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Who
The Olympia Genealogical Society (OGS) was founded in 1974 to promote the study, interest and research of family and local histories, and to encourage assistance, cooperation and guidance in those efforts to members, friends, and the community.
OGS is a 501(c)(3) educational non-profit organization.
What
OGS has monthly General Meetings Sep-Jun with speaker presentations on a wide variety of subjects. Our meetings are both in-person and via Zoom, and non-members are welcome.
OGS has a number of Special Interest Groups (SIGs) for our members that meet monthly.
OGS has an annual Seminar featuring a nationally-known speaker. Members receive a discounted price.
For more information about the benefits of membership, see our Membership page.
Where
OGS is based in Olympia, the State Capital of Washington. We are located in Thurston County, at the southern end of Puget Sound. We are approximately 60 miles south of Seattle, and 100 miles north of Portland, Oregon.
OGS serves all the communities in Thurston County, including: Bucoda, Grand Mound, Lacey, Littlerock, Rainier, Rochester, Tenino, Tumwater and Yelm. Our area is bounded by Mason County to the northwest, Grays Harbor County to the west, Lewis County to the south, and Pierce County to the northeast. However, many of our members live outside Thurston County.
Upcoming General Meetings
May 2026 General Meeting
Zoom or in-person
Billie Stone Fogarty: Researching American Indian Ancestry
Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1925 Boulevard Rd SE, Olympia, WA.
A link to the 7:00 pm Zoom meeting (starts at 6:30 pm for social time) will be posted here on the day of the meeting. Non-members are welcome to attend. A recording of the meeting will be made available to OGS members.
June 2026 General Meeting
Zoom or in-person. Crystal will join us in-person at Westminster Presbyterian Church.
Crystal Hicks: Bureaucracy to the Rescue: Unlocking Family Mysteries with State Records
Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1925 Boulevard Rd SE, Olympia, WA.
A link to the 7:00 pm Zoom meeting (starts at 6:30 pm for social time) will be posted here on the day of the meeting. Non-members are welcome to attend. A recording of the meeting will be made available to OGS members.
September 2026 General Meeting
Zoom or in-person.
Billie Stone Fogarty: School Censuses: What, When, and Where
Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1925 Boulevard Rd SE, Olympia, WA.
A link to the 7:00 pm Zoom meeting (starts at 6:30 pm for social time) will be posted here on the day of the meeting. Non-members are welcome to attend. A recording of the meeting will be made available to OGS members.
See All Upcoming General Meetings on our Events page.
Past General Meetings
See a list of Past General Meetings.
If you are logged in to this site, also see Events / Recordings and Handouts which includes a listing of available recordings of presentations at general meetings beginning in Sep 2020.
America250
America250 is a bipartisan initiative working to engage every American in the 250th anniversary of the United States. America250’s mission is to celebrate and commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, marking America’s Semiquincentennial.
The country will be celebrating this historic milestone throughout 2026, and the Olympia Genealogical Society invites you to join in reflecting on our nation’s past, honoring the contributions of all Americans, and looking ahead to the future we share. Visit the OGS America250 page to discover opportunities to learn more about our history, explore your own family story, and take part in the celebrations happening across our community.
Drop-In Genealogy (DIG) is Returning in June!
OGS is excited to announce the return of our free Drop-In Genealogy program. OGS members will be at the Timberland Tumwater Library on the last Monday of the month from 1:00 to 3:00 pm to help you with your genealogy problems, or to help you start a family tree. See DIG dates on our Events page.
Local News
WA State Library closed to public
The WA State Library in Tumwater is closed to the public as of 1 July 2025 due to a loss of funding. This includes the Reading Room and research appointments. There is limited access by appointment on Thursday afternoons. You can still get items through Interlibrary Loan. Reference Services are available via email or voicemail but be patient. Go to sos.wa.gov/library for more information.