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WSGS - Washington State Genealogical Resource Guide
LDS RESEARCH OUTLINE - Washington
RECORDS OF THE FAMILY HISTORY LIBRARY
The Family History Library has some of the records listed in this
outline. The major holdings include cemetery, census, federal land, and
vital records. The library is presently acquiring additional records of
Washington counties, including cemetery, naturalization, probate, and
vital records.
Some of the sources described in this outline list the Family History
Library's book, microfilm, and microfiche numbers. These are preceded by
FHL, the abbreviation for Family History Library. These numbers are used
to locate materials in the library and to order microfilm and microfiche
at family history centers.
FAMILY HISTORY LIBRARY CATALOG
The library's records are listed in the Family History Library Catalog (FHLC)
found at the library and at each family history center. To find a
record, look in the locality section of the FHLC for:
- The place where your ancestor lived, such as:
UNITED STATES - CENSUS WASHINGTON - VITAL RECORDS WASHINGTON, KING -
HISTORY WASHINGTON, KING, SEATTLE - DIRECTORIES
- The record type you want to search, such as:
UNITED STATES - CENSUS WASHINGTON - VITAL RECORDS WASHINGTON, KING -
HISTORY WASHINGTON, KING, SEATTLE - DIRECTORIES
The section headings in this outline match the names of record types
used in the FHLC.
BIBLE RECORDS
The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) collection contains some
Bible records. This collection is described in the "Genealogy"
section of this outline and is partially indexed by E. Kay Kirkham, An
Index to Some of the Bibles and Family Records of the United States,
vol. 2 (Logan, Utah: Everton Publishers, 1984; FHL book Ref 973 D22kk
v.2).
Another publication that has a small number of Bible transcripts is
Bible Records... (Tacoma, Wash.: The Tacoma Genealogical Society, 1963;
FHL book 979.7 V29t; film 1,036,741, item 2).
BIOGRAPHY
Who's Who in Washington State:
A Compilation of Biographical Sketches of Men and Women Prominent in the
Affairs of Washington State (Seattle: H. Allen Pub, 1927; FHL film
1,000,645, item 5).
CEMETERIES
The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) collection contains
tombstone inscriptions from some Washington cemeteries. This collection
is described in the "Genealogy" section of this outline. Some
tombstone inscriptions are also published in periodicals. See the United
States Research Outline for further suggestions on locating cemetery
records.
A valuable published collection of tombstone inscriptions covering parts
of 12 counties is Cemetery Records of Washington, 6 vols. (N.p.:
1957-60; FHL book 979.7 V22p; films 824,254-56).
Transcripts of other cemetery records are listed in the FHLC under
specific counties.
CENSUS RECORDS
Federal
The Family History Library has the 1850 census of Oregon Territory that
included Washington, and a separate index of the portion that became
Washington. The library also has the U.S. federal censuses for
Washington Territory for 1860, 1870, and 1880 and for the state of
Washington for 1900 and 1910. The 1890 census has been destroyed. The
1890 veterans schedule and index are available at the Family History
Library and at the National Archives.
Indexes in book and microfiche format are available for the 1860, 1870,
and 1880 censues. A soundex (phonetic) index is available on microfilm
for part of the 1880 and all of the 1900 census. For 1910 the Family
History Library has a street index for Seattle (FHL fiche 6331481).
Mortality schedules exist for the 1850 (as part of Oregon Territory),
1860, 1870, and 1880 censuses. The mortality schedules for 1860 to 1880
are available at the DAR library in Washington D.C. and at the
Washington State Library. The Family History Library has copies of the
1850 to 1880 mortality schedules.
Territorial and State
In addition to the federal censuses, territorial and state censuses also
exist for a few counties for various years prior to 1892. These
generally include heads of households only. These partial censuses are
available only at the Washington State Library.
CHURCH RECORDS
Before 1900 the largest religious groups in Washington were the Baptist,
Roman Catholic, Methodist Episcopal, and Presbyterian churches. To help
you learn more about Church records in Washington,
see Guide to Church Vital Statistics Records in Washington (Seattle:
Historical Records Survey, 1942; FHL book 979.7 V2hr; fiche 6051172).
