King County open house celebrates Archives Month 2008

Theme: At home in the King County Archives

Home is where the heart is, and in October the citizens of King County are invited to explore the rich heritage that makes this county a great place in which to live.

The King County Archives, the official repository of historical county government records, will host an open house from noon to 3 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 28.

The Archives joins repositories from across the state in the monthlong event “At Home in the Archives,” a celebration aimed at creating a better understanding of historic records, how to preserve them and how to use them to enrich people’s everyday lives. A calendar of events is on the Washington State Archives Web site: http://www.digitalarchives.wa.gov/Archivesmonth.

Since its establishment in 1989, the Archives have preserved records that affect families’ lives inside and outside the home, such as housing and real estate records, property files and information, and records on businesses in King County. These records help researchers better understand the places where people have lived, worked, or traveled throughout the county, as well as the ownership and transactional history of structures, facilities and land countywide.

“The Archives maintains its collections on behalf of the people who call King County their home.” says King County Executive Ron Sims. “Archives Month gives us the opportunity to acknowledge the important work of this agency, and to learn more about the wonderful heritage resources we are preserving for future generations.”

The open house is an opportunity to see behind the scenes at the Archives, get a first hand view of current projects and take a look at recent acquisitions. The open house provides a chance to find out how King County historical records are preserved and used, and how technology is being integrated into historical record-keeping processes. At the open house, expect to find intriguing displays, interactive activities and a showcase for the Archives’ two new Web sites: King County Archives and Historical Property Records. The Web sites have been revised and updated to improve community access to county records.

King County Archives is located at 1215 East Fir Street in Seattle. For more information, visit the Archives’ Web site at http://www.kingcounty.gov/archives