Databases
Birth & Marriage
San Mateo County Marriage Index : 1853-1948
An index of the San Mateo County Marriage Certificates from the earliest times to the end of 1948 when the state index begins.

Last Updated: Nov 30 2014 - 5:21pm
San Mateo Times Gazette Index : 1859-1899
An index to vital statistics listed in the San Mateo Times Gazette. The paper is available on microfilm in the Redwood City Main Library.

Last Updated: Jan 22 2015 - 5:03pm
Index to SMC Births Earliest to 1918
SMCGS amended the California Birth index that is online on various websites, adding book and page numbers to aid the SMC Recorder's office in locating records. Additionally records that predate the CA birth index were added, including delayed birth records which were mainly filed about the time Social Security went into effect. Order all birth records directly from the County, there website gives explicit instructions.

Last Updated: May 3 2018 - 8:21pm
Death Records and Substitutes
Index to San Mateo County Deaths - Earliest to 1920
Included in this index are Register 1 1873 to 1906 and Certificate Books A-D covering the years 1880-1920. Many of these deaths were filed at a later date. Be sure to check the James Crowe Book, the Coroner's Records and the Vital Records index to the San Mateo Times for deaths that might not have been recorded here.
Note that reference to entries in book 1A are listed under Letter, but that book has not been located in the record repository.

Last Updated: Aug 6 2015 - 8:44pm
Index to SMC Coroner's Records 1856-1984
Compiled by Russ Brabec with a little help, this index covers Coroner's records from the beginning of the county to 1984. The index includes, name, age, nativity, residence at time of death, and cause of death as well as case number and box where the original file is located. The original records are located in the SMC Record Center. Records over 70 years old have been digitized and are available on the FamilySearch website. This index includes a finding aid for those images.

Last Updated: Jan 26 2020 - 6:10pm
Layng & Tinney Mortuary File
Index to the Layng & Tinney Mortuary File Collection housed in the San Mateo County Genealogical Society Library. Contact SMCGS Research to obtain a copy of the contents of a file.

Last Updated: Jan 21 2015 - 12:43pm
James Crowe Register of Deaths : 1880s – 1920s
James Crowe (1841-1913) was an undertaker who served as the coronor for San Mateo County for many years. This book appears to be an early register of burials that he handled rather than an official county death register. It is, however, housed in the San Mateo County Recorders Office Records Center. This is a full transcription of what is in the register.

Last Updated: Jul 9 2017 - 6:00pm
Public Administration Reports
When there is no one to administer an estate it falls into the hands of the Public Administrator. These reports cover 1880 and then 1897 through 1960 with about a dozen missing years. They include names, dates, amount of the estate and costs. Various years include other information.

Last Updated: Aug 22 2016 - 9:49pm
Index to San Mateo County Obituaries
This index currently includes almost 78,000 entries for obituaries of San Mateo County residents. Included are nearly 75,000 scanned obituaries that are available from SMCGS for a small fee. They include the Redwood City/ Peninsula Times Tribune Obituary Morgue (1969-1992); The SMCHA obituary Collection of obituaries culled from the historical societies biographical files; The Daily Post; The Daily Journal; The San Mateo County Times (assorted years); San Mateo County Residents in the SF Examiner (1906-1959); Veteran's Memorials; and a collection of obituaries of former San Mateo County residents from other papers. The index also includes obituaries from the San Mateo Times assorted years in the 1920s and 1930s that are not part of the scanned collection but are available on Ancestry.com and other fee based sites. Additionally, the scanned collection include the Pacifica Times Tribune and the San Mateo Times from 1999, which were indexed by Chris Havanar on The Obituary Daily Times and therefore are not in this index. This index was originally created by the SMCGS Computer Club. See RESEARCH SERVICES on this website for information on obtaining copies of scanned obituaries.

Last Updated: Oct 26 2020 - 1:22pm
Mortuary Files of Valente, Marini, Perata & Co
The firm of Valente, Marini, Perata and Co. was established in San Francisco in 1888. 129 years later it has closed its doors and donated its records to the Colma Historical Association. This is an index (in progress) to the records. For copies of the original contact the Colma Historical Association.