The Family History Library has very few church records from Washington.
Many denominations have collected their records in central repositories.
Baptist
American Baptist Historical Society 1106 South Goodman Street Rochester,
NY 14620
Methodist
Pacific Northwest Conference Depository United Methodist Church Collins
Memorial Library 1500 North Warner Tacoma, WA 98416
For a history of the Methodists in Washington see Erle Howell,
Methodisim in the Northwest (Nashville, Tenn.: Pacific Northwest
Conference Historical Society, 1966; FHL book 979 K21h).
Presbyterian
Presbyterian Historical Society United Presbyterian Church in U.S. 425
Lombard Street Philadelphia, PA 19147
For a history of the Presbyterians in Washington, see Robert Boyd, History
of the Synod of Washington of The Presbyterian Church in the United
States of America 1835-1909 (Seattle: The Synod, [1910?]; FHL book 979.7
K2p).
Roman Catholic
Archdiocese of Seattle Chancery Office 910 Marion Street Seattle, WA
98104
COURT RECORDS
Major Washington courts that have kept records of genealogical value
were established as follows:
Probate courts were the primary courts for probate matters until 1891,
when this responsibility was assumed by the superior courts. In some
areas, the probate court had concurrent civil and criminal
jurisdiction with the district courts.
Superior courts have had countywide jurisdiction over criminal cases and
major civil cases, juvenile matters, and probate matters.
District courts have district wide jurisdiction with the superior courts
over misdemeanors, preliminary hearings for felony cases, and minor
civil cases.
The Supreme Court has statewide appellate jurisdiction.
The Family History Library does not have copies of Washington court
records. They are available at the county courthouses, or some courts
have transferred their records to the Washington State Archives.
DIRECTORIES
Directories of heads of households have been published for major cities
in Washington. The FHL has directories for the following:
Seattle:
1872-1901 FHL film 1,377,464-72 1911, 1913, 1916-18, 1932, 1960, 1964,
1970, 1975, 1979 FHL book 979.777/S1 E4p
Spokane:
1910, 1913, 1915 FHL fiche 6046575 1916-18, 1923, 1939, 1955, 1960,
1966, and 1984 FHL book 979.737/S1 E4ph
EMIGRATION AND IMMIGRATION
In the early 1800s, traders and trappers came from Canada, Russia, Latin
America, and the United States into what is now Oregon and Washington.
In 1811 John Jacob Astor, an American, established the first white
settlement in Oregon. Most early settlements of the 1830s and 1840s were
in the Willamette River Valley. In 1843 more than 900 emigrants came to
Washington from Arkansas, Illinois, Missouri, and Iowa.
In the 1850s, gold was discovered in eastern Washington and prospectors
flocked in. Major Indian hostilities, however, slowed migration. In 1860
gold was found near Walla Walla, and this brought
another rush of prospectors, including large numbers of Chinese. After
1870 immigrants came from Germany, Scandanavia (especially Norway and
Sweden), Holland, Britain, and the Philippines. Many
Japanese immigrated to Washington starting in the mid-1880s.
The greatest influx of settlers started in the 1880s, when transport
by rail became possible. The first of three transcontinental
railroads to Washington was completed in 1888. Most of the settlers
of the 1880s and 1890s were from Wisconsin, Minnesota, and other
western, midwestern, and eastern states. Others came from Canada and
Europe.
The Family History Library has copies of passenger and crew lists from
Seattle (Port Townsend) from 1890 through 1921 (55 microfilms). Most
Washington immigrants arrived in the United States through the port of
New York or other east-coast ports. The Family History Library and the
National Archives have records from 1820 to 1940. See the United States
Research Outline for more information about these records.
GAZETTEERS
Several helpful gazetteers of Washington have been published, including:
Meany, Edmond S. Origins of Washington Geographic Names. 1923 reprint.
Detroit: Gale Research Co., 1968; (FHL book 979.7 E2m; fiche 6051179.)
