Celebrating 60 Years

Before the Southern California Genealogical Society was formed in 1964, other genealogical groups met throughout the region. The Long Beach Genealogical Society met at members' homes in the 1930s, while the Pomona Valley Genealogical Society formed a group in 1955. Of course, there were local chapters of long-established lineage societies like the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and Sons of the American Revolution (SAR), which have grown to include numerous chapters in Southern California. Genealogical societies formed by members of the Church of Latter-Day Saints held meetings at various stakes or churches.

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Many family historians were introduced to genealogy through newspaper columns like that of La Reina Rule. Readers would write to Ms. Rule mostly inquiring about the origin of  their surnames, and she would provide an often-detailed historical background of the name. She was the guest speaker at one of the first meetings of the Southern California Genealogical Society when it met on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles.

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Same Society, Different Meeting Places

One of the challenges of the Southern California Genealogical Society is a permanent meeting place or library. Early meetings were held at the California Federal Savings building in LA. In the late 1960s, the group met at the Masonic Lodge at 835 Locust Ave. in Long Beach and later moved its library to the historic Banning House and Museum in nearby Wilmington. In 1973, SCGS and the SAR combined their collections to establish the Heritage Library at 600 S. Central Ave. in Glendale. SCGS meetings were held at 5670 Wilshire Blvd. in LA in the early 1970s. Other locations included the Golden Mall in Burbank, in the early to mid 1980s, and 122 S. San Fernando Blvd. in Burbank (early 1990s). The Society and Library moved to its current location at 417 Irvine Drive in Burbank in the late 1990s.