One of the very real benefits of belonging to the Association of Professional Genealogists is the behind-the-scenes tours I've had of our region's important records collections.  One such repository that I've used several times is the Washington State Archives in Olympia.  Our Puget Sound chapter met yesterday for an exceptionally interesting meeting, highlighted by a presentation by our state archivist, Jerry Handfeld, and followed by a tour of the building.   Like most archives and libraries, it's bigger than it looks from the outside!  From the street, it's a one-story building, but underneath are two climate-controlled floors filled with boxes, books, and rolls of microfilm.  
    Our tour began and ended in the research room, where the staff had put out examples of various records for us to see.  One of those was a cattle branding register book, from 1890's Lewis County.  I thought this was a fascinating example of records that aren't online - because this is a record I never would have thought to look for!
    
    State of Washington
    County of Chehalis
I, D.R. Porter, hereby certify that I have adopted for a mark or brand to be used in marking my cattle situated in Chhalis County, Wash., to letter "P" about four inches in heighth and two inches in width with a bar across the upper part.  The following is a correct description and representation of said mark or brand. To wit:
and it is designed to use the same on the left hip of the animal branded.  Witness my hand this 2nd day of November 1894.
      D.R. Porter

Recd for record Nov. 22 AD 1894 at 2 o'clock PM at the request of D.R. Porter.
      Geo. W. Buyington, Auditor
      By F.A. Farr, Deposit


Citation: Chehalis County, Washington, Log and Stock Brands Register, 1886-1909, entry for 22 November 1894, D.R. Porter; Washington State Archives, Olympia.
 


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