R. L. Polk & Co. Oregon & Washington Gazetteer and Business
Directory. Seattle: R.L. Polk, 1909. (FHL film 1,000,367.)
Phillips, James W. Washington State Place Names. Seattle: University of
Washington Press, 1971. (FHL book 979.7 E2p.)
GENEALOGY
Most archives, historical societies, and genealogical societies have
special collections and indexes of genealogical value.
The most important genealogical collections for Washington have been
compiled by the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). The Family
History Library has three large sets of DAR compilations microfilmed at
the DAR Library in Washington, D.C. These are:
- 29 volumes of "Family Records and Reminscences of
Washington Pioneers Prior to 1899," microfilmed in 1955 and
1960 (12 films; index to the first 15 volumes is on FHL film 034,446).
- 12 volumes of "Genealogical and Historical Gleanings"
(FHL films 849,488-91) compiled from 1931 to 1959.
- 40 volumes of transcripts of Bible records, cemetery records, church
records, marriages, deaths, obituaries, and wills microfilmed in 1970
(22 films). Additional volumes compiled since 1970 are at the DAR
Library. Volumes 1 through 52 are indexed by Shirley Swart, comp., Index
to Washington State Daughters of the American Revolution...
(Yakima, Wash.: Yakima Valley Genealogical
Society, 1983; FHL book 979.7 D22y).
HISTORY
The following important events in the history of Washington affected
political boundaries, record-keeping, and family movements.
1800s
At the beginning of the nineteenth century, Spain, Russia, and England
all claimed what is now Washington.
1811
John Jacob Astor (American) established a trading post at Astoria. This
was the first settlement in this area.
1819
Spain withdrew her claims.
1825
Russia withdrew her claims.
1836
Marcus Whitman established the second white settlement near present-day
Walla Walla. Early settlement centered in the Willamette
valley.
1846
The present boundary between the United States and Canada was
established.
1848
The Oregon Territory was created. It included what is now Oregon,
Washington, Idaho, and parts of Montana and Wyoming.
1849
Settlers went farther north into the Puget Sound area to obtain food and
lumber that was needed in the California gold fields.
1850
The Oregon Donation Act was passed. This guaranteed land to those who
settled and cultivated land in the territory before 1855. This attracted
an estimated 30,000 new settlers.
1853
Washington Territory was created from the northern part of Oregon
Territory.
1859
Oregon became a state. Washington Territory was enlarged to include the
remaining Oregon territory not included in the new state.
1860
The discovery of gold near Walla Walla attracted many prospectors.
1863
The Idaho Territory was created from lands in eastern Washington
Territory.
1881
The Northern Pacific Railway reached Spokane.
1888
The transcontinental railroads reached Washington and brought a great
influx of settlers.
1889
Washington became a state. Seattle was the largest city and the chief
supply point for the gold rush to the Yukon territory in Alaska.
A helpful source for studying the history of Washington is Harvey K.
Hines, An Illustrated History of the State of Washington:
Containing... Biographical Mention of...its Pioneers and Prominent
Citizens... (Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co., 1893; FHL book 979.7 D3h;
film
1,000,637).
Background information on Washington counties is in Newton Carl Abbott
and Fred E. Carver, The Evolution of Washington Counties (N.p.: Yakima
Valley Genealogical Society & Klickitat County
Historical Society, 1978; FHL book 979.7 D25a; fiche 6051194). This is
listed in the FHLC under WASHINGTON - HANDBOOKS, MANUALS, ETC.
LAND AND PROPERTY RECORDS
Federal Land Records
Washington is a public land state. The area that now comprises the state
was part of the public domain and was admininistered by the federal
government through local land offices under the direction of the
Government Land Office (GLO), later known as the Bureau of Land
Management (BLM). The first land office in Washington was established at
Olympia in 1855.
The process of obtaining private title to government land is called land
entry. Settlers could acquire land in several ways:
- Donation land could be claimed by individuals who settled and
cultivated land before 1855. The Family History Library has a register
with indexes and abstracts of the Washington Donation Land Claims (FHL
film 418,160). This identifies each claim by name, local office, and
certificate number. It can be used to locate the original file. The
original files are at the National Archives and on
microfilm at the National Archives--Seattle Branch and at the Family
History Library (FHL films 1,492,243-258).
