Washington State Archives

Digital Archives

The nation's first archives dedicated to the preservation of electronic records from both state and local agencies. Located in Cheney, Washington on the Eastern Washington University Campus. It is the storehouse for very important electronic records found thoughout the state and to provide simple access to researchers. Over 3.7 million records are available for research online, including marriage, naturalization, census, death, birth, and military.

Collections

• Audio Records 
• Auditor Misc Records
• Birth Records
• Cemetery Records
• Census Records
• Corporation Records
• Death Records
• E-Publications
• Frontier Justice
• Indian Census
• Institution Records
• Land Records
• Map Records
• Marriage Records
• Military Records
• Minutes and Meeting Records
• Miscellaneous Family History
• Naturalization Records
• Oaths of Office
• Ordinance Records
• Photographs
• Plats and Surveys Records
• Power of Attorney Records
• Professional License Records
• Real Property Record Cards
• Recorded Agreements and Contracts
• Resolution Records
• Superior Court Cases
• Trademark Records
• Uniform Commercial Code Recordings

There are three types of searches available. 

People Search: 

Researchers can search ALL records in the collections that have index fields that are name based.

Keyword Search:

Researchers can search on all other records that are NOT name based records.  Also a search can be done by selecting one of the records series from the drop down box to limit a search.

Detailed Search:

Researchers can select one record series and search on additional fields that are pertinent only to that records series.

State Archives

The collection consists of the papers of each governor, legislative records, court records, records from state agencies, "official records" of the state. Records from accounting, maps, natural resources, volunteer firemen, and more, including women's council. All the case files of the Washington Territorial District Court for 1853 to 1889 including civil, criminal and probate records.

Northwest Region

Northwest Regional Branch
Western Washington University, MS-9123
Bellingham, WA 98225-9123

NWBranchArchives@sos.wa.gov

Clallam, Island, Jefferson, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish, and Whatcom Counties

Southwest Region

Washington State Archives
Southwest Regional Branch
1129 Washington Street SE
PO Box 40238
Olympia, Washington 98504-0238

SWBranchArchives@sos.wa.gov

Clark, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Skamania, Thurston, and Wahkiakum Counties

Central Region

The Washington State Archives’ Central Region Branch is located on the campus of Central Washington University, at the northwest corner of 14th and D Streets in Ellensburg.

State Archives Central Branch
Bledsoe & Washington Archives Building
400 E. University Way
Mail Stop 7547
Ellensburg, Washington 98926-7547

CEBranchArchives@sos.wa.gov

Benton, Chelan, Douglas, Franklin, Grant, Kittitas, Klickitat, Okanogan, and Yakima Counties

Genealogical records include birth and death records from the turn of the nineteenth century, marriage records ca.1867-1997, naturalization records, probate records, and a lot of additional records such as pre-statehood county censuses, and school children censuses ca.1890-ca.1932. Completeness of these records in the Archives' holdings may vary from county to county.