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Washington State Regional Archives - Ellensburg

     The Washington State Regional Archives in Ellensburg has collected a significant portion of the Yakima County records that are of genealogical value. They are open for in-person visits and will also do a limited amount of research via e-mail. The following has been extracted from their website:

     The Central Regional Branch provides archival and records management services to local government agencies throughout Benton, Chelan, Douglas, Franklin, Grant, Kittitas, Klickitat, Okanogan, and Yakima counties.

Contact the Central Regional Branch

Hours:

8:30a.m. to 4:30p.m., Closed 12 to 1pm, Monday through Friday (excluding state holidays)

The Central Regional Branch is closed for in-person research Mondays and Tuesdays, although we welcome phone and email requests those days. 
The branch is open for in-person research Wednesdays through Fridays by appointment only. Please contact the branch to schedule a research appointment.
The Central Regional Branch is closed for in-person research Mondays and Tuesdays, although we welcome phone and email requests those days. The branch is open for in-person research Wednesdays through Fridays by appointment only. Please contact the branch to schedule a research appointment.

Researchers traveling to the Archives from outside of Ellensburg are strongly encouraged to make advance arrangements with the Archives in order to 1) ensure prompt access to the Archives upon arrival, and 2) confirm the availability and/or existence of desired records.
Location: The Washington State Archives’ Central Region Branch is located on the campus of Central Washington University, at the northwest corner of 14th and Wildcat Way in Ellensburg. See below for directions and parking information.
Mailing Address: State Archives Central Branch
Bledsoe & Washington Archives Building
400 E. University Way
Mail Stop 7547
Ellensburg, Washington 98926-7547
Telephone: (509) 963-2136
Research e-mail: CEBranchArchives@sos.wa.gov
Records Management
e-mail:		 recordsmanagement@sos.wa.gov

 

Central Region Collections Overview

Local government records include those from county offices such as the Auditor, the Clerk, the Treasurer, the Board of Commissioners, and from municipalities, school districts, and other service districts. Only a small percentage of the records created by these offices are transferred to the State Archives. They are selected for their value as legal and historical evidence of policy development, implementation, and effect. The transfer of records to the State Archives is an ongoing process. Some historical records remain with their originating office pending future transfer to the Archives.

Major subject areas of the records in custody include:

  • Genealogy
  • Land use/property
  • Legal system
  • Education

Genealogy - 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 host of additional records such as pre-statehood county censuses, and schoolchildren censuses ca.1890-ca.1932. Completeness of these records in the Archives' holdings varies from county to county, but the Archives staff can assist researchers in determining the appropriate location of the information, if it exists. Contact the Central Regional Branch.

Land Use/Property - Land use and property records include patents, deeds, mortgages, tax assessments and rolls for both real and personal property, timber cruise ledgers, mining claim records, plat books, and water rights records.