Hidden Treasures of our State’s Archives

Jerry Handfield, Washington State Archivist

Thursday evening May 26th, 2011
7 pm
Floyd Norgaard Cultural Center
27130 102nd Ave NW
Stanwood, WA  98292

Take advantage of this unique opportunity to meet Jerry Handfield, Washington State Archivist who will speak on the

“Hidden Treasures of our State’s Archives”. 

His talk will feature the unique public records preserved by the State Archives focusing on the Stanwood and Camano Island area. 

The Washington State Archives hold the public records that embody the history of the people, towns, counties, cities and public agencies of the State of Washington and Washington Territory (1853-1889). In some instances they are the only existing documentation of vital records (births, death etc.), property, people, governments, and organizations.  They include historical records on lands, plats and surveys, military service, naturalization, census, corporation records among many others.  They provide proof of dates and times of events, often revealing long forgotten family and community secrets and mysteries.

Washington State Digital Archives

Washington State Digital Archives

More and more of these records are being made accessible digitally on the State Archives website for use by researchers, genealogists, historians, the media and anyone who needs to official historical background of people, places, the evolution of our communities.
(http://www.digitalarchives.wa.gov/).  He will speak about the extent and development of this effort, privacy and public record disclosure controversies and the costs and savings of digitizing and management of unique treasures hidden in the gray archival boxes!

Contact:
Stanwood Area Historical Society
360-629-6110
info@sahs-fncc.org
www.sahs-fncc.org