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Seattle Federal Records Center, c. 1970. State Library Photograph Collection, 1851-1990. Washington State Archives.
THE LOCAL RECORDS GRANT PROGRAM: NEARLY $700,000 IN GRANTS AWARDED TO 37 GOVERNMENT AGENCIES STATEWIDE

THE LOCAL RECORDS GRANT PROGRAM: NEARLY $700,000 IN GRANTS AWARDED TO 37 GOVERNMENT AGENCIES STATEWIDE

Washington State Archives, a division of the Office of the Secretary of State, is awarding $698,510 in grants to 37 government agencies statewide as part of the Local Records Grant Program for 2021-2022. The Local Records Grant Program helps local-government agencies and entities upgrade their technological resources to improve their records retention and management, and response processes for public records requests. Qualified agencies and entities applied online in June 2021. During the summer, an Archives Oversight Committee, composed of county…

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It’s Records and Information Management Month!

It’s Records and Information Management Month!

When it comes to event themes, April is just full of them. According to one website, there are at least two dozen different themes, including National Garden Month (good reminder to mow your lawn and pull some weeds) and National Humor Month (Ha!). But did you know that here in Washington and many other states, April is also Records and Information Management  Month? Here is this year’s official state proclamation, signed by Gov. Inslee. RIM Month is designed to promote…

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Historical Records Project volunteers honored

Historical Records Project volunteers honored

Volunteers rock! Over 500 volunteers work with the State Library, Legacy Project, State Archives and Historic Records Project to fulfill the Secretary of State’s mission of historical records preservation and public access. Secretary of State Sam Reed honored the army of volunteers at a special appreciation luncheon in Chehalis.  The annual tradition gave the Secretary and project managers a chance to commend the time and talents the volunteers bring to their tasks. The event marks the tenth anniversary of the…

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U.S. high court declines to block R-71 petitions

U.S. high court declines to block R-71 petitions

The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected efforts by foes of gay-marriage to block Washington state from releasing Referendum 71 petitions while an appeal is underway in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. The court gave no reasoning for denying the motion by Protect Marriage Washington to issue an injunction.  The order indicates that Justice Anthony Kennedy, who is responsible for motions arising from the 9th Circuit, referred the request to the full court, which did not support the motion. The…

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Challengers seek Supreme Court order against R-71 releases

Challengers seek Supreme Court order against R-71 releases

UPDATE: Protect Marriage Washington has asked U.S. Supreme Court Justce Anthony Kennedy to block release of Referendum 71 petitions while an appeal is underway in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. While that is pending, Washington’s Office of Secretary of State will suspend release of further R-71 petition DVDs.  The office has no further information on the timing of Justice Kennedy’s handling of the matter. Earlier, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals  rejected the bid by Protect Marriage Washington to…

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R-71 petitions sealed as foes appeal

R-71 petitions sealed as foes appeal

Protect Marriage Washington, which is appealing the Doe v. Reed ruling that upheld release of Referendum 71 petitions, has filed an emergency motion with the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to halt further release of the petitions while the appeal proceeds. The State Archives in the Office of Secretary of State already has released more than 30 sets of the 137,000 signatures, and has two more pending. But on advice of counsel, further releases are suspended until the court considers…

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More on Reed’s open government award

More on Reed’s open government award

As we blogged last Friday, Secretary Reed received the James Madison Award of the Washington Coalition for Open Government that morning in Seattle. The award honors Reed’s “appreciation for, and dedication to, the cause of open government since taking office,” including advocacy of accessible and accountable government, preserving and displaying public records, among other attributes. We received fresh photos on Monday: Secretary Reed is shown above during his acceptance speech before the crowd of 100. Below he is with coalition…

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Reed awarded top open-government honor

Reed awarded top open-government honor

Secretary of State Sam Reed, who has made government transparency and access to public records a signature issue during his three terms, is the 2011 winner of the James Madison Award of the Washington Coalition for Open Government. Reed, who leaves office after his term ends in early January, 2013, was honored at the non-partisan group’s annual awards event in Seattle on Friday, a day when he was also the acting governor. The award honors Reed’s “appreciation for, and dedication…

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