Research Strategy:
Public libraries are a bit challenging to find in an unknown area.
They are usually set up as follows:
1) city - like Seattle, 2) county like - King, 3) regional like -
Timberland, 4) state. Sometimes they
don’t even have the same name as the location.
Timberland Regional Library is in
Olympia
and covers several counties in that area.
In Minnesota
the Pine River, MN library is called Kitchigami Regional Library.
Regional library systems cover several counties.
You can always Google a library. Just put
the name of the town into the Google search engine and the state and it will
probably give you some idea. Here is
an example: Library, Seattle,
Washington
State. Always use
Washington
State otherwise you end up in Washington D.C.
Usually a branch library or regional library will have an interactive map
or location information on their website that helps you find the branch you
want.
Don’t forget that your local library may have a wonderful
assortment of databases that you can access from home with or without your
library card from that library.
Because of budget cuts and remodeling projects some library systems will close
their branches so check their websites before you plan to visit.
The Auburn Library will be closing this summer for renovation and this
library houses the South King County Genealogical Collection which will not be
available for use.
Here is a
State of
Washington
link to a listing for libraries within our state. So if you don’t find a
listing here check this website out for more information.
Most other states have the same type of
overview/portal website.
Bellingham
Public Library
210 Central
Avenue
Bellingham,
WA 98227
The library has a special collection of library materials
relating to the history of Whatcom
County. Topics include:
logging, Lummi Indians, railroads, and the Pacific American Fisheries. Books
found in the Local History collection may be checked out by
Bellingham
and Whatcom County library cardholders.
The Genealogy
Collection can be accessed here.
Everett
Public Library
2702 Hoyt
Avenue
Everett,
WA 98201
Reference:
425-257-8000
Click here to visit the Everett Public Library
Northwest Room.
They have the Biographies Index, Digital Collections, Everett History,
and the Snohomish County Bookshelf.
In addition they have maps, pamphlets, oral history interviews, historic
photos relating to Everett
and Snohomish County history.
Their digital images cover the Evergreen Cemetery Collection, Sanborn
maps of Everett, Herald Photos of 50’s and 60’s, The Everett Massacre and Places
of the Past.
Fort Vancouver
Regional Library
Vancouver
Community Library
1007 E. Mill
Plain Blvd.
Vancouver,
WA 98663
If you're looking for local information, you'll find a
great selection in their large Northwest reference collection that includes
local history and many current regional documents. They have local newspapers on
microfilm back to the 1800s. Check their website links for the branch
libraries.
King County Library
System (KCLS)
They are very strong on interlibrary loan within the
system. The Burien Library branch has the Northwest Collection. This collection
focuses on the life and culture of Northwest Native peoples, Northwest
exploration and the westward movement.
The collection also covers the history of Washington, Oregon and
British Columbia and a lot more.
The Auburn Branch houses the collection
of the So. King County Genealogical Society and the Bellevue Regional Library
houses the collection of the Eastside Genealogical Society.
On the home page of the KCLS click on
Library Locations and hours to find
the different branch websites within this library system.
Longview Public
Library
1600 Louisiana
St.
Longview,
WA 98632
The Longview Room houses the local history collection.
They have newspaper clippings, maps, pamphlets, books about Washington
(in particular the Southwest part of the State), clippings about the 1980 Mount
St. Helens volcanic eruption, local yearbooks, and a large collection of
photographs of Longview's founding in the 1920's.
North Olympic
Library System
Port Angeles
Public Library
2210 South
Peabody Street
Port Angeles,
WA 98362
The North Olympic Library system sponsors a
local
newspaper index to articles and obituaries from current local
newspapers. The index provides citations for articles and obituaries in Port Angeles newspapers. It
covers local events from 1993 to February 29, 2008, and obituary listings from
1916 to the present. Limited access to the Sequim Gazette is available as well.
Full-text articles from Port Angeles
papers and the Sequim Gazette can be retrieved from microfilm and/or bound
copies in the Port Angeles Library. The library also has digital copies of many
local historical newspapers printed from 1886 onward available for viewing.
This regional library system also has a
location listing of their branches to
click on their main website.
