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NOTE TO OUR VISITORS: To improve how this website works across a variety of devices including desktops, laptops, notebooks, tablets, and smartphones, we've moved to a new website platform. We've made extensive efforts to migrate the content from our previous site, but you'll find some of it is organized a bit differently. One key difference is that on narrow browser windows the menu collapses to a "hamburger" icon in the upper right corner of the page. To access the menu, click on the icon. We ask for your patience as we work through any issues that are identified. As always, your feedback is encouraged.
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
February 2026 General Meeting
Zoom (no in-person meetings during winter)
Billie Stone Fogarty: School Censuses: What, When, and Where
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.
March 2026 General Meeting
Zoom or in-person.
Karen Wallace Steely: Bounders, Bigamists, and Grass Widows: Using Divorce Records in Genealogical Research
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.
April 2026 General Meeting
Zoom or in-person
Roxanne Lowe: Researching in the Evergreen State
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.
See All Upcoming General Meetings on our Events page.
Past General Meetings
See Events / Past General Meetings.
If you are logged in to this site, also see Events / Recordings which includes a listing of available recordings of presentations at general meetings beginning in Sep 2020.
Annual Seminar - Feb 7, 2026 - Cyndi Ingle
Registration is required.
Our featured speaker will be Cyndi Ingle. Cyndi, a genealogist for more than 45 years, is the creator and innovator behind the award-winning and globally recognized CyndisList.com. Cyndi is an expert in using technology for genealogy, research in the United States and bringing together traditional methodology with organization, computers, software, and the Internet. She is an internationally-known guest lecturer, and she has authored numerous articles, two magazine columns, and three books. Cyndi is the Executive Director for the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research.
See the Annual Seminar page for program details including registration info.
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.