San Luis Obispo County Genealogical Society

01/26/2026

Exciting announcement for all our genealogy lovers! 🎉

The San Luis Obispo County Genealogical Society is proud to be a host site for the Family Tree Maker California Tour 2026!

📅 When: Tuesday, February 18, 2026
🕑 Time: 2:00 – 5:00 PM
📍 Where: IOOF Hall, 520 Dana Street, San Luis Obispo

Join us for a FREE hands-on session with the Family Tree Maker team! You’ll enjoy:
✨ Live software demonstrations
✨ Q&A and one-on-one help (bring your laptop if you’d like!)
✨ Networking with fellow local family historians
This event is open to everyone — whether you use Family Tree Maker or not. It’s a fantastic chance to learn, ask questions, and connect!

Registration details here: https://slocgs.org/event/family-tree-maker-california-tour-2026/ 🌳💻

Who’s planning to come? Drop a 🙋 below!

01/23/2026

Help us keep family histories alive for future generations! 💕

The San Luis Obispo County Genealogical Society is committed to encouraging interest in family history and genealogy, preserving genealogical materials, and providing instruction in accepted and effective research techniques.

As a volunteer-run nonprofit, your donation directly supports our library, educational events (like the upcoming Family Tree Maker event or the Annual Cemetery Tour), and community resources. Every gift — big or small — makes a real impact!

Ways to donate:✨ If joining or renewing membership, you can add an extra contribution when paying dues via PayPal on our online form.✨ Or mail a check (for membership, renewal, or a standalone donation) to:SLOCGSP.O. Box 441, San Luis Obispo, CA 93406

(Include a note if it's a general donation!)

Thank you for supporting local genealogy — you're helping preserve stories that matter! 🌳 Who's sending some love our way? Drop a ❤️ below!

01/18/2026

📅 As we approach Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, January 19, 2026—a federal holiday honoring the birthday and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (born January 15, 1929)—let's reflect on his profound impact through the lens of genealogy.

Dr. King came from a long line of Baptist preachers: his father (Martin Luther King Sr.), grandfather (Rev. A.D. Williams), and great-grandfather were all ministers dedicated to faith and community. His family roots trace back to enslaved ancestors in Georgia, highlighting stories of resilience, education, and activism that shaped his fight for equality and justice.

Fellow genealogists: Do any of your family trees intersect with the Civil Rights Movement? Perhaps ancestors who marched for voting rights, faced segregation, or drew inspiration from Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech? Or stories of overcoming barriers in education and opportunity?

Share your discoveries in the comments! SLOCGS supports African American genealogy research with key library holdings, including:

From Slavery to Freedom by John Hope Franklin – the definitive history of African Americans
Black Genealogy by Charles L. Blockson – a classic guide to tracing Black family roots
Black Family Research: Records of Post-Civil War Federal Agencies at the National Archives – essential for Reconstruction-era sources
Plus access to vital records like U.S. censuses (1870 onward), Freedmen's Bureau and Bank records, and more via our library computers and online tools.

Visit us at the San Luis Obispo (check slocgs.org for current hours and appointments) or get guidance from our volunteers.
Honoring history helps us build a better future.

The mission of the San Luis Obispo County Genealogical Society is to encourage interest in family history and genealogy, to preserve genealogical materials, and to provide instruction in accepted and effective research techniques. We invite anyone interested in genealogy to join us in our General Me...

01/16/2026

Let’s give a huge welcome to our February speaker, Julia Anderson! 👏❤️

Julia is a genealogy rockstar who specializes in cracking the toughest cases – think pre-1850 research and finding those “invisible” ancestors (especially women and minorities) using cutting-edge tools on FamilySearch.

If you’ve ever hit a brick wall before 1850 or wondered how to locate female ancestors who seemed to vanish from the records, you do NOT want to miss this.

February 7th • 10 am – 12:30 pm • Free Zoom meeting
RSVP here: https://slocgs.org/event/slocgs-general-meeting-julia-anderson/

Bring your questions – Julia loves the Q&A! See you there! 🧬✨

Scroll down to RSVP for this event. Speaker Julia Anderson Part I: Beyond the Brick Wall: Strategies for Pre-1850 U.S. Research Researching in the United States prior to 1850 presents […]

01/14/2026

Big news, family history friends! 🥳

Something exciting is coming to San Luis Obispo in February… The San Luis Obispo County Genealogical Society is thrilled to announce we’ve been chosen as an official host site for the Family Tree Maker California Tour 2026!

Mark your calendars for Tuesday, February 18, 2026 — a free, hands-on afternoon with the Family Tree Maker team is heading our way. More details coming soon… stay tuned! 👀

Who’s ready to level up their genealogy game? Tell us in the comments! 🌳❤️

01/14/2026

🌳 RootsTech is here—and registration is open! 🌳

RootsTech is available both in person and online, and the class schedule is now live. Whether you’re a beginner, intermediate, or advanced genealogist, there’s something for everyone.

