Native Sons of The Golden West

Native Sons Of The Golden West

The Native Sons of the Golden West was founded July 11, 1875 by General A. M. Winn, a Virginian, as a lasting monument to the men and women of the Gold Rush Days. General Winn lived in California during the Gold Rush and was impressed with the spirit and perseverance of the "Forty-Niners." In speaking of his object in organizing the Order General Winn said "For twenty years my mind had been running on some lasting style of monument to mark and perpetuate the discovery of gold I could not think of anything that would not perish in course of time. At last it came to my mind that an Order composed of native sons would effect the object and be sustained by pride of parentage and place of nativity while it would be an imperishable memento an institution that would last through all time."

Founded in 1875, the chief objects of the Order as set forth in its constitution were, "To perpetuate in the minds of all native Californians the memories of the days of 49 to encourage a lively interest in all matters and measures relating to the promotion of the national interests and to the upbuilding of the State of California." Today, the Native Sons of the Golden West is open to membership from any native-born, current or former resident of California origin. The Native Sons of the Golden West is a charitable and fraternal organization. Organized locally into "Parlors," the group is perhaps best known for the large number of commemorative markers it has placed throughout the state.

They have a sister organization, the Native Daughters of the Golden West. The term Golden West is a common colloquialism for California, popularly known as the Golden State.

The Native Sons began as an organization "embracing only the sons of those sturdy pioneers who arrived on this coast prior to the admission of California as a state." In the 1920s, the Native Sons took two very different stances; one on Japanese internment and one on rights for Native Americans. In 1920, then Grand President William P. Canbu wrote that “California was given by God to a white people, and with God’s strength we want to keep it as He gave it to us.” By contrast, the Native Sons actively fought for California Native American rights. "As early as 1909, the Commonwealth Club of San Francisco was looking into the matter of Indian rights under the 18 treaties. And in 1924 a special section on Indian Affairs was formed for the purpose of making a complete study of the rights, wrongs, and present condition of California Indians. Another group that was active in this area was the Native Sons of the Golden West. Study committees were formed and publicity as to the needs of the California Indians appeared in its magazine, the California Grizzly Bear. In 1922 and again in 1925, there were articles of real importance in arousing public opinion..."

Today, the Native Sons now welcome native Californians of all races. The current organization has many Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans and African American members, some of who have served in the order's highest offices.