Last Updated: Jan 26 2020 - 6:11pm
Court & Criminal
Early Court Records
An index to Court Minute and Record Books located in the San Mateo County Historical Association Archives.

Last Updated: Nov 27 2014 - 12:10am
Appeals & Venue Changes
Papers Concerning Appeals from Justice Courts and Change of Venue to San Mateo County Superior Court 1882-1930 which is located in drawer 32 of cabinet RC5B1.

Last Updated: Jan 29 2017 - 7:10pm
Lis Pendens Index
Notifications filed with the County that a lawsuit had been filed involving property within the county. This is an index to records filed in drawers 53-56A in the county record center. Records date from the 1850s through the early 1900s.

Last Updated: Nov 21 2015 - 9:43pm
Jury Lists 1908-1932
Found in Drawer RC5B1‐31
The lists in this drawer are a combination of Certified Lists created by the Board of Supervisors at the
request of various court judges and lists created to show that the jury summons had been delivered.
When both existed for the same time and court, double entries were eliminated. There are many gaps
in the lists. Some lists name the court that has requested jurors, others do not. Some lists give a
residence address others do not.

Last Updated: Jul 23 2015 - 8:24pm
Sheriff's Office Booking Registers
It was not uncommon for homeless residents to lodge in the jail. You can find not only the aged and disabled who had no means of support, but also those travelling into the county to find work. Often time of residence is listed as one day.
The records give a wealth of information. Besides the surname, given name and alias you will find the day of incarceration, occupation, age, height, weight, time in county, state and U, where picked up, by whom, the justice, the code under which the person was picked up, hour of arrest, hour of release, number of meals served, sentence, date of commitment, date of discharge, fines paid and a column for further remarks.
This index which includes volumes 7-12 and 14-16 includes more than 60,000 entries. Copies of the registers (which were located in the SMC Jail) are in the SMCGS Library. Visit the library or see the research page to obtain a copy.
The location of Volumes 1-6 and Volume 13 is unknown. We believe that 1-6 may be in the Historical Association offsite collections. It is possible that volume 13 which would have entries during WWII years was not bound and did not survive.

Last Updated: Mar 1 2015 - 9:30pm
Land and Maps
Land
An index to the land records of San Mateo County. This index currently includes Patent Books 1-3, Record of Deeds 1-4, Mortgage Books 1-2. See the pdf file for information on where to find the records

Last Updated: Jan 26 2018 - 8:42pm
Land
An index to the land records of San Mateo County. This index currently includes Patent Books 1-3, Record of Deeds 1-4, Mortgage Books 1-2. See the pdf file for information on where to find the records

Last Updated: Jan 26 2018 - 8:42pm
Sheriff's Sales, Executions and Attachments 1856-1929
These certificates are located in Drawers 19-24 in the San Mateo County Record Repository. Types of Documents include: Sheriff's Certificate of Sale (names include sheriff and purchaser of land (p) and if found name of original land owner (o) a plaintiff is also often listed as in the case of a lawsuit the land is sold to satisfy it. In a tax delinquency the plantiff is the people); Sheriff's Certificate of Sale on Foreclosure Specific to mortgage holders; Sheriff's Certificate of Redemption; Copy of Writ of Attachment ( a court order to "attach" or seize an asset. It is issued by a court to a law enforcement officer or sheriff. The writ of attachment is issued in order to satisfy a judgment issued by the court.); Copy Writ of Execution (a court order granted to put in force a judgment of possession obtained by a plaintiff from a court.[1] When issuing a writ of execution, a court typically will order a sheriff or other similar official to take possession of property owned by a judgment debtor. Such property will often then be sold in a sheriff's sale and the proceeds remunerated to the plaintiff in partial or full satisfaction of the judgment.); Release of Attachment;
Sale on Execution (a sale of property by the sheriff under authority of a court's writ of execution in order satisfy an unpaid obligation; Constable's Sale (sold at township rather than county level) ; Sale by City Treasurer (usually for non payment of improvement bonds, most were redeemed); and Conveyance of Real Estate for Delinquent Taxes

Last Updated: Mar 15 2016 - 3:52pm
Sales by the County Tax Collector 1857-1894
An index of Certificates located in drawers 25-34 and entries in Tax Sales Books A-G. The earliest records are found only in the drawers, later records are found in both the books and the drawers, however, some certificates for sales to the People of the State of California were not found. Information includes owner, purchaser, a description of the land and whether the land has been redeemed. Many of these "sales" are in fact pseudo loans for those unable to pay the taxes when due.

