San Luis Obispo County Genealogical Society

05/07/2026

On May 7, 1915, the British ocean liner Lusitania was torpedoed off the Irish coast on her way from New York to Liverpool, and almost 2,000 passengers and crew were suddenly thrown into history. Many of their names still appear today on passenger lists and memorial sites.

Passenger lists are powerful tools for family historians. A single manifest can show your ancestor’s age, occupation, last residence, destination, and even who they were traveling with. It’s a snapshot of one day in their life between “old country” and “new.”

If your family crossed the ocean in the late 1800s or early 1900s, there may be similar records waiting for you. Start with what you know—a name, a rough time frame, and a likely port like New York or Boston—and then look for passenger lists and immigration records in online databases or archives.

Have a family story that “we came through Ellis Island” or “they sailed from Liverpool”? Bring the details to the San Luis Obispo County Genealogical Society, and our volunteers can help you search for the ship and the manifest that matches your ancestor’s journey.

> Ready to explore ship records? Try these free online resources:

> Lusitania passenger list and passenger details: The Lusitania Resource – [Passenger List](https://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/).

> Earlier Lusitania voyages: [RMS Lusitania Passenger Lists 1908–1912 – GG Archives](https://www.ggarchives.com/OceanTravel/Passengers/Ships/Lusitania-PassengerLists.html).

> Ellis Island / New York arrivals (free account required): [Passenger Search – Ellis Island](https://www.statueofliberty.org/discover/heritagesearch/).

> More free immigration databases and New York passenger lists: [Immigration Records – LibGuides](https://libguides.astate.edu/freedatabases/immigration) and [Finding New York Passenger Lists](https://www.genealogybranches.com/ellisisland/nypassengers.html).

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Lusitania-British-ship

Selected RMS Lusitania passengers have individual biographies. Lusitania Passenger List, Crossing 202 1 May 1915, New York to Liverpool Saloon (1st Class) Passengers 290 RMS Lusitania 1st class pas…

05/06/2026

Reading the handwriting used in early American documents such as
wills, deeds, and church records can be frustrating for the modern
Genealogist. Kip Sperry's "Reading Early American Handwriting,"
explains how to read those documents with special techniques and
examples. Also includes definitions of terms and common abbreviations.

Find this book, and many other helpful resources at the SLOCGS Library

05/04/2026

This week is Teacher Appreciation Week, and we’re sending a heartfelt thank you to the educators who pour their energy into shaping minds, hearts, and futures.

Many of us can point to at least one teacher who changed our lives—a patient mentor, an encouraging coach, a librarian who quietly kept handing us books. In family history, teachers show up in school records, yearbooks, and community stories as people who helped shape the next generation.

If you’re a teacher (current or retired), thank you. And if you’re researching your family tree, you might take a moment this week to remember the teachers who influenced your own story—or the teachers who show up in your ancestors’ lives.

04/26/2026

Family stories are powerful—especially the ones about courage.

One beloved example from the Revolutionary War is the story of 16‑year‑old Sybil Ludington, who is said to have ridden through the night in April 1777 to alert her father’s militia of a British raid near Danbury, Connecticut.

Like many treasured stories from the past, the details we have about Sybil come from accounts written years later, and historians continue to explore how much of the tale can be confirmed in the records.

For family historians, her story is a gentle reminder that it’s okay to love these stories—and also to ask, What can we find in the documents? Sometimes the paper trail adds beautiful depth to the legends we’ve grown up with.

04/23/2026

Just learned of this website for free access to newspapers!

Explore the Community History Archive today! Holding over a million images of history from over 1,100 communities for you to browse!

04/19/2026

On April 19, 1775, colonial militia and British regulars clashed at Lexington and Concord, marking the first sustained fighting of the American Revolution.

If you have New England roots, this is a perfect day to explore Revolutionary War pension files, militia lists, or local town histories and ask: Did anyone in my family witness these events—or feel their impact in nearby communities?

Even if your ancestors arrived later or lived elsewhere, you can use this anniversary to frame their story: what was happening in their home country in 1775 while shots were being fired in Massachusetts?

Image: Battle of Lexington from https://commons.wikimedia.org/

04/19/2026

As Teacher Appreciation Week comes to a close, we want to say a special thank you to everyone who has spent time at the front of a classroom, in a library, or leading a learning space of any kind. Your patience, creativity, and persistence make a real difference—even when it doesn’t always feel that way in the moment.

For those of us who love family history, teachers are often the ones who first sparked our curiosity about the past, handed us a history book, or encouraged us to ask questions. This weekend, you might take a minute to remember a teacher who influenced your path—or to jot down a story about a teacher in your family, so that future generations will know their impact, too.

04/19/2026

On the night of April 18, 1775, riders like Paul Revere, William Dawes, and Samuel Prescott spread the alarm that British troops were marching toward Lexington and Concord.

For family historians, it’s a great day to ask: Where were my ancestors that night?

If your lines reach back to New England, check local militia lists, town histories, or Revolutionary War pension files to see whether anyone in your tree answered the call. If your ancestors were elsewhere in the colonies—or still overseas—look at what was happening in their community in the spring of 1775 as the crisis in Massachusetts escalated.

Image: The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere from commons.wikimedia.org

04/18/2026

The San Luis Obispo County Genealogical Society maintains a Genealogical Library inside the San Luis Obispo Public Library at 995 Palm Street. Our room is located behind the information desk on the first floor. There is a parking structure next door to the library.

Because we are volunteer‑run, the library is open for in‑person assistance only when a volunteer is on duty. Please check our online calendar at slocgs.org/events/ for current open days and times before planning your visit.

We look forward to meeting with you.

04/15/2026

Family history research can be exciting, challenging, and rewarding — and you do not have to do it alone. The San Luis Obispo Genealogical Society and Genealogy Library at the SLO Library offer free educational events, select programs with a fee, special interest groups, and volunteers who are ready to help you along the way.

04/15/2026

We’d love for you to join us in growing our genealogy community. The San Luis Obispo County Genealogical Society is here to encourage, support, and inspire family history researchers through speakers, special interest groups, and caring library volunteers who are always glad to help.