This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/pBC.2ACE/4308.1 Message Board Post: Washington State was not required to keep birth certificates until ordered by the federal government. The state archives or vital records began keeping records at the state level in the summer of 1907... even then it was a bit loose for the first few years. Birth Certificates pre summer 1907 are county records. The counties did keep track of those records that were presented to them... and these records were NOT sent to Olympia for the state archives. The Seattle Public Library has a terrific NW room and will answer emails as well as mail and phone calls. Good Luck