Last Updated: Mar 15 2016 - 3:51pm
Homestead Index
Index to volumes 1-4 San Mateo County Homesteads, covering the years 1860 through 1913. There are also references to homesteads filed in Deeds. Images of the Homestead volumes are available on FamilySearch.

Last Updated: Apr 27 2017 - 9:08pm
Name Index to Unrecorded Maps
This is an index to 54 volumes of subdivision maps located in the San Mateo County Record Repository. Names were added to the maps by the County Assessors Office in the first few decades of the 2oth century. The volumes cover most areas of the county. The maps have been photographed and are available on the website of the SMC Public Works Department Surveying Department. Links are available on database cover page.

Last Updated: Mar 13 2016 - 6:12pm
Water Appropriation Appliations
These applications for the rights to previously unappropriated state water can include maps, protests of the appropriations and other treasures for those researching in the county. They date from the 1870s to the 1950s and include applications by both individuals and companies (farms, land developers and water).

Last Updated: Oct 17 2016 - 7:37pm
Lease Index 1856-1921
An Index to recorded leases 1856-1921. Leases are recorded in Lease Books 1-9 and in various Miscellaneous Record and Deed Volumes. Leases might include maps, inventories, building plans and more.

Last Updated: Oct 22 2017 - 6:50pm
Naturalization and Electoral Records
Naturalization Prior to 25 Sep 1906
Index to the Naturalization Records of San Mateo County. Includes Declaration of Intention to Become a Citizen, Petitions and Certificates. These records are available unindexed on FamilySearch.

Last Updated: Nov 27 2014 - 12:33am
Naturalization 1907-1925
Index to the Naturalization Records of San Mateo County. Includes Declaration of Intention to Become a Citizen, Petitions and Certificates. These records are available unindexed on FamilySearch.

Last Updated: Nov 27 2014 - 12:30am
Naturalization 1926-1945
Index to the Naturalization Records of San Mateo County. Includes Declaration of Intention to Become a Citizen, Petitions and Certificates. These records are available unindexed on FamilySearch.

Last Updated: Nov 27 2014 - 12:28am
Naturalization 1946+
Index to the Naturalization Records of San Mateo County. Includes Declaration of Intention to Become a Citizen, Petitions and Certificates. These records are available unindexed on FamilySearch.

Last Updated: Nov 27 2014 - 12:26am
Camp Fremont Naturalization Records
Those non-citizens who served in the US Forces during WWI were able to become naturalized before they were discharged. This is an index to the 13 volumes of Petitions of those who were discharged from Camp Fremont (Menlo Park) in 1918 and 1919. No Declaration of Intention was required.

Last Updated: Nov 27 2014 - 12:40am
Naturalized Voters
Transcription of a card file of Naturalized Voters circa 1930s. Information might include name, date naturalized, place naturalized, person actually naturalized (self, father, husband), marriage date, voting district and place of birth.

Last Updated: Nov 27 2014 - 12:22am
San Mateo County Recorder's Office Records
Miscellaneous Records
An eclectic collection of records that includes birth and marriage affidavits, at least one estate record, a certificate of residence for Doctors, Conveyance of property to utilities, dedication of land to cemeteries, powers of attorney, Disability retirement of Major Thomas J. McGrath, street name changes, estray notices, nuisance abatement filings from the 1920s (the nuisance being those pesky ground squirrels that still scamper around my yard today) and the real "genealogical" treasure a Japanese American Citizen's League Oats of Allegiance circa 1942.

Last Updated: Jun 18 2015 - 6:43pm
Miscellaneous Records
An index to volumes 1-7 of San Mateo County Miscellaneous Registers. Miscellaneous records include builders contracts, leases, assignments, mortgages, lis pendens and much more. Copies are available from the San Mateo County Recorders Office.