✨ Explore:

A wide range of genealogy topics

Research in multiple countries

Hundreds of expert-led classes

You can build your own schedule—online-only classes from your computer, or in-person classes using the RootsTech app.

💻 Online attendance is FREE, and you can watch from anywhere.
In-Person: $129 for a three-day pass
📍 Please note: not all in-person classes are available online, so be sure to check the schedule.

👉 Take a look at the class list and start planning your RootsTech experience today!

https://www.familysearch.org/en/rootstech/

01/09/2026

📅 On this Saturday, January 10th—marksthe 250th anniversary of Thomas Paine's groundbreaking pamphlet "Common Sense" published in 1776—let's connect it to our passion for genealogy!

"Common Sense" ignited the American Revolution by arguing for independence from Britain in plain, powerful language that resonated with everyday colonists. It sold over 100,000 copies in months, inspiring countless patriots and soldiers to join the fight for freedom. George Washington even read excerpts to his troops to boost morale during tough times.

Fellow genealogists: Do you have Revolutionary War ancestors in your family tree? Perhaps soldiers, patriots, or even authors who were influenced by Paine's call to action? Share your stories below! If you're researching connections to the Revolution, SLOCGS has resources to help trace those roots—visit slocgs.org for tips,and upcoming events.

Let's uncover how history lives in our lineages! 🇺🇸

The mission of the San Luis Obispo County Genealogical Society is to encourage interest in family history and genealogy, to preserve genealogical materials, and to provide instruction in accepted and effective research techniques. We invite anyone interested in genealogy to join us in our General Me...

01/07/2026

Passionate about uncovering family stories and preserving our shared history? 🌳❤️
The San Luis Obispo County Genealogical Society's mission is to encourage interest in family history and genealogy, preserve genealogical materials, and provide instruction in accepted and effective research techniques.

Join our welcoming community today! As a member, you'll enjoy digital newsletters and bulletins, access to our library resources, educational programs, and more — all while helping us continue our important work in SLO County.

Become a member or renew easily online (pay via PayPal) or download the form to mail with a check: 👉 https://slocgs.org/membership-form/ or stop and visit our library located inside the SLO Library.

We can't wait to have you in the family! What's one ancestor you're most curious about right now? Share in the comments! 😊

Membership Membership is open to all persons interested in the Society’s objectives. Members enjoy these valuable benefits: Newsletter Five times a year, members receive a digital reminder about upcoming meetings and classes sponsored by the Society as well as some meetings of interest at nearby g...

01/05/2026

Mark your calendars, genealogy friends! 📅✨

We are thrilled to welcome the amazing Julia Anderson to our February General Meeting!
Julia is bringing us TWO powerhouse presentations:
✨ Beyond the Brick Wall: Strategies for Pre-1850 U.S. Research
✨ The Needle in the Haystack: Researching Women & Minorities with FamilySearch’s Full-Text Search

Saturday, February 7 | 10:00 am – 12:30 pm | FREE on Zoom

Whether you’re stuck on early-American ancestors or trying to find the women and minorities who are so often hidden in the records, this meeting is pure gold!

Save your spot today: https://slocgs.org/event/slocgs-general-meeting-julia-anderson/
(Members & non-members both welcome – separate RSVP links on the page)

Who’s excited?! Drop a 🙋 below if you’re joining us!

Scroll down to RSVP for this event. Speaker Julia Anderson Part I: Beyond the Brick Wall: Strategies for Pre-1850 U.S. Research Researching in the United States prior to 1850 presents […]

01/05/2026

Sitting at the computer too long?

12/28/2025

Happy Call a Friend Day!

San Fernando Valley kids knew the script by heart:
DIamond 6-1212 when the party address changed last-minute
DIamond 5-8444 to see if we were late for Bob’s Big Boy
DIamond 9-1616 so we could tell Mom “I’m at Jason’s studying” (code for cruising Reseda with the subs thumping)

Then we grew up, crossed the Grapevine, and traded the 818 for the 805… but the muscle memory stayed:
543-8444 when you needed to know if you still had time to make it from SLO to Pismo before the taco shop closed
546-TIME when you were stuck in the Madonna Inn parking lot lying about “just one more song”

Tonight I’m calling an old friend from both chapters: Valley sunsets and Central Coast fog, same voice that answered “Hello?” on a curly cord in 1994 and still picks up in 2025.

Who are you dialing with your heart tonight? Drop their first name. Let’s light up the 818 and the 805 for five minutes, Or the area code where ever you grew up. Share a story and don't forget to include it your family history.



Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

**Please note, these number may have been reassigned to other businesses or people**

If you want to call the time lady... cause IYKYK... She still lives at the US Naval Observatory...

12/26/2025

🖤❤️💚 Happy Kwanzaa!
Wishing a Joyous Kwanzaa to all who celebrate!

Kwanzaa is focused on honoring African heritage, community, and family values—themes that resonate deeply with the study of family history.

May your Kwanzaa be filled with unity, purpose, and the strength of community!