Washington Societies and Archives

The Repositories in this section are Archives, Libraries, Museums, Genealogical and Historical Societies. Many County Historical and Genealogical Societies publish magazines and/or news letters on a monthly, quarterly, bi-annual or annual basis. Contacting the local societies should not be over looked. State Archives and Societies are usually much larger and better organized with much larger archived materials than their smaller county cousins but they can be more generalized and over look the smaller details that local societies tend to have. Libraries can also be a good place to look for local information. Some libraries have a genealogy section and may have some resources that are not located at archives or societies. Also, take a special look at any museums in the area. They sometimes have photos and items from years gone by as well as information of a genealogical interest. All these places are vitally important to the family genealogist and must not be passed over.

Washington Genealogical Archives

 

It is wise to acquaint yourself with any repository which you might visit by writing to the appropriate archive or library in advance. Every repository has published materials that introduce its collections and research policy. State archives and historical agencies also have Internet sites that provide the same information. Some even have downloadable databases for some or parts of their collections.

• Washington State Archives, 520 Union Ave. SE, P.O. Box 40220, Olympia, WA 98504-0220
  The central repository receives and catalogs materials for the entire state, and publishes a number of guides to its various collections, the titles of which can be found on its website. Records of a local government nature are collected and preserved in the five regional branch archives, each serving several counties as follows:
  • Eastern Regional Branch—Washington State Archives, Eastern Washington University, 211 Tawanka, Cheney, WA 99004; Covers Adams, Asotin, Columbia, Ferry, Garfield, Lincoln, Oreille Pend, Spokane, Stevens, Walla Walla, and Whitman.
  • Central Regional Branch—Washington State Archives, Central Washington University, MS-7547, Ellensburg, WA 98926-7547; Covers Benton, Chelan, Douglas, Franklin, Grant, Kittitas, Klickitat, Okanogan, and Yakima.
  • Puget Sound Regional Branch—Washington State Archives, Pritchard-Fleming Bldg., 3000 Landerholm Circle SE, MS-N100, Bellevue, WA 98007-6484; Covers King, Kitsap, and Pierce.
  • Northwest Regional Branch—Washington State Archives, Western Washington University, MS-9123, Bellingham, WA 98225-9123; Covers Clallam, Island, Jefferson, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish, and Whatcom.
  • Southwest Regional Branch—Washington State Archives, 1129 Washington St. SE, P.O. Box 40238, Olympia, WA 98504-0238; Covers Clark, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Skamania, Thurston, and Wahkiakum.
• Washington State DIGITAL ARCHIVES
• Washington State Library, Point Plaza East, 6880 Capitol Blvd., Tumwater, WA 98501
  Mailing Address: P.O. Box 42460l, Olympia, WA 98504-2460
• The National Archives - Pacific Alaska Region - 6125 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, Washington 98115-7999; (Archival Research Room, Microfilm Research Room, Records Center Research Room)
• Seattle Public Library, 1000 Fourth Ave., Seattle, WA 98104
• Tacoma Public Library, Northwest Room, 1102 Tacoma Ave. South, Tacoma, WA 98402

Historical & Genealogical Societies

 

Because family history research relies greatly upon records found at the county level, many local societies represent counties. Organizations also form around shared interests. Ethnic or religious origins account for many groups. Societies also form around common locales of origin for members’ ancestors; hence, the Palatines to America and Germans from Russia societies.

For almost every state there is a state genealogical society, a state genealogical council, or both. In addition to their own work, state-level groups sometimes help coordinate the efforts of local societies within the state. Their publications, newsletters and quarterlies, supplement those produced by the local societies.

• Washington State Historical Society, 1911 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, WA 98402
  
• Washington State Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 1422, Olympia, WA 98507-1422. The website has county research guides online. The Washington GenWeb Project at has links to the major libraries, archives, and societies. State Library provides access to catalogs statewide.
• Washington Society of Daughters of the American Revolution
• National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution,
• Washington Society of Sons of the American Revolution,
• National Society of Sons of the American Revolution, 1000 South Fourth Street, Louisville, Kentucky 40203; (502) 589-1776
• Directories & Member Lists - Directories and member lists are typically compilations of information about people who belonged to various associations and groups or lived within city boundaries. They can be thought of as the predecessors to the modern-day phone book and usually list names, addresses, and sometimes the occupations of your ancestors.