Last Updated: Jun 10 2015 - 2:04pm
Sole Traders
Index to the Register of Separate Property of Married and Sole Traders (1856-1913). Indexed by Barry Goyette. The register is labeled Volume 1, but no other volumes appear to exist, this register is not full. There are 100 documents. You will find a digital version of this volume on FamilySearch

Last Updated: Nov 26 2014 - 11:33pm
Official Bonds & Election Certificates
Before taking office, elected officials were required to file bonds. Election Certificates were documents signed by the county clerk, verifying the election.
These bonds and certificates are located in the county record center in one of the small drawer cabinets (SM - RC5B1 - 15 - 21) You will find original signatures on many of the documents.

Last Updated: Oct 17 2016 - 6:32pm
Professional Registers
An index to the Register of Chiropractors, Osteopaths, Pharmacists, Dentists and Dental Hygenists (1923-1952); Physicians, Surgeons & Optometrists (1876-1929); Register of Dentists (1903-1935) and the Register of Doctor's Certificates (1914-1951) working from the Index to Medical Licenses 1876-1931 and rechecking the original volume. Records are available from the Recorders Office.

Last Updated: Nov 27 2014 - 12:07am
Cancelled Architects who had practiced in San Mateo County
From lists found in the Miscellaneous Drawers in the County Recorders Record Facility. Use as a pointed to death, retirement or leaving the area.

Last Updated: Jun 18 2015 - 7:01pm
Brands - Other County
An index of brands originally filed in other counties 1876 to 1921.

Last Updated: Dec 28 2016 - 7:14pm
Index to Abstracts of Judgement
This transcription of San Mateo Counties Index of Abstracts of Judgment appears to include Judgments from Township courts in San Mateo County and a variety of courts in other counties. It does not include Judgments made by the Superior Court of San Mateo County. Most likely they are indexed in the Docket Books for the Superior Court.

Last Updated: Jun 30 2018 - 7:37pm
Index to Mechanic's Liens
This index was created using Indexes 1 and 2 to Mechanic's Liens and cross checking the entries with the Mechanics Liens Volumes 1-7. A mechanic's lien is a security interest in the title to property for the benefit of those who have supplied labor or materials that improve the property. The lien exists for both real property and personal property. See notes on cover page.

Last Updated: Mar 26 2019 - 9:54pm
Index to Mechanic's Liens
This index was created using Indexes 1 and 2 to Mechanic's Liens and cross checking the entries with the Mechanics Liens Volumes 1-7. A mechanic's lien is a security interest in the title to property for the benefit of those who have supplied labor or materials that improve the property. The lien exists for both real property and personal property. See notes on cover page.

Last Updated: Mar 26 2019 - 9:54pm
Institutional Records
Record of Orphans, Half-Orphans, etc.
Covering the years 1910-1915, this ledger of Orphans, Half-Orphans and others receiving public support payments is located in the San Mateo History Museum Archives ( # 15-182-5 // #5 H2 16).

Last Updated: Jan 19 2016 - 8:23pm
List of Indigents
Culled from reports, registers and lists, this database of those supported by the county of San Mateo includes records from Jan 1904 through Jan 1915. An additional list for 1915 has been added as well as notations from April 1905 indicating how long those receiving payments that month had been on the rolls. For sources used please see County Poor Farm Sources. Indexed by Cath Trindle

Last Updated: Feb 7 2016 - 9:47pm
County Poor Farm Reports 1903-1905
These clippings were attached to the last sheet of the Day book showing cash paid out from 1897-1929

Last Updated: Feb 12 2016 - 10:12pm
County Poor Farm Employees
This list includes employees found in census records and in the Treasurer's Book located in the San Mateo County History Museum Archives.

Last Updated: Mar 21 2016 - 8:58pm
Sources for County Poor Farm Records
A list of Sources used for indexes to County Poor Farm records and for SMCGS Blog posts concerning the Poor Farm.

Last Updated: Feb 23 2016 - 8:05pm
Index to County Poor Farm Contracts 1912-1917
These contracts are located in the County Record Repository.