- Cash entries were granted for cash payment for the land. Anyone who
was twenty-one years old, or who was a head of household (including
widows) could purchase up to 160 acres of land.
- Homestead grants were obtained after 1862 by living on the land,
raising crops, and making improvements for five years. To be eligible,
an applicant either had to be a U.S. citizen or must have filed his
intention to become a citizen.
The land entry case files are usually the most helpful records to the
genealogist because they may provide names, dates of birth, date and
place of marriage, citizenship information, records of migration, and
other data. They are arranged according to the state, land office, type
of entry, and certificate number.
The National Archives has the land entry case files. To obtain a copy of
a file, you will need to provide the following information: name of the
person who filed, legal description of the land, patent number, date of
the patent, and land office of issuance.
The local GLO offices recorded the transactions for each section of land
in tract books. They also created township plats, which are maps of land
entries for each township. The original tract books and township plats
are at the National Archives. Microfilm copies of the tract books and
township plats are at the Family History Library and at the Oregon State
Office of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), 825 NE Multnomah Street,
Portland, OR 97208. Other local land office records are at the National
Archives--Seattle Branch.
After the settler completed the requirements for land entry, his case
file was sent to the General Land Office in Washington, D.C., where a
patent (or first-title deed) was issued. Patent records contain the
name of the entryman, the legal description of the land (including the
acreage) the date of patent, and other information. The Oregon State
Office of the BLM (address above) has the patent records.
County Land Records
After land was transferred from the government by sale or grant to
private ownership it could be sold again, inherited, lost by foreclosure
of a mortgage, or distributed through a divorce. These transactions are
recorded at a county courthouse in the form of deeds and mortgages. You
can obtain copies of these records by writing to the county auditor. The
Family History Library has not acquired copies of county land records
except for Clark County.
State Land Records
Water rights applications, permits, and certificates were issued by the
State Department of Ecology beginning in 1917. These records will be
found at either the Department of Ecology or the Washington State
Archives. The county auditor usually has copies. They generally provide
the same kinds of information as other land records.
MAPS
Several historical maps are found in Ralph N. Preston, Early Washington:
Overland Stage Routes, Old Military Roads, Indian Battle Grounds, Old
Forts, Old Gold Mines (Corvallis, Ore.: Western Guide Publishers, 1974 ;
FHL book Q 979.7 E3e).
The Family History Library has several maps of Washington. Larger
collections of maps are available at the University of Washington in
Seattle and Western Washington State College in Bellingham.
MILITARY RECORDS
Many of the federal military records you'll want to use are found at the
Family History Library, the National Archives, and other federal and
state archives. The United States Research Outline provides more
information regarding the federal records. For Washington, the following
sources are also very helpful:
Civil War
The Family History Library has the index to service records of Union
volunteers from Washington Territory (FHL film 821,948) and the federal
index to pension applications. The actual service and pension records
are available only at the National Archives. The library also has a copy
of a special census taken in 1890 of Union veterans of the Civil War (FHL
film 338,267).
Indian Wars
Muster rolls are available at the Washington State Archives. The Nation
al Archives and the Family History Library have the enlistment registers
of soldiers who served in the regular army from 1798 to 1884 (FHL films
350,307-49). Many of these soldiers served in the western states,
including Washington, during the Indian Wars. The enlistment registers
provide the soldier's rank, unit, commanders, physical description,
occupation, and birth place. The records are arranged by year and by the
first letter of the surname.
The Family History Library and the National Archives have an index to
soldiers who applied for pensions as a result of service in the Indian
Wars from 1817 to 1898 (FHL films 821,610-21). The pension records are
only available at the National Archives.
Additional Military Records
Histories and rosters of soldiers of the Washington Militia and National
Guard who served in the Indian Wars of the 1850s to the post-World War
II era, are in Virgil F. Field, Washington National
Guard Pamphlet: The Official History of the Washington National Guard, 3
vols. (Tacoma: Office of the Adjutant General, 1961; FHL book 979.7
M25w).
