Washington Archives, Libraries, and Societies

This entry was originally written by Dwight A. Radford for Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources.

This article is part of the Washington Family History Research series.

History of Washington

Washington Vital Records

Census Records for Washington

Background Sources for Washington

Washington Maps

Washington Land Records

Washington Probate Records

Washington Court Records

Washington Tax Records

Washington Cemetery Records

Washington Church Records

Washington Military Records

Washington Periodicals, Newspapers, and Manuscript Collections

Washington Archives, Libraries, and Societies

Washington Immigration

Ethnic Groups of Washington

Washington County Resources

Map of Washington

Washington State Archives

520 Union Ave. SE
P.O. Box 40220
Olympia, WA 98504-0220
http://www.secstate.wa.gov/archives

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
www.ewu.edu/era/

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
www.cwu.edu/~archives/

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 Library

Point Plaza East
6880 Capitol Blvd.
Tumwater, WA 98501
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 42460
Olympia, WA 98504-2460
www.statelib.wa.gov

Seattle Public Library

1000 Fourth Ave.
Seattle, WA 98104
www.spl.org

Tacoma Public Library

Northwest Room
1102 Tacoma Ave. South
Tacoma, WA 98402
www.tpl.lib.wa.us/v2/

Washington State Historical Society

1911 Pacific Ave.
Tacoma, WA 98402
www.wshs.org/

Washington State Genealogical Society

P.O. Box 1422
Olympia, WA 98507-1422
www.rootsweb.com/~wasgs/

The website has county research guides online.

The Washington GenWeb Project at www.rootsweb.com/~wagenweb/ has links to the major libraries, archives, and societies. State Library provides access to catalogs statewide.