Photo Courtesy of the Washington State Library

Recently, in our February fave “Archives treasures” poll, you chose the letter written by George Washington as the most interesting item featured in our blog posts.

In light of Black History Month, and our previous winner, George Washington, we begin our February edition of “State Library jewels” with the George Washington Bush family papers. The Bush family was the first African-American family to make the journey across the Great Plains, and also one of the first five families to cross the Columbia River in 1845. They helped to create the first settlement in the area now considered Washington State. The Bush family settled near Tumwater and helped many other settlers who arrived later.

The Washington State Library has a collection of papers from the George Washington Bush family that includes legal documents, wills and testaments, estate papers, financial records and receipts, photographs, and letters of correspondence.

The box, which measures approximately one linear foot, also contains a letter advising the Washington State Senate Resolution recognizing George Washington Bush and William Owen Bush’s influential role in the early settlement of the Washington Territory.