Santa Clara County Historical & Genealogical Society – Promoting the study of history and genealogy since 1957

Our general meetings are held on the third Tuesday of every month except August and December. Check below for time, Zoom meeting particulars, and registration requirements for specific events. Become a member.

Event Calendar

SCCHGS is proud to provide frequent classes, seminars and speakers on both local history and genealogy topics.

April 8, 2026

Gen Techniques "Immigration & Naturalization Records" - Hybrid Event

April 8, 2026 10:15 am - 12:00 pm
Heritage Pavilion and on Zoom
Immigration and naturalization records are crucial for genealogy, providing details about an ancestor's arrival and the legal process of becoming a citizen. This class will cover the various types of records, such as passenger lists, declarations of intention, and petitions for naturalization, explaining where to find them and how to interpret the valuable personal and geographical information they contain. This class is led by Nancy Moffett.

We are now running these meetings both in-person and on Zoom. Registration is required:
- In-person Registration (Heritage Pavilion)
  
  Zoom Registration
View in calendar

April 14, 2026

Ancestry.com at a Glance in-person Event

April 14, 2026 1:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Central Park Library, 2635 Homestead Rd, Santa Clara, CA 95051, USA

Navigating Ancestry.com can be overwhelming, but this class will help you make the most of its powerful tools. Explore this vast database of millions of records and learn to create your own free Ancestry.com account.

This hands-on session will guide you through starting your family tree, performing basic searches, and understanding how to use (and when to ignore) Ancestry.com’s hints, suggested records, and member trees.

Our classes are always free and open to the public.

Note: If possible, bring your own laptop with a full battery. If you need to borrow a laptop, email email scchgsseminar@gmail.com in advance. Tablets are not recommended for this session.

Accessibility: If you would like to use one of the library’s adaptive hearing devices, please email scchgsseminar@gmail.com in advance.

Registration is required at Eventbrite. Registration will open 6 weeks before the class date.

View in calendar
SCCHGS Board Meeting - Zoom Event

April 14, 2026 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

The SCCHGS Board meets on Zoom most months on the 2nd Tuesday. All members are welcome to attend. Email president@scchgs.org for a link.

View in calendar

April 21, 2026

Writing SIG - in-person event

April 21, 2026 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Heritage Pavilion, Central Park Library, 2635 Homestead Rd, Santa Clara, CA 95051, USA
Our Writing SIG is a discussion group that meets to share writing and get feedback from other writers. If you would like a small support group to help or share your writing on family history or local history, this may be the group for you. This is not a class but working writing group.

Our events are free and open to the public. There is no need to register, just show up.

Upcoming meeting dates:
- April 21, 2026
- May 19, 2026
- June 16, 2026
View in calendar
Migration Pathways Between Canada and the United States You Haven’t Considered by Kathryn Lake Hogan - Zoom Event

April 21, 2026 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm

Online meeting via Zoom, register here.

Migration between Canada and the U.S. wasn’t always straightforward. Families crossed the border repeatedly, drawn by opportunities, community, and survival. Explore lesser-known cross-border movements, from New England Planters to Black Loyalists, lumber workers, and Depression-era families, and learn how to track them through records in both countries. Develop practical strategies to uncover hidden migration stories in your family tree.

A native of Southwestern Ontario, Canada, Kathryn Lake Hogan, UE, PLCGS, is a professional genealogist and educator with deep roots in Canada through her five Loyalist ancestors. Since founding Looking4Ancestors in 2007, Kathryn has helped family history researchers discover their Canadian ancestry, blending her expertise with an approachable and insightful teaching style.

A recording of Kim's presentation and handout will be available in the Members Area on www.scchgs.org until 20 April 2027.

View in calendar

May 12, 2026

SCCHGS Board Meeting - Zoom Event

May 12, 2026 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

The SCCHGS Board meets on Zoom most months on the 2nd Tuesday. All members are welcome to attend. Email president@scchgs.org for a link.

View in calendar

May 19, 2026

Writing SIG - in-person event

May 19, 2026 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Heritage Pavilion, Central Park Library, 2635 Homestead Rd, Santa Clara, CA 95051, USA
Our Writing SIG is a discussion group that meets to share writing and get feedback from other writers. If you would like a small support group to help or share your writing on family history or local history, this may be the group for you. This is not a class but working writing group.

Our events are free and open to the public. There is no need to register, just show up. Our next meetings are:
- May 19, 2026
- June 16, 2026
- July 21, 2026
- August no meeting
View in calendar
The Journey: Mapping Your Ancestors by Carla Zimowsk - Zoom Event

May 19, 2026 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm

Online meeting via Zoom, register here.

Trace your ancestors’ journeys using mapping tools like Google Earth, ArcGIS, and built-in mapping features of genealogy software. Explore ancestral homes and neighborhoods through current and historical maps, discover their F.A.N. (friends, associates, neighbors) networks, and learn about key resources such as the David Rumsey Map Collection, Sanborn Fire Maps, and Bureau of Land Management Maps. Basic map skills are helpful.

Carla Zimowsk holds a Masters in Information Studies from Rutgers University, a Certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston University and has been published in the Chicago Genealogist. Carla is owner of Ancestor Tech® LLC and specializes in teaching technology-focused genealogy classes.

A recording of Carla’s presentation will be available in the Members Area on www.scchgs.org until 19 November 2026.

View in calendar

June 4, 2026

Getting Organized for Genealogy - in-person event

June 4, 2026 1:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Redwood Room, Central Park Library, 2635 Homestead Rd, Santa Clara, CA 95051, USA

Struggling to organize your genealogy materials? This class offers practical strategies for organizing both physical and digital records and artifacts. Learn about various filing methods, digital file storage techniques, photo organization, and tech tools that can help with organization.

Get inspiration from experienced genealogists who will share examples of their organization systems, including binders, charts, photo books, and heirloom preservation examples. Not sure which genealogy software is best for you? This session will help you identify your needs and match them to the right program.

You’ll leave this class with fresh ideas and a clearer approach to organizing your genealogy.

Our classes are always free and open to the public.

Accessibility: If you would like to use one of the library’s adaptive hearing devices, please email beginners@scchgs.org in advance.

Registration required at EventBrite. Registration opens six weeks prior to class.

View in calendar

Consulting Calendar

Our volunteers offer free consulting and low-cost research services and continue to index local genealogical records not available elsewhere. All consulting is conducted at Heritage Pavilion, Central Park Library, 2635 Homestead Road in Santa Clara.