World Archives Project

We called it the “California Biographical Collection – Burial Records” while we were working on it.  Released today, the California Mortuary and Cemetery Records, 1801-1932 marks the 45th indexing project completed by the Ancestry World Archives Project community in just 28 months.  And, like all databases created by these contributors, the index is available to all to search for free.  (Click here for a complete list of all completed AWAP projects and to see the 67 other projects we’re still working on.)

Containing the names of over 49,000 individuals, this database has mortuary and cemetery records from all over Northern California, with specific concentration in San Francisco, El Dorado, and Tehama counties.  We keyed the name, age or birth date and place, death date and place, and burial place  from each of the images.  Once you’ve found who you are looking for in the index be sure to click through to the image.  Many of them contain additional details including parents’ names, occupations, cause of death and more.

My personal thanks to the 630 community members who contributed their time and expertise to indexing this particular project.  I have many relatives buried in Northern California.  I know how I’ll be spending my evening.

Happy searching – oh, uh…I mean, Keying!