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SFgenealogy began as a small internet website in 1996 and celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. This completely free website provides family history and historical resource information, tips, links and a large amount of data primarily for the San Francisco Bay Area. The website and its founders, Ron Filion and Pamela Storm, have been referenced, interviewed and cited in various media including documentary films, books, magazines and local news. The presentation will give an overview of the website, explore its major databases and discuss the joys and challenges of operating such a website.

Ron Filion has been interested in genealogy since he first started working on his Boy Scout merit badge. He graduated from San Francisco State University with a B.A. in Geography and is working as an analyst with the City and County of San Francisco. He recently published a book Buried Ships of San Francisco, an in-depth look at the Gold Rush ships buried under the City.

This program is part of the Genealogy and Family History Symposium 2026, a two-day conference presented by the San Francisco Public Library (SFPL) and the California Genealogical Society (CGS), featuring speakers from SFPL, CGS, the Oakland FamilySearch Center, SFgenealogy and other organizations presenting on a wide range of topics.

See the full two-day schedule.