|
|
Washington, the Evergreen State
Welcome to the Washington State Genealogical Society's website. We are here to help connect you with resources and services so you can advance your search for your Washington State ancestors and family history.
Nestled in the beautiful northwest corner of the U.S., Washington is a state with terrain from the vast Pacific Ocean, snow-capped Cascade Mountains and forested islands in Puget Sound to rolling wheat fields and an abundance of apples, pears, grapes and hops in Eastern Washington. While Seattle is Washington’s most recognized city, known for its booming tech industry, vibrant music scene and famed coffeehouses, the center of state government is in Olympia. State landmarks include Mt. Rainier, Mt. St. Helens, the Space Needle, and mighty Columbia River.
Washington became a state in November 1889 as the nation’s 42nd state and is the only state named after a U.S. President.
 |
Thornton F. McElroy, who, with J. W. Wiley, was the co-founder of Olympia's first newspaper, The Columbian, issued on September 11, 1852. Original cabinet card at the Washington State Historical Society. Photographer unknown. State Library Photograph Collection, 1851-1990, Washington State Archives, Digital Archives, http://www.digitalarchives.wa.gov. Accessed 11 July 2017.
For more information or to learn about related records, contact the Washington State Archives at (360) 586-1492, or email research@sos.wa.gov.
|
What's New
WSGS President Ginny Majewski and Vice President Donna Potter Phillips are conducting two local genealogical society management classes on Wednesday, August 16, 2017 at the Northwest Genealogy Conference in Arlington, WA. The classes are free, as are the beginning genealogy classes that day, but registration is required. Click here for more information about the society management classes.
WSGS Resources and Services
Blog: Sign up for our blog to keep current with the latest genealogical happenings and events in Washington State and the Pacific Northwest.
Event Calendar: Looking for a road trip? There are genealogical events and meetings all around the state, as well as neighboring states and British Columbia.
Local Society contacts: There are more than 30 local genealogical societies around the state waiting to help you in your research.
Pioneer and First Citizen Program: Begun in 1989 to celebrate Washington's centennial, the Pioneer and First Citizen Program memorializes those Washington citizens who were early residents of the state. Commemorative certificates are available upon residency proof, as well as an index of participants.
Resource Guides: Looking for resources in a specific county? Check out these comprehensive resource guides listing everything from chambers of commerce, and local government departments to libraries, churches and newspapers.
Speakers' Bureau: If you're looking for a speaker for a society meeting, workshop or seminar, visit our Speakers' Bureau page.
|
|
|
Bainbridge Island Genealogical Society
Friday - 07/21/2017
The program at the Bainbridge Island Genealogical Society's meeting on July 21 is "The Genealogical Proof Standard for Everyone" with Jill Morelli, C.G. The program is free to members; a $5 donation is suggested for non-members. For more information, visit ...
|
|
Puget Sound Genealogical Society
Saturday - 07/22/2017
The program at the Puget Sound Genealogical Society's meeting on July 22 is a webinar "Researching Ancestors in the Era of Freedom" with Angela Walton-Raji. Find record sets and maps reflecting the years after the Civil War and how they provide critical background ...
|
|
Coyote Reunion at the Wenatchee AppleSox Baseball Game
Sunday - 07/23/2017
You're invited to the happy reunion celebration of the AppleSox Coyote and the Wenatchee Area Genealogical Society's WAGS Coyote on Sunday, July 23 at the Paul Thomas Field in Wenatchee. Read more about this entertaining legend on the WAGS website ...
|
|