Last Updated: Feb 12 2016 - 9:23pm
County Poor Farm Income & Expense Reports 1916-1920
Monthly reports supporting these amounts (annual amounts were included on each found report) are located in the County Record Repository. See source list.

Last Updated: Feb 12 2016 - 9:25pm
County Poor Farm Inmate List
A comprehensive listing of both those who were admitted to the San Mateo County Poor Farm / Hospital from it's opening in 1876 until 1942. The list also includes those who were buried in the Farm Cemetery even if they were never residents of the Farm. There are some gaps in information but the listing includes over 3700 entries.

Last Updated: Jun 18 2019 - 9:41pm
Schools
1907 School Funding Petition
Included in the records found in Drawer 31 in the SMC Record Repositories are signatures from 391 individuals living in San Mateo, Burlingame, Pigeon Point, Pescadero, Redwood City, Jefferson, and San Bruno districts. List of Signers. This is a list of the signers

Last Updated: Aug 13 2015 - 9:07pm
Trustee Petition For More Funds 1920
To the County Superintendent of Schools, San Mateo County, Cal., In order that our schools may have sufficient funds to pay fair salaries and to provide for proper maintenance, we the trustees of the following School Districts respectfully request that you ask a sufficient tax rate to cover all expenses. The tax rate for the past year was inadequate. This is a list of the trustees that signed. Original petitions for each school district can be found in drawer 31 in the SMC record repository.

Last Updated: Aug 13 2015 - 9:11pm
Historical and Biographical
Schellens: 1 San Mateo County Name Index
Every name index to the San Mateo County Volumes of Richard Schellen's Collection of Historical Materials.
After his retirement, San Mateo County resident Richard N. Schellens dedicated his life to collecting genealogical and historical information from throughout the state of California. The original collection is housed in the Redwood City Main Library’s History Room. A copy of the entire collection is available in the SMCGS Library. There are nearly two hundred binders of material covering San Mateo County, San Francisco, California in General, the Other State Collection and one or two binders on every county in California. You will find indexes to all but the other county collections here. Members of the California State Genealogical Alliance indexed those volumes. Some are available online or in printed form, the entire index is available in the Members Section of the CSGA Website.

Last Updated: Mar 1 2015 - 9:20pm
Schellens: 1 San Mateo County Business Index
An index to businesses found in the San Mateo Volumes of Richard Schellens Collection of Historical Materials.

Last Updated: Jan 10 2015 - 7:11pm
Schellens: 3 California Name Index
Every name index to the California Volumes of Richard Schellen's Collection of Historical Materials

Last Updated: Nov 27 2014 - 12:53am
Schellens: Index to Places
An Index to the places covered in the Schellens Collection

Last Updated: May 21 2016 - 8:34pm
Schellens: 2 San Francisco Every Name Index
Every name index to the San Francisco Volumes of Richard Schellen's Collection of Historical Materials

Last Updated: Nov 27 2014 - 1:09am
Schellens: 2 San Francisco Hotels
An index to hotels mentioned in the San Francisco Volumes of Richard Schellen's Collection of Historical Materials

Last Updated: Nov 27 2014 - 1:06am
Schellens: 2 San Francisco Saloons
An index to Saloons mentioned in the San Francisco Volumes of Richard Schellen's Collection of Historical Materials

Last Updated: Nov 27 2014 - 1:05am
Schellens: 2 San Francisco Ships
An index to ships mentioned in the San Francisco Volumes of Richard Schellen's Collection of Historical Materials

Last Updated: Nov 27 2014 - 1:06am
Schellens: 4 The Other States Name Index
Every name index to the Other State Volumes of Richard Schellens Collection of Historical Materials. Copies of the material Schellens gathered on Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington can be found in the state binders in the SMCGS library.

