Gilroy Genealogy and Local History Information

• Family History Centers/Family Search:

Operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Later-Day Saints. The San Jose FHC is the Regional Center for the San Jose area. The San Jose Center has the 1850 Census for the entire United States, and many other resources. (Note: locations below are not mailing addresses. Due to limited staff, Family History Centers are unable to respond to mail inquiries.)
 

Hollister:
1670 Cienega Rd
Hollister, San Benito, California
Phone: 831.637.4917
Hours: T,Th 9am-3pm, 6pm-9pm; Wed 12pm-3pm 6pm-9pm
Closed Major Holidays

Milpitas:
3110 Cropley Ave
San Jose, Santa Clara, California
Phone: 408.259.5762
Hours: T,Th 7pm-9pm
Closed: Thanksgiving; 2 weeks over Christmas & New Years.

San Jose:
4977 San Felipe Rd
San Jose, Santa Clara, California
Phone: 408.274.8592
Hours: Tues: 9am-3pm & 7pm-9pm; Wed: 7pm-9pm; Thurs: 9am-3pm, Sat 10am-1pm
Closed: 4/4, 7/4, 10/3, 11/25-11/28, 12/22-1/2/10 Call ahead on Saturdays

Santa Clara:
875 Quince Ave
Santa Clara, Santa Clara, California
Phone: 408.241.1449
Hours: T-F 9am-4pm, 7pm-9:30pm; Sat 12pm-4pm .

• Gilroy Historical Museum:

195 W. 5th Street at Church; 408.846.0446. (Inquiries may also be emailed to: gilroy.museum@ci.gilroy.ca.us.) The Museum is open Tuesday and Thursday, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and on the first Saturday of each month, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Founded in 1958, the Museum is located in the historic Carnegie Library Building erected in 1910. The Museum houses exhibits, research facilities, archives, and issues of Gilroy newspapers (including the Gilroy Dispatch), dating back to 1868.

• Gilroy History:

Information on local history can be found on the City of Gilroy's "Community History" Web page, or on the Gilroy Visitor's Bureau "About Gilroy" Web page.

• San Benito County Historical Society:

  498 Fifth Street, Hollister; 831.645.0335
  Historical information about San Benito County and genealogical information on local families.

• San Juan Bautista Historical Society:

  The San Juan Bautista Historical Society Luck Museum is open Saturdays 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. & by appointment. Phone: 831.623.2001.
  
  Post-Mission era 19th century Mexican and American historic materials, as well as documents, photographs, maps, and artifacts from San Juan Bautista's early history. Resources also include 19th and 20th century newspapers, as well as historic survey records of the adobes and old buildings of San Juan Bautista. Luck Museum and Library hours are by appointment, only.

• Santa Clara County Historical and Genealogical Society:

Central Park Library (Santa Clara City system)
2635 Homestead Road, Santa Clara, CA 95051
Supports and maintains the genealogical collection of Santa Clara City Public Library, collects documents and manuscripts, passenger lists, local records, and preserves family histories. See SCCPL website for hours.

• The Santa Clara County Library Genealogy Page:

Explore our Genealogy page for links to many on-line resources and tips to better help you research your family history.