Finally -- a query I can possibly help with!! I'm a native Washingtonian and last year made a number of calls to ascertain getting death records of kin back to 1903. (Please contact the agencies directly for current fees.) The WASH. STATE CENTER FOR HEALTH STATISTICS in Olympia (our state capitol) has death records from July 1, 1907, to the present. For death records prior to that date, contact the WASHINGTON STATE LIBRARY in Olympia at 360-753-5590 (Washington NW Room) or 360-753-3087. They need date of death or place. Their mailing address is P.O. Box 9709, Olympia, WA 98507. They do not have all records on file. The recording requirement was quite sporadic from the beginning of statehood (1889) for a number of decades. This makes tracking down a death certificate a real challenge in some cases. The WASHINGTON STATE ARCHIVES has a death index (only, no records) prior to 1907. Their phone is 360-586-1492. Once you have the date of death (DOD) and have determined that the STATE has the record, you can request a certified copy of the death certificate. Cost is $11, and delivery is approx 5 weeks. (They must by law only provide a certified copy. No xeroxing permitted, so no cheaper way to do this.) Call 360-753-5936 for instructions. However, in many cases the records remain with the local jurisdiction (city or county). For example, in Spokane County, the City of Spokane has death records from 1891 to the present (sporadic), but the County has records only 1961 to the present. SPOKANE COUNTY: Spokane County Health District has city records 1891-present, and county records 1961-present. The phone number for Vital Statistics is 509-324-1523. Their address is W. 1101 College Ave., Spokane, WA 99201 Spokane County Auditor's Office has records 1890-1907. Their phone is 509-456-2271, and the address is 1116 W. Broadway, Spokane, WA 99260. A search is $8, a registered copy of the record is $1. Name, date of death and any other available info should be provided when submitting a request. Interesting note: For decades, county Health Departments kept death records. However, while making phone calls last year I learned that responsibility has transferred to county Auditors' Offices. It may be worthwhile to contact both in the county you're researching. Shirley Seattle greyhoundx@mindspring.com wrote: > > Hi, all-- > I'm new to the list and am a professional genealogist in > Virginia. I have some need for personal research in Washington. > My grandmother, Mary Selina BOSWELL, was reportedly born in > Spokane falls, WA. Her birthdate is 2/14/1893. Her parents were > Daniel Floyd BOSWELL and Nannie Morgan Gold BOSWELL, who were > married in Bunker Hill, WV in 1892. They were in Washington only > a few years--maybe 4. The family story goes that Daniel was hired > as an Indian Agent, but I can find no record of this and you know > how "family stories' often go. I am looking for some kind of birth > record for my grandmother, Mary Selina BOSWELL, b. 2/14/1893. It > is my understanding that there are birth records available from 1890 > for Spokane County. > I will be willing to exchange Virginia research for > Washington research. > > Many thanks, > > Meg