The Washington State Archives has other helpful records, including:
- Records of residents of the State Soldiers Home and State Veterans
Home up to the mid-1930s.
- Applications and supporting papers submitted by Washington veterans of
World Wars I and II for a state bonus. These often include information
about the soldier's residence, occupation, relatives, age, place of
birth, and enlistment.
- National Guard Statements of Service cards for guardsmen who
participated in World Wars I and II. These cards list the name of the
serviceman, last residence, date and place of enlistment, date and place
of birth, years of service, military organization attachment, rank, and
engagements.
NATIVE RACES
A wealth of genealogical information is available for the various Indian
tribes in Washington. Besides published histories, the Family History
Library has microfilm copies of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
records of births, marriages, deaths, censuses, schools, land
allotments, heirships, and family records. They are available from about
1887 to 1952 from agencies such as the Colville, Puyallup, Taholah,
Tylalip, and Yakima. The original documents are at the National
Archives--Seattle Branch.
An especially-useful source is the collection, Family Index Cards,
1938-1950, created by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Portland Area Office
(FHL films 1,028,470-471).
Records of American Indians are also listed in the subject section of
the FHLC under the names of the agency or tribe. Some of these tribes
are the Nez Perce, Yakima, and Chinook.
NATURALIZATION AND CITIZENSHIP
Naturalization records have been filed in various courts, usually with
the county clerk, who also served as the clerk of the superior court.
The Family History Library has not acquired any of the naturalization
files for Washington. You can obtain copies of declarations, petitions,
and proceedings from each county courthouse or federal court.
Naturalization records were often filed with donation and homestead land
records (see the "Land and Property" section). The
naturalization certificates in the donation land files were not
microfilmed but can be obtained from the National Archives.
For naturalization records filed after September 1906, contact the
National Archives--Seattle Branch or the local office of the Immigration
and Naturalization Service.
The Seattle Archives Branch has the records of the U.S. district and
circuit courts in Spokane, Seattle, and Tacoma from 1890 to 1957. It
also has records from 1853 to 1975 relating to naturalization in
terrritorial and other courts for King, Pierce, Snohomish, and Thurston
counties.
NEWSPAPERS
The Washington State Library is in charge of the Washington State
Newspaper Microfilm Project and maintains a large collection of
newspapers on film dating from the 1870s. A guide to this collection is
Katryn S. Hamilton, Newspapers on Microfilm in the Washington State
Library (Olympia: Washington State Library, 1980; not at FHL).
A guide for locating early newspapers is "Newspapers of Washington
Territory to 1890." This was published in volumes 13 (1922), 14
(1923), and 26 (1935) of the Washington Historical Quarterly (FHL book
979 B2pn.)
The Family History Library has not acquired copies of newspapers for the
state, but has a few published vital records abstracted from newspapers.
PERIODICALS
The major genealogical periodicals and magazines helpful for Washington
research include:
Washington Heritage. (formerly Washington State Genealogical and
Historical Review). 1982-. Published by Heritage Quest, Drawer 40,
Orting, WA 98630-0040. (FHL book 979.7 D25w.)
The Appleland Bulletin. 1972-. Published by the Genealogical Society of
North Central Washington, P.O. Box 613, Wenatchee, WA 98801. (FHL book
979.7 B2a.) There is a cumulative index to vols. 1-4.
The Bulletin. 1964-. Published by the Eastern Washington Genealogical
Society Library, P.O. Box 1826, Spokane, WA 99210. (FHL book 979.7 B2e.)
Bulletin of the Whatcom Genealogical Society. 1970-. Published by the
Whatcom Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 1493, Bellingham, WA 98227. (FHL
book 979.773 B2w.)
The Researcher. 1969-. Published by the Tacoma Genealogical Society,
P.O. Box 1952, Tacoma, WA 98401. (FHL book 979.778/T1 B2r.)
