EDHGS HISTORY
In 2005, Trevor Thomas held the first meeting of El Dorado Hills Genealogy at a local supermarket with 12 people in attendance. He thought it would be a great way to share what he had learned, as well as learn from others, and he had the goal of raising funds for genealogy books for the local library. By 2008, Trevor realized that if the group was going to grow, he would need a lot more help. At that point, Dr. Gwynn Akin spearheaded the process of incorporating and forming a charitable nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization under federal and state laws. She initiated the following:
• July 1, 2008. El Dorado Hills Genealogical Society (EDHGS) was formed. EDHGS’ Founding Directors and Officers were: Dorothy Nesbitt, President; John Bronaugh, Vice President and Secretary; and Dr. Gwynn Akin, Treasurer.
• August 24, 2008. The Corporation was granted its Federal EIN, 01-0913428.
• Sep. 16, 2008. Members of the newly-created El Dorado Hills Genealogical Society met in the El Dorado Hills Library Community Room. By this date, members had completed several important, official tasks necessary to support its membership and mission, such as: registering a fictitious name; obtaining a Federal EIN; obtaining a checking account; obtaining a savings account; impaneling a board of directors; and, on Sep. 16, 2008, the EDHGS had 17 dues-paying members in good standing. *The meeting date of Sep. 16, 2008 is therefore officially recognized by the EDHGS as its Founders Day, to honor the original, founding members who formally stood up EDHGS into the organization that it is today.
• February 27, 2009. EDHGS’ federal designation as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization became effective.
• March 11, 2009. California’s Secretary of State certified the Society’s Articles of Incorporation. The Society’s SOS/FTB Corporate/Organization Number is 3191324.
Key Accomplishments:
• The EDHGS has participated in the annual Clarksville Days event every year since its inception in 2007.
• In 2014, the EDHGS applied for and received a $500 grant which was used to purchase books for the El Dorado Hills Branch Library.
• In 2015, the EDHGS began a project to get the Folsom Prison Cemetery information up on the Find A Grave website. This involved getting permission from the state to be on the property, photographing all of the headstones, researching each prisoner and then uploading the data onto the Find A Grave website. For more information, click HERE.
• In 2019, the EDHGS presesented its 1st Genealogy Day, which was planned to be an annual event held at the El Dorado Hills Branch Library.
• In 2019, EDHGS membership stood at approximately 80 members and the number of genealogy books in the El Dorado Hills Branch Library has grown from the original six to over 400.
• In 2020, EDHGS members assisted the Library and Research Room at Coloma's Marshall Gold Discovery Park with transcribing the 1893-1895 journal of the El Dorado County Administrator. The transcription detailed the death and burial of James Wilson Marshall, the man credited with discovering gold in California in 1848.
• June 20, 2026. The EDHGS presented its 2nd Genealogy Day at the El Dorado Hills Library. EDHGS researchers met with 20 people from our community, to assist them with their family research.
• Aug. 11, 2026. Through formal resolution, the EDHGS declared Sep. 16, 2008 as its official Founders Day, the day each year we recognize and honor the generous contributions and efforts of our founding members, all whom rallied around a common, shared enterprise: Genealogy!
• July 1, 2008. El Dorado Hills Genealogical Society (EDHGS) was formed. EDHGS’ Founding Directors and Officers were: Dorothy Nesbitt, President; John Bronaugh, Vice President and Secretary; and Dr. Gwynn Akin, Treasurer.
• August 24, 2008. The Corporation was granted its Federal EIN, 01-0913428.
• Sep. 16, 2008. Members of the newly-created El Dorado Hills Genealogical Society met in the El Dorado Hills Library Community Room. By this date, members had completed several important, official tasks necessary to support its membership and mission, such as: registering a fictitious name; obtaining a Federal EIN; obtaining a checking account; obtaining a savings account; impaneling a board of directors; and, on Sep. 16, 2008, the EDHGS had 17 dues-paying members in good standing. *The meeting date of Sep. 16, 2008 is therefore officially recognized by the EDHGS as its Founders Day, to honor the original, founding members who formally stood up EDHGS into the organization that it is today.
• February 27, 2009. EDHGS’ federal designation as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization became effective.
• March 11, 2009. California’s Secretary of State certified the Society’s Articles of Incorporation. The Society’s SOS/FTB Corporate/Organization Number is 3191324.
Key Accomplishments:
• The EDHGS has participated in the annual Clarksville Days event every year since its inception in 2007.
• In 2014, the EDHGS applied for and received a $500 grant which was used to purchase books for the El Dorado Hills Branch Library.
• In 2015, the EDHGS began a project to get the Folsom Prison Cemetery information up on the Find A Grave website. This involved getting permission from the state to be on the property, photographing all of the headstones, researching each prisoner and then uploading the data onto the Find A Grave website. For more information, click HERE.
• In 2019, the EDHGS presesented its 1st Genealogy Day, which was planned to be an annual event held at the El Dorado Hills Branch Library.
• In 2019, EDHGS membership stood at approximately 80 members and the number of genealogy books in the El Dorado Hills Branch Library has grown from the original six to over 400.
• In 2020, EDHGS members assisted the Library and Research Room at Coloma's Marshall Gold Discovery Park with transcribing the 1893-1895 journal of the El Dorado County Administrator. The transcription detailed the death and burial of James Wilson Marshall, the man credited with discovering gold in California in 1848.
• June 20, 2026. The EDHGS presented its 2nd Genealogy Day at the El Dorado Hills Library. EDHGS researchers met with 20 people from our community, to assist them with their family research.
• Aug. 11, 2026. Through formal resolution, the EDHGS declared Sep. 16, 2008 as its official Founders Day, the day each year we recognize and honor the generous contributions and efforts of our founding members, all whom rallied around a common, shared enterprise: Genealogy!