Santa Barbara, CA — The Santa Barbara County Genealogical Society invites the public to its free monthly meeting on Saturday, September 19, featuring a panel of four local archivists who “open the vaults” of their respective collections and share tips on using their archives for genealogy research.
About the Panelists:
- Fr. Jack Clark Robinson, O.F.M., Ph.D., Executive Director, Santa Barbara Mission Archive-Library
- Founded in 1967, the Santa Barbara Mission Archive-Library holds primary documents, sacramental registers, and rare photographs on the Franciscan missions, Indigenous populations, and California’s settlement.
- Chris S. Ervin, Archivist, Gledhill Library, Santa Barbara Historical Museum
- The Gledhill Library holds over 40 collections on Santa Barbara County, California, and Western American history.
- Clara Lum, Archivist, Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum & Parks-Janeway Carriage House
- The Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum preserves historical objects, photographs, documents, and ephemera reflecting the region’s diverse cultures.
- Dez Alaniz, Director, Presidio Research Center, Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation
- The Presidio Research Center holds collections on local history, archaeology, and historic preservation.
When and Where:
- Saturday, September 19, 2026 | 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
- Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 909 N. La Cumbre Road, Santa Barbara
- Virtual attendance via Zoom is available with advance registration at SBGen.org.
The event is free and open to the public.
Event Schedule:
Doors open at 9:30 a.m. for refreshments and informal discussions with the Society’s Special Interest Groups, covering a variety of topics from getting started in genealogy to writing family histories. A short business meeting begins at 10:30 a.m., followed by the featured presentation at 11:00 a.m.
About the Santa Barbara County Genealogical Society:
The Santa Barbara County Genealogical Society helps people discover, document, and preserve their family histories. The Society operates a research library at 316 Castillo Street with over 16,000 books, a computer lab with access to eight subscription genealogy websites, research assistance, and classes for all levels. Annual memberships start at $40. Learn more and become a member at SBGen.org.
