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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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Sculptor James Washington, Jr. at the dedication of "Vertebrae" at the Seattle First National Bank. Circa 1970 - 1972. State Library Photograph Collection, 1851-1990, Washington State Archives, Digital Archives, http://www.digitalarchives.wa.gov, accessed : 17 Feb 2021. For more information or to learn about related records, contact the Washington State Archives at (360) 586-1492, or email research@sos.wa.gov.
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What's New
A federal judge has granted a preliminary injuction to stop the sale of the Northwest Regional National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). On 12 Feb 2021, Judge John C. Coughenour, Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, announced that he would agree to block the sale of the NARA facility with a preliminary injunction because Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s coalition was "likely to prevail" in its lawsuit asserting that the federal government acted unlawfully when it moved to sell the National Archives facility and scatter the archival records thousands of miles away. WSGS supports the Attorney General and coalition's efforts. Click here to read a copy of the WSGS letter of support.
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.
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Oklahoma Genealogical Society
Monday - 03/01/2021
The Oklahoma Genealogical Society March 2021 Monthly Meeting speaker, Brian Rhinehart, will present “I Have a Civil War Ancestor...Now What?”. This meeting is free of charge to members and non-members and we invite you to attend! Here is the link ...
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Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group
Wednesday - 03/03/2021
The Seattle Genealogical Society is hosting its "Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group" on 03 Mar 2021 from 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. Join the group for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to ...
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Mason County Genealogical Society
Thursday - 03/04/2021
The Mason County Genealogical Society meets on the first Thursday of each month. For more information, visit their website.
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