The Washington State Jewish Historical Society is engaged in preserving the history of Jews and Jewish communities in Washington for present and future generations. The origins of the Society began in 1968 when the Women’s Division of the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, motivated by a desire to know more about the history of the local Jewish community, formed the Jewish Archives Committee in cooperation with the Manuscripts Section (now Special Collections) of the University of Washington Libraries.

The Society was incorporated as a statewide non-profit group in 1980. The organization derives its financial support from membership dues, donations from individuals and foundations, and grants from the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, 4Culture (formerly King County Cultural Development Authority) and other funding agencies.