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Tag: George Washington

Archives Spotlight: The World’s Largest Inaugural Cake

Archives Spotlight: The World’s Largest Inaugural Cake

This 1933 photo features the cake for Washington Governor Clarence Martin’s inauguration to his first term in office. From the Susan Parish Photograph Collection, 1889-1990. Clarence Martin was born and raised in Cheney, where the Eastern Regional Branch Archives and Digital Archives offices are now located. He graduated from the University of Washington in 1906 and joined his father in running the Cheney Grain and Milling Company. From 1928 to 1933 Martin was the mayor of Cheney. While still in…

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The boundaries of free speech are tested, Tacoma, 1916

The boundaries of free speech are tested, Tacoma, 1916

From the desk of Steve Willis, Central Library Services Program Manager of the Washington State Library: I stumbled across a legal case in Washington State history that deserves to be revisited. The following news nugget was found at random in the Morning Olympian for May 5, 1916:   DEFAMER OF GEORGE WASHINGTON GUILTY  JURY RETURNS WITH VERDICT AFTER 90 MINUTES  “TACOMA, May 4.–Paul R. Haffer was found guilty of libel and defamation of character when he said that George Washington drank more…

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February “Archives treasures” poll winner is…

February “Archives treasures” poll winner is…

  Photo courtesy of the Washington State Archives Earlier in the week, we asked you to vote in our February Archives treasures poll. The contenders were the Penitentiary Inmate Files of 1881-1902,  a photograph of Woodrow Wilson’s visit to Seattle in 1919, and a letter written by George Washington during the Revolutionary War. George Washington’s letter took first place this month, earning 47% of the votes, followed by the Penitentiary Inmate Files (38%), and Woodrow Wilson’s photograph (15%). The letter, written…

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February “Archives treasures” item #3: Letter from George Washington

February “Archives treasures” item #3: Letter from George Washington

Photo courtesy of the Washington State Archives Last week we began the February edition of our “Archives treasures” blog series with the Penitentiary Inmate Files of 1881-1902, and a photograph of President Woodrow Wilson’s visit to Seattle in 1919. Today, we are showcasing a letter written by George Washington as the final contender in this month’s contest. What better way to celebrate Presidents Day than to feature a letter written by our nation’s first president! The letter, written on British stationary and dated…

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George Washington’s letter is on display today

George Washington’s letter is on display today

As we blogged earlier this week, a letter penned by George Washington is on display today in the front lobby of the Secretary of State’s office in the Legislative Building on Olympia’s Capitol Campus. The letter will be here until 4 p.m. The letter was written in 1777 when Washington was a general in the Revolutionary War, years before he became America’s first president. In the photo above, State Archivist Jerry Handfield (right) and Benjamin Helle of the State Archives…

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A very historic letter, by George

A very historic letter, by George

Even though we no longer officially observe it due to the creation of Presidents Day, today, February 22, is George Washington’s birthday. In honor of the birthday of our nation’s first president, and the namesake of our great state, our State Archives will put an original letter by Washington on public display in the Secretary of State’s executive office this Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Our executive office is located in the northwest corner of the second floor…

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Where’s George?

Where’s George?

Wondering where the George Washington portrait in our lobby went? Don’t worry …. it wasn’t stolen by art thieves and we didn’t get rid of it! The painting, which has been in our office for more than 50 years, has been moved to make way for a vibrant new exhibit about Women in Government that will be officially opened on January 21.  For the next year, the big painting by student John Faed of Scotland (it’s a reproduction of George Washington Taking the Salute at Trenton) will be…

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