Free Genealogy Sessions Offered at Library Branches with Seattle Genealogical Society
release date: October 28, 2025
Interested in learning about your family history? The Seattle Public Library is partnering with the Seattle Genealogical Society to offer free monthly drop-in sessions at the Ballard, Magnolia, and Northeast branches that can help you get started on your family history journey.
During these sessions, trained volunteers with the Seattle Genealogical Society can work with you one-on-one to identify the best resources for your research and explore specific questions. You don’t need a reservation or any experience with genealogy. Just show up with your curiosity!
“Whether you want to research a grandparent’s ethnic heritage, investigate whether a certain family story is true, or find an ancestor’s obituary, genealogy research is an act of discovery that can be really exciting,” said genealogy librarian Mahina Oshie. “Researching our past humanizes history and can show us how interconnected we actually are.”
Upcoming genealogy drop-in sessions
Ballard Branch, 5614 22nd Ave. N.W.
- Tuesday, Oct. 28, from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, Nov. 25, from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, Dec. 30, from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Magnolia Branch, 2801 34th Ave. W.
- Saturday, Nov. 15, from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Saturday, Dec. 13, from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Saturday, Jan. 24, from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Northeast Branch Meeting Room, 6801 35th Ave. N.E.
- Thursday, Nov. 13, from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Thursday, Dec. 11, from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Thursday, Jan. 15, from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Seattle Genealogical Society volunteers can also help you figure out which questions might be better addressed by a genealogy librarian or through the Library’s Genealogy Collection.
The Library offers free 30-minute appointments with a genealogy librarian at the Central Library that you can make online or by phone. Go to www.spl.org/genealogy to find out more or make an appointment.
The Seattle Public Library’s Genealogy Collection, located on Level 9 of the Central Library, is the largest and primary genealogy resource in Washington State, with more than 40,000 bound volumes as well as periodicals, pamphlets, and microfilm. You can explore historical and census records, immigration lists, military records, genealogy guidebooks on various topics, and more.
While the reference collection is only available for in-Library use during open hours, circulating genealogy handbooks are available to borrow. We also offer many online resources.
The Library is grateful to the Seattle Genealogical Society for offering these sessions and to The Seattle Public Library Foundation for supporting many of the Library’s genealogy resources.
About the Seattle Genealogical Society
The Seattle Genealogical Society empowers individuals to discover their family histories through education, collaboration, and preservation. You can visit them at the historic Good Shepherd Center in Seattle's Wallingford Neighborhood, and at their many virtual events from anywhere in the world.
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Contact the Library’s Ask Us service by phone at 206-386-4636 or by email or chat at spl.org/Ask. Staff are ready to answer questions and direct you to helpful resources and information. Find out more about our future plans at www.spl.org/StrategicPlan.