News

Out-of-State Social Security Death Index Records Going Offline

In July of 2008, the Washington State Digital Archives decided to add the entire Social Security Death Index to our website as a service to our visitors. Since the Social Security Death Index is a paid subscription service, we wanted to give researchers access to the full index rather than hiding non-Washington State entries. Since then, we have received a lot of feedback asking us to remove these records.

Top 5 questions from our visitors

Over the past few weeks we have been running a survey on our site to get a feel for what our users think about the site. We have received some great feedback from you and would like to address some of the most common questions asked by our visitors.

  • My uncle died in Washington in 1970. Why can’t I find a copy of his death certificate on your website?
  • The Social Security Death Index record on your website contains incorrect information for one of my deceased relatives. Can you correct the information?
  • My sister and I were both married in Washington in 2008. Why is a copy of her Marriage Certificate on your website, and mine is not?
  • When I click to view an image, Internet Explorer displays an error message and closes my Internet Browser. How do I fix this?
  • How can I submit my suggestions to the Digital Archives?

Click “MORE” to read the answers to these common questions.

Update on King County Marriage Records online

The long awaited King County Marriage records from 1855 to 1948 are now available online at the Washington State Digital Archives. As of October 1, records up to 1948 have been scanned and indexed and are searchable on the website. Although the project will not be complete until the end of the year, Marriage Certificates from 1855-1990 and Marriage Returns from 1891-1947 will be available and searchable as they are indexed, beginning with the earliest years. The collection contains over 1 million records.

World War I Veterans’ Records now available online

The World War I Service Statement Cards, 1917-1919 (Department of Veterans Affairs), recently indexed by Washington Historical Records Project volunteers, are now available and searchable online at the Digital Archives. Information contained in the records includes full name, serial number, race, place inducted, place of birth, unit assignments, ranks attained, engagements fought in, wounds received, dates served overseas, date of demobilization, and degree of disability (if any).

King County Marriage Records Series is now available online

The long awaited King County Marriage Records Series is now available online at the Washington State Digital Archives. Although the project will take nearly a year to complete, Marriage Certificates from 1855-2000 and Marriage Returns from 1891-1939 will be available and searchable as they are indexed, beginning with the earliest years. The collection contains over 1 million records.