Was your ancestor a member of a fraternal or social organization? Thousands of associations emerged during the 19th and early 20th centuries to address the social, financial and occupational needs of Americans and immigrants. Ethnic and religious fraternal organizations helped ease the transition in unfamiliar surroundings, provided benefits such as tools, small loans, and burial funds. In Northern California, fraternal organizations were particularly popular among miners, farmers, and railroad employees. We often learn about an ancestor’s membership from heirlooms, insurance policies, obituaries, or tombstone iconography. Not every fraternal organization kept their records, but some did, and they survived. This lecture will help you identify your ancestor’s membership and provide a strategy to locate records if they exist.

This program will take place on Zoom. Register in advance for this meeting by clicking on the link below. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.