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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ONB Baseball Team, Ritzville,1957, Photographer unknown. A.M. Kendrick Photographic Collection, ca. 1890-1976. Imaged and indexed by Eastern Region Branch staff, Washington State Archives, Eastern Region. All original prints and negatives are housed at the Eastern Region of the Washington State Archives, Cheney, WA. On-line 2008Washington State Archives, Digital Archives, http://www.digitalarchives.wa.gov, accessed: 21 Oct 2025. 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
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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Technical User Group
Monday - 11/17/2025
The South King County Genealogical Society is hosting its Technical User special interest group (TUG). This month's program is "How to Add and Use Browser Extensions for Genealogy." The Tech Users Group is for sharing knowledge and learning about technology ...
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Genealogy Help
Thursday - 11/20/2025
Do you have genealogy questions? The South King County Genealogical Society offers one-on-one help with a volunteer. Registration not required. In-person event. More information at King County Library, email kcls-auburn@kcls.org
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Genealogy Help
Thursday - 11/20/2025
Do you have genealogy questions? The South King County Genealogical Society offers one-on-one help with a volunteer. Registration not required. In-person event. More information at King County Library, email kcls-auburn@kcls.org
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