The Society of Mayflower Descendants in the State of California

The California Mayflower Library & Office CLOSED
until further notice.
Though the library will not be open to the public, should a member desire to visit the library, please make an appointment by calling the office number (510-451-9599).

Browse Our Catalog

The California Genealogical Society Library,
across the hallway, is open on the following schedule:

Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays: 10a-12:30p and 1-3:30pm.

ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA MAYFLOWER SOCIETY:

The Society of Mayflower Descendants in the State of California is a non-profit lineage society dedicated to preserving the history of our Mayflower ancestors through education and research. We are active participants in the documenting of tens of thousands of Mayflower ancestral lines which may otherwise be lost to history. Members are also provided an opportunity for fellowship with others who share a common ancestry and are interested in advancing awareness in the history and contributions of the Pilgrims.

Members of our society have proven their line(s) of descent from one or more passengers who in 1620 sailed on the merchant ship, Mayflower, from England to what is now Plymouth Massachusetts. To learn about joining see the list of fifty-one passengers who left descendants and the Forms necessary to begin the process.

The Society of Mayflower Descendants in the State of California maintains a headquarters and library in Oakland, California, but the membership is distributed throughout fourteen colonies statewide. See the map on our State Colonies page showing the general areas where a colony meets nearest you.

To volunteer or donate to the Society of Mayflower Descendants in the State of California please send your correspondence or contact us at our headquarters and library in Oakland, California.

To see the current list of California Mayflower State Officers and Colony Governors, please click this link here, or view the Contacts Link in the tab above.

There are many activities going on around the State and Country. In our local Colonies, there are 2023 events occurring now or in the planning stages. Please check out our Colony Contact Page to find a local Colony near you to see what they may be doing.

All pictures below taken by Scott Miller, Plymouth, MA - 2021

WAYS TO DONATE HERE for State 2024 Activities

Please click the button above to be taken to the page with the many ways of how to donate to the California Mayflower Society.

The State Marketplace is TEMPORARILY CLOSED with our offers on Commemorative Items.

What's New

EMERGENCY MEMBERSHIP MEETING - Virtual
December 14, 2024, 10:00 a.m. (LINK TO ATTEND)

MAINTAIN YOUR MEMBERSHIP!

DUES COLLECTION SEASON FOR 2025 BEGAN ON OCTOBER 1, 2024 AND ENDS ON DECEMBER 1, 2024.

(NOTE: Newly approved members to the California Mayflower Society will be considered paid for the next year's dues if approved after July 1st of any given year.)

The California State Society has invoiced by email to your address in our records. Paper invoices have been sent ONLY to those members with NO email address. Look for your invoice beginning October 1 2024

The invoices give instructions to pay online or by check.

The new edition of
The California Mayflower Quarterly has arrived!

See the newly-published Fall 2024 Quarterly for exciting updates:

In this packed issue:

Updates from the California Executive Board Officers.
Updates from the General Society BOA in Asheville
"In the Footsteps of the Pilgrims": The Mayflower Heritage Tour, by Sylvia Dilgard - page 8
"The Other Half of the Story", by Jay Williams - page 12
GSMD 1620 Club - page 13
Important Annual Dues Payment Information - page 16
2025 State Scholarship Announcement! - Chair, Billie Mitchell - page 18
GSMD Passenger Inheritance Program "PIP" - How to "inherit" proven ancestors from other family members - page 19
New Members and Supplementals approved from July 2, 2024 - Sept 27, 2024 - page 20
In Loving Memory - Those Mayflower cousins who have recently left us - page 21
Exciting Colony News and Updates - page 24
"Where is the Marriage Record I need for my Mayflower Application?", by Louise Walsh Throop - page 37
"Minor Corrections to the Summary of the Early Life of Richard Warren," by Louise Walsh Throop - page 38
"Mayflower Society Volunteers" - By Harvey Soldan page 39

NOTE: If you would like to submit an article about our Mayflower Ancestors, or something particularly interesting in history to appear in a future California Mayflower Quarterly, should space permit, please note the submission timing for each issue on page 23.

To help us fulfill our financial commitments and support the many activities of The Society of Mayflower Descendants in the State of California, please directly donate below:

Our 2020 Rose parade float

We hope you saw our beautiful float in the 2020 Tournament of Roses Rose Parade that aired again on New Year's Day 2021, due to the 2021 parade being cancelled for safety reasons during the pandemic.

The GSMD "Voyage of Hope - 1620", by Fiesta Floats, won the "Americana Award" for the "Most Outstanding Depiction of National Treasures and Traditions".

It was a stunning float and made such an impact on all who saw it. For those who rode on it, it was a one-in-a-lifetime moment that will last with us forever.

All pictures of Rose Parade Float are by: Bill Peters

(All Photos of Mayflower Float in Rose Parade taken by Bill Peters - used by permission)

There are more pictures taken of the whole process from our initial consultations with Fiesta Floats to the final sailing down the boulevard on the Voyage of Hope - 1620. Be sure to check out the progress of the float in pictures here.

A 501 (c)(3) Educational Charity

Header Photo:
Plymouth Village Historic District, Mayflower Replica By: John8v12_https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Plymouth_Village_Historic_District,_Mayflower_Replica.jpg (Used under a Creative Commons License) Image enhanced and cropped