The Society of Mayflower Descendants in the State of California

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 2025 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

The California Mayflower Library & Office CLOSED.
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.
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MAINTAIN YOUR MEMBERSHIP!

DUES COLLECTION SEASON FOR 2026 WILL BEGIN ON OCTOBER 1, 2025 AND END ON DECEMBER 30, 2025.

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

The California State Society will send an invoice by email to your address in our records. Paper invoices will be sent ONLY to those members with NO email address. Please update your preferred email address with us well before October 1st, so you do not miss the invoice.

So, please look for your invoice beginning October 1, 2025

The invoices give instructions to pay online or by check.

The new edition of
The California Mayflower Quarterly has arrived!

See the newly-published Spring 2025 Quarterly for exciting updates:

In this exciting packed issue:

Memorial for Judith Marie Swan, Former Governor General of the GSMD - By Marcia Maloney, page 2
Memorial for Judith Marie Swan - By Lea Sinclair Filson, Former Governor General of the GSMD - page 3
California Mayflower Society Officer Reports - page 5
Update from the BOA Meeting in San Jose, CA - page 8
State News - Slate of Proposed Officers for the 2025 - 2027 Term - page 10
Registration for June Membership Meeting - Active California Members are encouraged to attend! - page 15
Proposed Bylaws Revisions to be ratified at the June 2025 Membership Meeting - Page 16
More State Officer Reports - page 17
CA Members' Contributions to the GSMD - page 19
Exciting Colony News and Updates - page 22
In Memoriam - page 32
New Members and Supplementals - page 33
Mayflower Society Vietnam War Era Service Commemoration - page 35
Mayflower America 250th Birthday Pilgrims to 250 Patriots - What is Your Pilgrims to 250 Patriots Story (part 1) - by Ben Hobbins
"Outstanding Partner" Commendation to Ben Hobbins - page 38
"More Family: More Simple Math" - by Louise Walsh Throop - 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 20.

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