The “community read movement” started in 1998 in Seattle and has gained popularity across the United States. I’ve been intrigued by them for many years. And while I hear about them all the time, I’ve never heard of one taking place inside a prison. So, last summer, I decided to organize one for Coyote Ridge. And it wasn’t easy, but I did it. The book I decided to use was Jamie Ford’s Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet….
Secretary of State Sam Reed, who has made government transparency and access to public records a signature issue during his three terms, has been ann0unced as the 2011 winner of the James Madison Award of the Washington Coalition for Open Government. 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, battling successfully in the Supreme Court to defend the public’s…
Photograph courtesy of the Washington State Digital Archives How do the beauty and frontiering spirit of Washington inspire the creative genius in us? Whether you are a maker or appreciator of crafts, springtime in Washington is a special time for artistic types. As you may have witnessed, the emergence of spring sparks the openings of Washington’s festivals, markets, craft shows, and art fairs. Though March is nearly over, it is never too late to try out a new craft or…
Photograph courtesy of the Washington State Archives, Susan Parish Collection and Vibert Jeffers. On January 16, 1933 hundreds of people gathered on the State Capitol steps in Olympia for a “Hunger March” to demand food, shelter, relief and programs to create jobs for the unemployed throughout Washington State. October is Washington Archives Month, and this year’s theme is Washington’s struggles and setbacks over the years and how the people of this state have overcome them.
Photograph courtesy of the Washington State Digital Archives This photo taken around in 1890 is of a parade in Grays Harbor celebrating the 4th of July. It’s a little difficult to decipher the sign the women are holding, but a closer look reveals that it reads, “Our Infant State Washington.”
The very first initiative ever passed by Washington voters, back in 1914 when the state was just a pup, was Prohibition. And ever since, liquor and its sales and regulation has been a regular topic for initiatives, including two dueling liquor privatization measures now circulating for signatures (I-1100 and I-1105). Photograph courtesy of the Washington State Digital Archives An Elections Division compilation covering most of statehood showed 58 booze-related initiatives. Measures dealing with DUIs and alcohol servers also were filed…
… that the Washington State Digital Archives is a treasure trove of historical pictures? Thousands of scanned photos are available for anyone to download, free of charge. Just last week as I was thumbing through the collection, I came across this slightly unique photo below: In the photo, Governor Rosellini is presenting a giant pickle to a gal representing National Pickle Week. National Pickle Week still exists and begins tomorrow, May 15, and ends the 25th. It first began in…
…that you might be able to find a copy of your parent’s marriage certificate or discover a grandparent’s birth certificate online? That’s right, geneologists and just curious citizens use the Digital Archives everyday to research their family history and access millions of free documents online. Some documents date back to the Territorial Days in 1853 and all come from Washington state counties. Many of the records online include birth, death, divorce, military, immigration, and census records. Give it a try and see who…
It might not elicit as much laughter or attention as Letterman’s Top 10 lists, but our State Digital Archives has a must-see list for history buffs and any of you who are curious about Washington’s past. DA’s Top 10 Treasures can be found here. The list includes digital versions of historical documents dating back to Washington’s territorial days. Among the items in this collection: the first law passed by the Washington Territorial Legislature, in 1854; the Washington State Constitution, as…
Five years ago, the Washington State Digital Archives opened a brand-new building on the Eastern Washington University campus in Cheney. Since then, it has established itself as the leader among all states in the electronic preservation of documents. And it’s a hit with genealogy buffs. Digital Archives is celebrating its fifth anniversary today in the facility that it shares with the Eastern Washington Regional Archives. Secretary of State Sam Reed and a few other key people from our office are…