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 established. 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.
• 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 started its own Genealogy Day which is 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.
• By 2026, EDHGS membership dropped and contracted, primarily due to the after effects of COVID. We’re a smaller group now, but still going strong and always enthusiastic about genealogy and helping others research their families!
• July 1, 2008. El Dorado Hills Genealogical Society (EDHGS) was established. 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.
• 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 started its own Genealogy Day which is 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.
• By 2026, EDHGS membership dropped and contracted, primarily due to the after effects of COVID. We’re a smaller group now, but still going strong and always enthusiastic about genealogy and helping others research their families!