Research, Research Center, and Online Data Records
More than 250,000 records are accessible online at JCGS data records
The Jefferson County Genealogical Society library and collections are housed in the Jefferson County Historical Society’s Research Center. In addition to the assistance of Genealogical Society research center volunteers and the JCGS library, the Research Center houses the archives and vast collections of the Jefferson County Historical Society.
The Historical Society collections include newspapers; vertical files on subjects and surnames; thousands of documents in the manuscript collection; information on buildings and houses; maps; thousands of photographs; city directories; maritime treasures, and much more. Please review the information on the Historical Society’s site before visiting the Research Center . The Genealogical Society has access to the JCHS vertical files and some microfiche records. Note: Appointments are required through the JCHS for accessing other JCHS collections.
JCGS has indexed and cataloged about 400,000 records covering myriad aspects of the lives of Jefferson County residents — including births and deaths, land records, voting records, property taxes, newspaper articles, military service, and even dry cleaning records and the issuance of dog licenses. More than 250,000 of those records are accessible online through JCGS data records. See the next menu choice under the research tab for a listing of the data categories and direct links: Listing and Links of County Available Records
If you are unable to visit the Research Center, JCGS would be happy to assist you with your research. Go to the Research Request page for details. You might also consider visiting the Washington State Digital Archives for state-wide searches.
Research Center
Location—This is NOT a mailing address.
The Research Center is located at 13692 Airport Cutoff Road (Highway 19), Port Townsend, WA – approximately five miles south of the City of Port Townsend and 0.3 miles south of the intersection of Highway 19 and Highway 20. The JCGS phone number is (360) 302-5543.
Hours and Fees: Hours: Tuesday thru Friday 1pm to 4pm. Also the third Saturday of each month from 1pm to 4pm.
No appointments needed. Walk-ins welcome.
- Closures: The Center is closed on all major holidays and the last two weeks in December. The Center may be closed for inclement weather.
- Entrance Fee: JCHS and JCGS members and students: Free. All others are by donations. Suggested donation is $5 per person. Donations help to support the mission of JCGS.
- Copies: Suggested donations: Photocopies (of any size) and computer printouts are suggested 10¢ each for members and suggested 20¢ each for non-members.
- Visiting the Research Center
JCGS volunteers are on duty during all designated hours to welcome and help you with your research needs.
The Research Center is handicap accessible. There is ample free parking. Free Wi-Fi is available for members and for visitors using the center.
No food or drink is allowed in the research room. Only pencils are to be used in the research room—no ink or markers.
The Jefferson County Genealogical Society library and collections are housed in the Jefferson County Historical Society’s Research Center and cataloged on LibraryThing.org. CLICK HERE to go to the Library page.
Subscription Online Databases Available at the Research Center.
One of the benefits of your membership is access to subscription websites free of charge in the Research Center. You may want to look at a site to see if it is worth your while to subscribe privately. Or, you may find the information you seek by coming into the Research Center and thus saving yourself the subscription fee. We are always open to ideas for new subscriptions, so please let us know if there is one that would benefit you. The following are available for free to JCGS members:
Ancestry.com – Library edition. We have the US Collection and the 
International Collection, so you have access to US, English and Canadian census records as well as other non-United States information. The databases are numerous and cover many types of records. The Library Edition does not include Family Trees or Newspapers.
distributed via ProQuest. In includes hundreds of
NewspaperArchive.com . . . . Search 5+ billion newspaper records & obituaries from 47 countries and all 50 U.S. states. Search through 15,941 historic newspaper archives to do genealogy and family history. Browse 17,000+ Newspapers. 50 States & 47 Countries. Search Obituaries Online.
