History of the Soceity

The history of The St. Andrew’s Society of Oakland has been very much related to the varying waves of Scottish immigration over the past one hundred years and more into California, initiated by changing social and economic conditions and events in Britain, particularly in Scotland and stimulated by the attractive economic growth in California.  California was the land of golden opportunity, while Scotland was in decline.

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The California Gold Rush was a catalyst for this area of America and led to the development and growth of San Francisco in the 1850’s.  San Francisco tripled its population in the 1860’s. Scottish immigrants associated with each other, keeping their cultural and traditional links, and founded several Societies and Clubs that still remain over 150 years later.

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The St, Andrew’s Society of Oakland was founded on May 3rd, 1878 with 60 charter members, AND WAS The first Scottish association established in the East Bay.  Founded as a benevolent organization to fulfill a sacred obligation to aid the unfortunate among our countrymen, or their families, who may have settled here.

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Many of the charter members of the Society were members and officers of more than one association. THE St. Andrews Society of San Francisco was founded in 1863; and the Caledonian Club of San Francisco in 1866. Due to the development of Oakland and the East Bay in the 1870’s, there was sufficient strength to start an organization in the East Bay.  IN 2024,  the name of the society was changed to The St. Andrew's Society of the East Bay in order to reflect the growing East Bay and our service to all communities THROUGOUT.

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​Henry H. Haight, born in Rochester, New York 1825 – Governor of California between 1867 and 1871, became a member of THE St Andrew’s Society of San Francisco in 1863 and was briefly a member of St Andrew’s Society of Oakland in 1878 until he died Sept 2nd at age of 53 from heart disease.

 

Archibald McKinley, was a founding member and our first President in 1879 through 1880 and again in 1887. He was also President of THE St Andrew’s Society of San Francisco in 1878 and 1882.

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Thomas Stead joined the St Andrew’s Society of Oakland in 1903 and became a member of THE St. Andrew’s Society of San Francisco in 1907.

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The Society holds annual Burns nights, St. Andrews Day celebrations And annual picnics.  Our first annual ball was held on Dec 3rd, 1878.  Tickets were $2.00 with a resultant surplus of $29.00.

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The Society has been and still is very active in the support of OUR local Highland Games held in Pleasanton every Labor Day Weekend. We did run our own games in 1880, but we lost $42.54 and decided that was enough.  Never again.  The decision then remains to support the Caledonian Club of San Francisco in their primary function in the Bay Area, RUNNING THE SCOTISH GAMES.

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THE St. Andrews Society of Oakland is organized as a benevolent organization and is recognized as a non-profit organization and tax-exempt under section 501(c)4 of the Internal Revenue Code.