Seattle Public
Library and Seattle Branch Libraries
1000 Fourth Ave. 9th and 10th Floor
Seattle,
WA 98104
206-386-4636
The Genealogy
Collection houses more than 40,000 items dealing primarily with records
and families of North America - including those from the original 13 colonies,
the Old Northwest Territory and from states referred to as "Gateways to the
West." Search the library catalog
for the titles you would like to search.
They have a vertical file of family histories on the 9th
floor.
The Genealogy Collection is located on Level 9 of the
Central Library. Three full-time genealogy librarians provide expert reference
service to genealogists. They have
2500 reels of microfilm mostly on
Washington
State.
The newspaper and periodicals are located on the 7th
floor. The Seattle Public Library
has the Seattle Times and PI, the New York Times and a few other papers.
The Seattle Collection Room is on the 10th Floor
and has very early city directories.
They have Seattle
city documents, photographs, newspaper clippings, maps and atlases, high school
yearbooks and oral histories.
The Seattle Public Library has an interactive map of the
different branch libraries in its system.
Their library locator is on the right side of the home page.
Unfortunately the main branch genealogical collection does not circulate
but you might find a title in another local library that will.
Don’t forget the online databases & websites at the Seattle
Public Library. If you have a SPL
library card you can access some of these sites from home.
Otherwise you have to go to the library to access them.
Seattle Public Library as links to: American
Genealogy Bank, Ancestry Library edition, Biography & Genealogy Master Index,
Canadian Genealogy Centre, Cyndi’s List of Genealogical Sites, Digital Sanborn
Maps 1867-1970, Family History Catalog, GENUKI (Genealogy of the United Kingdom
and Ireland), Heritage Quest Online, inGeneas.com, NUCMUC (National Union
Catalog of Manuscript Collections), Rootsweb, The Digital Archives from the
Washington Secretary of State, and the USGenWebProject.
Sno-Isle Public
Library System
The main branch at
Lynnwood
houses newspapers, city directories and more.
At their home page they have a link to genealogy with information about
databases, and links to genealogical resources. The Snoqualmie Public Library
branch has old newspapers and resources to explore. They also have a branch
locator to help find more information on their branch libraries.
They cover Snohomish and Island Counties.
Spokane Public
Library
906 West Main
Ave.
Spokane,
WA 99201
The Spokane Public Library houses one of the finest and
most extensive Northwest collections in the country in their Northwest room.
Their collection consists of reference
books, maps, directories, periodicals, government documents, and archival
materials pertaining to the history, exploration, and settlement of the
Northwest, including Washington,
Oregon,
Idaho, Montana,
and the province
of British Columbia. The
Northwest Room offers information on every period from the late 1700's to the
present. In addition this library
houses the collection of the Eastern Washington Genealogical Society.
Olympia Timberland
Library
313 8th
Ave. SE
Olympia,
WA 98501
This library
houses a collection of newspapers, Donation Land Claims, Death Indexes and
Census.
Tacoma Public
Library
Northwest Room
1102 Tacoma
Ave. S
Tacoma, WA 98402
Email:
nwr@tacomapubliclibrary.org
Open 9-9 pm Mon-Thursday, Friday & Sat 9 to 6 pm.
They are closed on Sundays.
Click on the home page
Tacoma Past and Present to get to the
Northwest Room which has newspapers on microfilm and a great online
Tacoma/Pierce Obituary Index. The
collection includes area maps, city directories, family histories, local
history, and card indexes for local families.
They have a Genealogical Resources page.
A nice feature is the Washington Place Name database which can help you
identify an old geographic place name.
They also have a ships & shipping index and more.
This is a great website and library, take time to explore it.
WASHINGTON
STATE LIBRARY
Mail:
P.O. Box 42460,
Olympia, WA 98504-2460
Street: Point Plaza East, 6880 Capitol Blvd. Tumwater, WA
Email Jan Walsh State Librarian: jwalsh@secstate.wa.gov
Reference Phone: 360-704-704-5221
General Information Email:
askalibrarian@secstate.wa.gov
Their website has a link to search the catalog, a link for online Washington
History Books, and a link to search online Pioneer Newspapers.
They have another link for Washington Resources, History and a blog.
There is also a link for Genealogy and Digital Collections.
They have an outstanding Newspaper Collection for the State of
Washington.
You can email one of the librarians to look up an obituary
by clicking here.
Click here for
the search page from the Washington State Library for finding libraries in our
state.