Trailbreakers. 1971-. Published by the Clark County Genealogical
Society, P.O. Box 2728, Vancouver, WA 98668. (FHL book 979.786 B2t.)
Yakima Valley Genealogical Society Bulletin. 1973-. Published by the
Yakima Valley Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 445, Yakima, WA 98907. (FHL
book 979.755 B2y.)
PROBATE RECORDS
In the territorial era, probate courts were established in each county
to keep records of wills, bonds, orders, and the administrations of
estates. When the superior courts succeeded the probate courts in 1891,
all of the records of the clerks of the probate courts were transferred
to the county clerk in each courthouse. Some probates were filed in the
superior court.
The Family History Library has not acquired copies of probate records in
Washington. They are available a t the various county courthouses, or
the county may have transferred early records to the Washington State
Archives.
VITAL RECORDS
State Records of Births and Deaths
Statewide registration of births and deaths in Washington began in 1907
and was generally complied with by 1917. For copies of state birth and
death records, write to:
Vital Records P. O. Box 9709, ET-11 Olympia, WA 98504-9709
The current fees for obtaining copies of the state's records are listed
in Where to Write for Vital Records: Births, Deaths, Marriages, and
Divorces (Hyattsville, Md.: U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services, August, 1987). Copies of this booklet are at the Family
History Library and at family history centers. You can also write to the
Vital Records office for current information.
The Vital Records office has a series of indexes to state birth and
death records from 1907 to the present. Copies of the indexes to death
records from 1907 to 1979 are also at the Washington State
Library.
The Family History Library has copies of most of the state records from
1907 to 1952. Although the files are incomplete, these records include:
- Birth certificates, 1907-1952, and five soundex indexes, 1907-1959
(211 films)
- Death certificates, 1907-1952, and five soundex indexes, 1907-1979
(466 films)
Delayed Birth Records
Individuals who were born prior to 1907, or who did not have a birth
certificate, may have applied for a delayed birth certificate at a
superior court or at the State Department of Health. Washington began
keeping delayed birth records in 1907. Many unrecorded births were
finally registered during World War II.
Delayed birth records are available from the Vital Records office (see
address above). The Family History Library has copies and accompanying
soundex indexes of the delayed birth records issued from 1936 to 1953
(65 films).
County Records of Births and Deaths
Although a few counties began recording births and deaths several years
earlier, most Washington counties began keeping records in 1891. County
birth and death records from the earliest dates to 1906 are at each
county auditor's office or county health department. Some of the larger
counties have copies of records after 1906, but most counties do not.
The Family History Library does not have copies of the county birth and
death records. However, the library has some published birth and death
records for a few counties, such as the Snohomish County death records
from 1891 to 1914.
City Records of Births and Deaths
Some Washington cities have kept birth and death records. For example,
Tacoma birth and death records from 1887 to the present are available at
the Pierce County Health Department. For information about city records,
write to the appropriate county health department. Some city records
have been indexed.
Marriage and Divorce Records
The following records are available:
- State marriage and divorce records. Statewide registration of
marriages and divorces began in 1968. For copies of these records, write
to the Vital Records office (address above). The Family History Library
does not have copies of these records.
- County marriage records. Most counties began recording marriages soon
after the county was organized. The records of some counties begin as
early as the 1850s. Each county auditor has copies of county marriage
records from the earliest dates to the present. The Family History
Library does not have copies of these records, but has copies of
transcribed marriage records published for a few counties, such as Clark
County from 1862 to 1913.
- County divorce records. County divorce records generally begin in
1889, although a number of counties kept records prior to that date.
Some county divorce records begin as early as the 1850s.
These records are available from the county clerk.
- Territorial divorce records. Some divorce records from 1853 to 1889
are included in the Washington territorial records. These early divorce
proceedings are interfiled with other territorial
records and have not been indexed. The Washington State Library has
copies of the territorial records.
Guide to Vital Records
You can learn more about the history and availability of the records in
Guide to Public Vital Statistics Records in Washington (Seattle:
Historical Records Survey, 1941; FHL book 979.7 V2h; fiche 6051171).
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