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.
 |
Great Blue Heron at Edmonds Marsh, 2014. Photographer: William E. Anderson. William E. Anderson Photographs, A Year at Edmonds Marsh,Washington State Archives, Digital Archives, http://www.digitalarchives.wa.gov, accessed : 08 Aug 2022. 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
Check out local societies' meetings and events on this page. Many of the events are via Zoom and available to everyone. If your society would like to have your event published on our website and blog, please email WSGSBlog@wasgs.org.
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.
|
|
Celtic Connections Conference
Saturday - 07/09/2022
Held every two years, the Celtic Connection Conference brings together well-known international and domestic speakers who present on Irish, Scots-Irish, Scottish and Welsh topics. Sponsored by the Irish Ancestral Research Association (TIARA) and the Irish Genealogical Society International (IGSI). ...
|
|
Technical User Group
Monday - 08/15/2022
The South King County Genealogical Society is hosting its Technical User special interest group (TUG). This month's program is "Digital Organization and File Structure." Resources: 6 Tips for Organizing Your Digital Genealogy Files: https://www.familytreemagazine.com/organization/organizing-digital-genealogy-files/ TUG is for sharing knowledge and learning about ...
|
|
Genealogy: Eastern Europe Border Changes
Tuesday - 08/16/2022
Anyone researching their family history in Eastern Europe probably has faced the challenges that changing borders present. In this program, Edie Adam will use findings from her family history research to demonstrate the key factors -- time and place -- ...
|
|
