |
FHL;SUT; SFG |
1908 |
FHL;SUT;SFL |
| 1889 |
FHL;SUT; ROOT; SFG; ANC |
1899 |
FHL;SUT |
1909 |
FHL;SUT;SFL |
1850 - 1879 |
1880 - 1909 |
1910 - 1939 |
1940 - 1969
ANC=Ancestry.com; DCO=DistantCousin.com; FHL=Family History Library; ROOT=Rootsweb.com; SFG=SFGenealogy.com; SFL=San Francisco Main Library; SUT=Sutro Library; VIT=Vitalsearch.com
| Year |
Location |
Year |
Location |
Year |
Location |
| 1910 |
FHL;SUT |
1920 |
FHL;SUT |
1930 |
FHL;SUT |
| 1911 |
FHL;SUT;SFL |
1921 |
FHL;SUT |
1931 |
FHL;SUT;SFL |
| 1912 |
FHL;SUT;SFL |
1922 |
FHL;SUT; DCO |
1932 |
FHL;SUT;SFL |
| 1913 |
FHL; SUT |
1923 |
FHL;SUT |
1933 |
FHL;SUT;SFL |
| 1914 |
FHL;SUT |
1924 |
FHL;SUT |
1934 |
FHL;SUT;SFL |
| 1915 |
SFL; VIT |
1925 |
FHL;SUT |
1935 |
FHL;SUT;SFL |
| 1916 |
FHL;SUT;SFL |
1926 |
FHL;SUT |
1936 |
SUT;SFL |
| 1917 |
FHL;SUT |
1927 |
FHL;SUT |
1937 |
SUT;SFL |
| 1918 |
FHL;SUT |
1928 |
FHL;SUT |
1938 |
SUT;SFL |
| 1919 |
FHL;SUT |
1929 |
FHL;SUT |
1939 |
SUT;SFL |
1850 - 1879 |
1880 - 1909 |
1910 - 1939 |
1940 - 1969
ANC=Ancestry.com; DCO=DistantCousin.com; FHL=Family History Library; ROOT=Rootsweb.com; SFG=SFGenealogy.com; SFL=San Francisco Main Library; SUT=Sutro Library; VIT=Vitalsearch.com
| Year |
Location |
Year |
Location |
Year |
Location |
| 1940 |
FHL;SUT;SFL |
1950 |
SUT;SFL |
1960 |
SFL |
| 1941 |
SUT;SFL |
1951 |
SUT;SFL |
1961 |
FHL;SFL |
| 1942 |
SUT;SFL |
1952 |
SUT;SFL |
1962 |
FHL;SFL |
| 1943 |
SUT;SFL |
1953 |
SUT;SFL |
1963 |
SFL |
| 1944 |
SUT;SFL |
1954 |
SUT;SFL |
1964 |
SFL |
| 1945 |
FHL;SUT;SFL |
1955 |
SUT;SFL |
1965 |
SFL |
| 1946 |
FHL;SUT;SFL |
1956 |
SUT;SFL |
1966 |
SFL |
| 1947 |
SUT;SFL |
1957 |
SUT;SFL |
1967 |
SFL |
| 1948 |
SUT;SFL |
1958 |
SUT;SFL |
1968 |
SFL |
| 1949 |
SUT;SFL |
1959 |
SUT;SFL |
1969 |
SFL |
Census
USGENWEB
San Francisco County
CAGENWEB
Starting in 1790, federal censuses were taken every ten years. The California censuses start in 1850 and continue to 1930 however the 1850 California census did not include San Francisco, Santa Clara or Contra Costa counties. A special California state-wide census was taken in 1852 that did include those counties.
The following chart lists the California and San Francsico censuses with some of the locations where they can be found.
ANC=Ancestry.com; CEN=Censusfinder.com; CSA=California State Archives; FHL=Family History Library; GEN=Genealogy.com; HQO=Heritage Quest Online; NA=National Archives; SUT=Sutro Library; CAGA=The CAGENWEB Archive
| Year |
Location/Notes |
| 1850 |
NA; FHL; SUT;
ANC(Images & Index);
GEN(Images only);
HQO(Images only)
Note: The 1850 Census does not include San Francisco County |
| 1852 |
FHL; CSA;
Note: The 1852 Census is a special California state-wide census. |
| 1860 |
NA: FHL; SUT;
ANC(Images & Index);
GEN(Images & Index);
HQO(Images & Index) |
| 1870 |
NA; FHL; SUT;
ANC(Images & Index);
GEN(Images & Index);
HQO(Images & Index);
CEN(transcription);
CAGA (Transcription) |
| 1880 |
NA; FHL; SUT;
ANC(Images & Index);
GEN(Images Only);
HQO(Images Only) |
| 1900 |
NA; FHL; SUT;
ANC(Images & Index);
GEN(Images & Index);
HQO(Images & Index) |
| 1910 |
NA; FHL; SUT;
ANC(Images & Index);
GEN(Images & Index);
HQO(Images & Index) |
| 1920 |
NA; FHL; SUT;
ANC(Images & Index);
GEN(Images & Index);
HQO(Images & Index) |
| 1930 |
NA; FHL; SUT;
ANC(Images & Index);
GEN(Images Only);
HQO(Images Only) |
Newspapers
USGENWEB
San Francisco County
CAGENWEB
The two largest San Francisco newspapers in circulation today are the San Francsico Chroncile and the San Francsico Examiner.
| Year |
Description |
Location |
| 1865-Pres. |
San Francisco Chronicle
901 Mission St.
San Francisco, CA 94103 |
Sutro Library:
1913-1949;
1950-1980 |
| 1865-Pres. |
San Francisco Examiner
450 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA 94105 |
Sutro Library:
1913-1928 |
The Family History Library has newspaper indexes from 1904-1949.
