Oregon Historical County Records Guide
Washington County Records Inventory
County Commissioners Administrative Journals
1844-[ongoing]
Series documents all administrative actions of the board of county commissioners and the county court. In most counties, the board of county commissioners has assumed the administrative duties and responsibilities of the county court. Administrative actions include levying taxes; budgeting; approving appropriations; appointing county officials; approving officials bonds and annual reports; receiving petitions and remonstrances concerning county roads; defining and establishing county roads; calling bond elections for the construction of county buildings; compiling jury lists and conducting hearings; approving salaries and expenses of county officials; confirming elections; and issuing licenses for such things as liquor, ferries, warehouses, and groceries. The series may be referred to as the County Court Administrative Journal, Commissioner's Minutes, County Court Docket, or Board of Commissioners Meeting Records.
County business in Washington County and its predecessor, Tuality County, 1843-1849, was conducted by the county court until adoption of home rule in the 1962. Currently, the administrative and policy making functions are the responsibility of the board of county commissioners.
Records at the Oregon State Archives:
Bench Docket County Court [includes judicial, probate, and administrative actions], 1863-1882 (1 volume);
County Court Petitions, 1844-1889 (.10 cu.ft.);
Tuality District Court Records [Order Books-includes some judicial actions], 1846-1849 (.05 cu.ft.).
Records at the Public Services Building, Suite 130, Public Research Area:
Commissioners Journals [Commissioners Dockets], vol. 2-16, 1887-1965 (9 reels of microfilm);
Commissioners Journals [Commissioners Journal Indexes-to vol. 11-95B], 1911-1979 (3 reels of microfilm);
Commissioners Journals [County Court Commissioner Pending], 1916-1938 (1 reel of microfilm);
Commissioners Journals, vol. 2-95B, 1852-1979 (16 reels of microfilm);
Commissioners Meeting Folders [title varies], 1963-2003 (198 reels of microfilm);
Commissioners Worksession Minutes, 1973-1998 (13 reels of microfilm);
Commissioners Worksession Minutes [BOC Worksession Minutes-Board of Commissioners] 1999-2002 (4 reels of microfilm);
Commissioners Worksession Minutes [Commissioners Proceedings] 1962-1976 (4 reels of microfilm);
Commissioners Worksession Minutes [Washington County Board of Commissioners Special Session], 1975-1978 (1 reel of microfilm);
Minute Orders [Board of Commissioners], no. 67.1-95.588, 1967-1995 (92 reels of microfilm).
Records at the Public Services Building, Suite 300, Commissioners Office:
BCC Meeting Folders [Board of County Commissioners], 2006-present (5 cu.ft.);
BCC Minute Orders [Board of County Commissioners], 2001-2006 (5 cu.ft.);
BCC Worksession Minutes [Board of County Commissioners], 2006-present (2 binders).
Records at the Public Services Building, Suite 200, Survey Division Vault:
Commissioners Journals, vol. 2-95B, 1852-1979 (19 reels of microfilm).
Records at the Public Services Building, Basement Room B20, Imaging Center:
[Minute Orders, Resolutions and Orders, and Ordinances], 2007-present (.50 cu.ft.).
Records at the Walnut Street Center Complex, Building E, County Historical Records Vault:
Commissioners Blotter [Minutes], 1917-1920 (1 volume);
Commissioners Court Blotter [Minutes], 1911-1917 (2 volumes);
Commissioners Journal, vol. 2, 1852-1869 (1 volume);
Commissioners Record [Journal], vol. 5, 1883-1887 (1 volume);
Record Comm. Journal [Commissioners], vol. 3, 1869-1875 (1 volume);
Records Commissioners Journal, vol. 4, 1875-1883 (1 volume).
Records at the Walnut Street Center Complex, Building E, County Records Center:
BCC Worksession Minutes [Board of County Commissioners], 2001-2002 (2 cu.ft.);
BOC Worksession Minutes [Board of Commissioners], 2003-2004 (9 cu.ft.);
Commissioners' Meeting Files, 1995 (6 cu.ft.); 1997 (15 cu.ft.); 2004-2005 (20 cu.ft.);
Minute Orders [Board of Commissioners], 1976 (.60 cu.ft.);
Minute Orders BOC [Board of Commissioners], 1993 (9 cu.ft.); 1995-2007 (106 cu.ft.).
Records at the Washington County Historical Museum:
Bench Docket County Court [includes judicial, probate, and administrative actions], vol. 2, 1887-1894 (1 volume);
[Commissioners Dockets], vol. 2-16, 1887-1965 (9 reels of microfilm);
Commissioners Docket [title varies], vol. 3-16, 1895-1964 (13 volumes);
[Commissioners Journals Indexes-to vol. 11-95B], 1916-1979 (3 reels of microfilm);
[Commissioners Journals-pages only], vol. 34-95B, 1965-1979 (9 reels of microfilm);
[Commissioners Journals], vol. 2-33, 1852-1965 (10 reels of microfilm);
Commissioners Journal [with index], vol. 8-24, 1896-1959 (17 volumes);
Commissioners Record [Journal], vol. 6-7, 1889-1896 (2 volumes);
[Washington County Court Records #15-Tuality Court Records], 1845-1862 (1 reel of microfilm).
Records at the Oregon Historical Society:
Mss. 1283 Record of County Court [Journal for Twality County-typescript], 1847-1848 (.05 cu.ft.).
Records at the Washington County Web Site:
Washington County Board of Commissioners Minutes [current year], 2009.-present (Internet);
Washington County Board of Commissioners Minutes [previous years], 2008 (Internet).