California Pioneer Certificate Program
Santa Barbara County Genealogical Society is proud to partner with the San Diego Genealogical Society and offer our members an opportunity to participate in a specialized California lineage program.
The program honors pioneers of the State of California who helped shape its future by offering ancestral recognition certificates. From early pioneers who settled in California before statehood, to those who experienced some of the state’s historical events, each has contributed to its historical legacy.
Two certificate types are available. The first certificate is the California Pioneer Certificate validating descendancy from a settler in California prior to its creation as a state in 1850.
The second is the California History Certificate validating descendancy from pioneers who experienced one of three historical events— the Gold Rush, the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906, or the California Missions prior to 1850 . Each certificate is accompanied by a Lineage Chart illustrating descendance from the applicant to the pioneer.
Members may apply for one or more of these certificates by submitting a completed application form for each pioneer, copies of original documents showing evidence of direct descendance from that pioneer in one or more of the categories described above along with the application fee. Members that also belong to the San Diego Genealogical Society pay a reduced fee. Discounts for multiple certificates are available. Fees are non-refundable if your documentation does not sufficiently substantiate your direct descendance.
This program is developed and managed by the San Diego Genealogical Society. Resources are on their website, and periodic Zoom meetings assist with completing your documentation package. Upon successfully earning a certificate, your ancestor will be memorialized on the Wall of California Pioneer Profiles on their website.
SBCGS members may download the application form with instructions from the Member Resources area of our website.