I'm a bit behind in my reading, but wanted to thank you for posting such good and valuable information. Charlene Woodring Chehalis, WA John & Arlene Planinshek wrote: > > Olympia is one of five regional archives in this state and operates under the > Office of the Secretary of State. The archives operate under the general > records act, RCW 40:14. The other four regional archives are located in > Ellensburg, Bellingham, Cheney and Bellevue. Basically the system, > which started in the early 1970s, was established to collect, preserve > and make available local public records, of lasting historical value, in > the region in which they were created. SW (Southwest) has the oldest > documentation, reaching back to 1847 (a Lewis County Commissioners record). > The archives are also charged with providing records management consultations > to public government entities; it is through the records scheduling process > that future archival/historical records will largely come into our holdings. > The archives are available for post-disaster and disaster prevention > consultation. All regional archives offer tours and research services. > > In addition to the usual requirements of the job, there are other services > that are unique to the operation, these include: Opening the doors on > selective Saturdays for genealogical groups to undertake intensive research; > oral interviewing of individuals who have had a significant impact on local > community life; and, the three regional archivists now carry video and 35mm > cameras on the road and between official visits record the evolution of > Southwest Washington. > > The SW Regional Archives serves all public entities (including county and > city governmental offices, ports, p.u.d.s, fire districts, educational school > districts and school districts, health districts as well as diking and water > districts). Records stored in the archives which are especially useful for > genealogists include: marriage, birth and death records, wills, probate > and civil documentation, property records, census data, extensive > educational documentation, deeds and mortgages and naturalizations. > > The Archives are open for research 8:30 to 4:30 daily (and periodically for > group research on Saturdays). The Archive staff consists of Lanny Weaver > (assistant), Terri Juillerat (customer services specialist) and myself, > Wayne Lawson (Regional Archivist). It is best if potential researchers call > in advance to schedule their time here; sometimes all three of us are out of > the office. My phone number is 360-753-1684. Research is generally handled > by either Lanny or Terri at 360-586-4898. Our Fax number is 360-664-8814. > These are our basic charges: (1) If we do the research --- $10 minimum or $25 > an hour, $0.15 per page copied, $3 mailing and, if needs be, $5 for > certification; or (2) if the researcher comes into our archives the only > costs would be --- $0.15 per page copied and $5 if certification is needed. > > The address of the Archives is: > > Archives & Records Management Division > Office of the Secretary of State > 1120 Washington Street SE * P.O. Box 40238 > Olympia, WA. 98504-0238 > > ==== WALEWIS Mailing List ==== > Don't forget to sign your name. Courtesy counts,even on mail lists. > "OPPORTUNITY is missed by some people because it is dressed in overalls > and looks like work."