Washington Genealogical Publications

See specific county page for Individual County List

Periodicals for the state of Washington can be of great genealogical value as they not only contain historical articles but often index cemeteries, church records, and censuses. Otherwise unknown Bible records and letters are additionally included in such periodicals. The Washington State Genealogical Society website has links to societies and their publications statewide. The Washington State Historical Society publishes Columbia magazine, which publishes a wide range of articles from a historical perspective. The historical society has an index for the articles published in Columbia.

Several major historical and genealogical collections are held by repositories throughout the state. The University of Washington has a large holding of manuscript collections that deal with such subjects as Washington politics and government, economic history, forestry, railroads, coal mines and mining, frontier life of Washington Territory, ethnic history, and labor history. These manuscript collections are open to outside use by permission. An inventory of the manuscript collections has been compiled by name and subject.

The University of Washington’s “Northwest Collection” holds material on such regional topics as northwest Native Americans, anthropology, history, and economic and social conditions of the Pacific Northwest. Special collections include diaries of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century explorers of the region and various western states documents. The “Northwest Collection” also includes periodicals, maps, pamphlets, and scrapbooks. Some of these can be obtained through a limited interlibrary loan. A subject index to regional periodicals and newspapers is available.

The Washington State University Library Manuscript Division in Pullman houses a large collection of manuscripts relating to eastern Washington and the Palouse Country, including papers of early business and farming pioneers. The Eastern Washington Historical Society, located in Spokane, has collections relating to eastern Washington and the Inland Empire, including the founding of Spokane and other communities, mining, agriculture, and hydrology. Gonzaga University in Spokane holds records relating to Jesuit missionary activity in the northwest and papers of local pioneers. The Whitman College Library in Walla Walla has papers of local pioneers with an emphasis on missionaries connected with the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions.

Several genealogical collections are available through the FHL. These include family records of pioneers as well as a large collection of compiled family Bibles and a collection entitled “Family Records and Reminiscences of Washington Pioneers prior to 1891,” both collections by the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).

• Search The PERiodical Source Index
• Newspapers & Periodicals - The Newspapers & Periodicals Collection lets you discover a wealth of information about your ancestors from many historical newspapers, magazines, and other periodicals. These types of sources can often supplement public records and provide information that is not recorded anywhere else. Here, you can learn more about your ancestor's possible daily activities by placing them in the context of their time.

Washington Newspapers

 

All extant Washington newspapers are on microfilm at the Washington State Library in Olympia. These are available through interlibrary loan. The library’s website has a catalog to its holdings that can be accessed by county, and links to current newspapers with some indexes to selected newspapers. Washington State University has a “Pacific Northwest Clippings Collection” online that consists of articles taken from newspapers from about 1900 to about 1942. Some 10,000 images have been digitized .

• Newspapers & Periodicals - The Newspapers & Periodicals Collection lets you discover a wealth of information about your ancestors from many historical newspapers, magazines, and other periodicals. These types of sources can often supplement public records and provide information that is not recorded anywhere else. Here, you can learn more about your ancestor's possible daily activities by placing them in the context of their time.
• Find your family history In The World's Largest Newspaper Archive! Find News, Births and Deaths - Find tens of millions of historical newspaper articles, dating back to 1759. Search for newspaper articles about a deadly earthquake or one that mentions a past relative. Newspaper articles are easily accessible with online research tools.
• Find Obituaries in The World's Largest Newspaper Archive at NewpaperArchive.com! - Find thousands of obituaries to help you research your family history. Search for a newspaper obituary about your ancestor or a celebrity. Begin your search today and find death notices and funeral announcements printed in newspapers throughout the world.
• Search Historical Newspapers (1690 - 1980) - Quickly find names and keywords in over 125 million articles, obituaries, marriage notices, birth announcements and other items published in more than 500,000 issues of over 2,500 historical U.S. newspapers. New content added monthly!