Last Updated: Nov 27 2014 - 1:09am
The Student Monograph Collection at the SMCHA Archives
Index compiled by Craig Siulinski "San Mateo County Historical Association’s student monograph collection includes winners of the Charles N. Kirkbride competition at San Mateo Junior College (now College of San Mateo). The award was given to the best three term papers written each year on local history. Ranging from the 1930s to the late 1980s, they contain one-of-a-kind photographs and interviews with local historical figures." Debra Peterson, Archivist

Last Updated: Sep 16 2019 - 7:47pm
SMCGS Clipping File
A collection of articles about San Mateo County residents.

Last Updated: Jun 6 2018 - 9:14pm
NARA - Pacific Region - SF
Admiralty Case Files 1855-1863
NARA Record Group 21 - Cases on appeal from the Northern and Southern Districts of California. Cases involve ships with too many passengers, abandoned contracts, damaged goods, cargo not paid for, workers not paid, mistreatment of passengers, and Panama & NIcaragua crossings.

Last Updated: Aug 1 2016 - 4:48pm
Equity Case Files 1855-1863
Cases involve land claims, land sales, mining claims, mortgages, lands in San Mateo, San Francisco (many water lots), Santa Clara, and Alameda counties and others in Northern California, patent infringement (telegraph, crushing quartz to get gold, gold digger fork, self-rising flour, mould grooving machine, boxes for axles & gudgeons, rice hullers), cutting down trees, ferries in San Francisco Bay, people like John Charles Fremont, Maria Bernal de Bereyesa, Wm T Sherman, James Phelan, Samuel F B Morse as plaintiffs and defendants. RG 21 - Arranged in 3 groupings: Private cases (boxes 1-12 - cases 1-116), Southern District case 2 (Farnham v. Russell)(box 13) and U.S. cases (box 14 cases 1-4).

Last Updated: Aug 1 2016 - 5:00pm
Private Common Law Cases 1855-1863
Arranged numerically by case file number. The parties in cases in this series are private individuals,
corporations, and municipal governments. The United States is not a party in any case. Cases involve ejectment (wrongful occupation of lands, squatters), patent fraud, import impoundment, promissory notes, water lots in San Francisco, unpaid taxes and unpaid moneys, lands in Oakland (Kellersburger map), San Mateo (Rancho de las Pulgas), Santa Clara (Guadalupe Mines), John C Fremont, Pacific Mail Steamship Company, trips across the Isthmus of Panama, Gustave Touchard, and more. These cases are very local and tell great stories of California in its early statehood. - Record Group 21, Records of District Court of the United States - U.S. Circuit Court for Districts of California

Last Updated: May 23 2016 - 11:00pm
Criminal Case Files 1863-1917
An index to more than 2000 case files, in 63 boxes and two docket books. Criminal cases heard in Federal Court include tax cases, civil rights cases, admiralty cases and other violations of federal laws.

Last Updated: Nov 13 2016 - 6:35pm
Index to Fair Employment Practices Committee Cases
In 1941, President Roosevelt ordered that all industry essential to the war effort be non-discriminatory in all hiring practices without regard to race, creed, color, or national origin. Workers who felt that discrimination had occurred could file a formal complaint with the FEPC (Fair Employment Practices Committee, 1941-1945) and the situation would be investigated and changes made where appropriate and possible. The records for northern California, Portland, and Seattle produced in the San Francisco office of the FEPC, Region 12, contain letters, complaint forms, and more, and are stored in RG 228 at the National Archives, Pacific Region, San Francisco, California (located in San Bruno).
• A complete indexing of these files is in the attached PDF
• Contact NARA in San Bruno to set up an appointment to see the files.

Last Updated: Mar 29 2016 - 5:13pm
Inventories
Inventory of the County Archives of California #42 San Mateo County
Historical Records Survey: Division of Women's and Professional Projects Works Progress Administration. San Francisco California, The Historical Records Survey, June 1938
A scanned copy showing location of records throughout San Mateo County in 1938

Last Updated: Apr 5 2015 - 10:49pm
Identification of the Historical Records of the State of California
March Fong Eu, Secretary of State; California State Archives 1981

Last Updated: Apr 5 2015 - 11:01pm
Publications by SMCGS Members
Sunset View Cemetery: Cemetery for the Paupers and Indigent of San Francisco
(c) 2015 Russell R Brabec

Last Updated: Nov 11 2015 - 4:26pm