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.
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| A group of women quilting in Adams County, WA. Date unknown. A. M. Kendrick Photograph Collection, Washington State Archives, Digital Archives, Susan Parish Photograph Collection, 1889-1990, http://www.digitalarchives.wa.gov. Accessed 04 May 2026. |
What's New
The Pioneer Pursuit program continues. We are collecting the names and genealogies of every man, woman and child who lived in Washington Territory on or before 11 Nov 1889 -- the date the territory became the 42nd state. For more information about Pioneer Pursuit, click here.
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 with 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.
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Genealogy Chat
Tuesday - 05/19/2026
The Tacoma-Pierce County Genealogical Society is holding a Genealogy Chat. This is a monthly opportunity to connect with others and talk about anything and everything genealogical. The value of this meeting increases with the participation of each person that attends and ...
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From Territory to State: Records You Might Miss - Fiske
Wednesday - 05/20/2026
The Fiske Genealogical Library is sponsoring "From Territory to State: Records You Might Miss" with Sylvia Doolos. As our nation grew, territories began keeping records to achieve statehood. Let's look at records and research strategies that can help you. For ...
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Unusual Places to Find Irish Births & Naturalizations in American Records -- HQRL
Thursday - 05/21/2026
Heritage Quest Research Library is sponsoring a class "Unusual Places to Find Irish Births & Naturalizations in American Records with Debra Dudek. Debra explains how and where to widen your search for your Irish ancestors birth date, place of origin, and their ...
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