A comprehensive list of San Francisco Newspapers from 1846 to 1934 can be found at SFGenealogy.com
Surnames
USGENWEB
San Francisco County
CAGENWEB
Connect with others researching in San Francisco County using the San Francisco Country Surname Registry. If you see a surname of interest, click on the researcher to send them an email.
If you would like to have your San Francisco surnames added, send an email to
Joyce Pilgrim
with the surnames your are researching and your contact email address.
Vital Records
USGENWEB
San Francisco County
CAGENWEB
Most of the vital records were lost in the 1906 earthquake although some information has been gleaned from newspapers and other sources. The following links provide an inventory of some of those sources and addresses.
Births |
Marriages |
Deaths |
Addresses
ANC=Ancestry.com; CDHS=California Dept. of Health Services; FHL=Family History Library; ROOT=Rootsweb.com; SFDPH=San Francisco Dept. of Public Health; SFG=SFGenealogy.com; SUT=Sutro Library
| Year |
Description |
Location |
| 1846-1850 |
Gleanings from the 'Alta California', Marriages & Deaths, 1846-1950 by Mary Dean Alsworth |
SUT |
| 1851 |
More Gleanings from the 'Alta California', Vital Records 1851 by Mary Dean Alsworth |
SUT |
1856-59,1861-62,1864-66,
1868,1873-74 |
Vital Records from the San Francisco Evening Bulletin |
SUT |
| 1901, 1945 |
San Francisco Examiner marriages, births, deaths, divorces, Feb. 12, 1901 and Apr,-May, 1945 |
FHL |
| 1905 - 1995 |
California Birth Index |
ANC |
| 1905 - 1910 |
California Birth Index |
ROOT |
| Pre-1906 |
California Births |
SFG |
| 1906-Present |
San Francisco City and County Vital Records |
SFDPH; CDHS |
Births |
Marriages |
Deaths |
Addresses
SFAR=San Francisco Assessor-Recorder; FHL=Family History Library; SFG=SFGenealogy.com
| Year |
Description |
Location |
| 1850-1858 |
Index to Marriage Returns by Kathleen C. Beals |
FHL |
| 1850-Present |
San Francisco Newspaper Notices |
SFG |
| 1857 |
San Francisco Vital Notices in the Sacramento Bee |
SFG |
| 1869-1905 |
Re-Recorded Marriages |
ANC |
| 1872 |
Marriage and Death Records on the Pacific Coast |
SFG |
| 1894-1903 |
Elopements and Marriages from Indexes from the San Francisco Call by James L. Heisterkamp |
FHL |
| 1900 |
City and County of San Francisco, California Marriage Licenses Issued by Maggie Fujii |
FHL |
| 1901, 1945 |
San Francisco Examiner marriages, births, deaths, divorces, Feb. 12, 1901 and Apr,-May, 1945 |
FHL |
| 1906 |
San Francisco Marriage Index |
SFG |
| 1906-Present |
San Francisco Marriages |
SFAR |
| 1906-1999 |
Miscellaneous Marriage Records |
SFG |
Births |
Marriages |
Deaths |
Addresses
ANC=Ancestry.com; CDHS=California Dept. of Health Services; FHL=Family History Library; ROOT=Rootsweb.com; SFDPH=San Francisco Dept. of Public Health; SFG=SFGenealogy.com; SUT=Sutro Library
| Year |
Description |
Location |
| 1864-1904 |
San Francisco Death Records |
FHL |
| 1906-present |
San Francisco Death Certificates |
SFDPD; CDHS |
| 1940-1997 |
California Death Index |
ROOT |
| 1864-1904 |
San Francisco Death Records |
FHL |
| Various Years |
Death Indexes |
SFG |
Births |
Marriages |
Deaths |
Addresses
San Francisco County Office of Vital Records
101 Grove Street, Room 105
San Francisco, California 94102
415-701-2311
Office of Vital Records
California Department of Health Services
Office of Vital Records - M.S. 5103
P.O. Box 997410
Sacramento, CA 95899-7410
California Department of Health Services
Probate Department Superior Court
400 McAllister Street, Room 103
San Francisco, CA 94102
415-551-3809, 415-551-4000 (recording)
415-551-4029, 4031, 4032 (Records, includes photocopies)
Help
USGENWEB
San Francisco County
CAGENWEB
IE Users: If your information bar is showing an Active Content Alert it is due to the navigation features of this website which are controlled by JavaScript. The newest versions of IE block these features automatically. You may get the message "Did you notice the information bar?" OR your information bar may show a shield and read: "To help protect your security, Internet Explorer has restricted this file from showing active content that could access your computer. Click here for options."
Please be advised that the San Francsico County GenWeb does not use "cookies" or collect any information from your browser. The only JavaScripts used on this site are for navigation.
You can turn the IE blocking off temporarily by clicking on the alert bar & choosing "allow blocked content". This will enable navigation links to work. To permanently turn off the IE blocking, follow these steps:
1. Open Internet Explorer
2. Go to Tools > Internet Options > Advanced tab
3. Scroll down the list until to see the Security Heading
4. You will need to make sure "Allow active content to run in files on My Computer" has a check next to it. (If you don't have a check, put one there.)
5. Click the Apply button then the Ok button.
Netscape Users: Some of the photograph links may not work unless you are using the latest version of Netscape.
