Washington State

Archival Research and Special Collections in the Black West

Here are institutions and archival resources in Washington State where Africana history, culture, and archival research are documented and made available for scholars, students, genealogists, and the public:

African American Collection, The Seattle Public Library, The Douglass-Truth Branch
African American Heritage Museum and Cultural Center
African American Research & Archival Collections in the Pacific Northwest, University Libraries, University of Washington
African American Archives in Washington State, Archives West
Bicentennial Oral History Program, Black Oral History Project, 1975-1976, Washington State Archives, Digital Archives
Black Culture and History Collection, The Seattle Public Library
Black Heritage Society of Washington State
Black History in Washington State, Washington State Historical Society
Black Oral History Collection, 1972-1974, Washington State Archives, Digital Archives
The Black History Research Guide, Tacoma Public Library
Buffalo Soldiers Museum, Tacoma
Civil Rights Digital Library, Washington State, Digital Library of Georgia
Eastern Washington University Archives & Special Collections
Guide to the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods Central Area Special Projects Records 1976-1998, Seattle Municipal Archives
The HistoryMakers (Oral histories)
Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI), Seattle
Northwest African American Museum
Oral Histories & Archives, The Seattle Civil Rights and Labor History Project
Seattle Civil Rights and Labor History Project, Civil Rights and Labor History Consortium, University of Washington
Seattle Municipal Archives
Spokane Northwest Black Pioneers Collection, 1860s-2010s, Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture (Eastern Washington State Historical Society)
Spokane Public Library—Preserving Spokane’s Black History
Washington State Historical Society
Newspapers & Community Press as Archival Sources:
- Digitized African American Newspapers in Washington, Library of Congress

Tips for Archival Research

Start with online finding aids — many archives have searchable guides you can review before visiting.
Contact archivists ahead of time — they can help identify relevant collections and materials.
Explore digital collections first — some historical photos, oral histories, and exhibits may be available online.
Leverage community institutions — university archives and regional historical societies often collaborate with local historians.