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Tag: Secretary of State

55 years and still unsolved: Washington’s Great Petition Robbery

55 years and still unsolved: Washington’s Great Petition Robbery

In the lower level of the Legislative Building 55 years ago this week, a theft was discovered that made front-page newspaper headlines, resulted in no arrests, and shocked political leaders. The Great Petition Robbery, a heist of thousands of signature sheets bearing petition signatures for an anti-gambling ballot initiative, didn’t stop the initiative but did hasten the end of the long political career of Secretary of State Vic Meyers, a bandleader and former five-term lieutenant governor. The story unfolded over…

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Washington State Library Retains Reed

Washington State Library Retains Reed

Secretary of State Sam Reed is leaving his Office in January, but he won’t be leaving the Washington State Library.  Washington State Library’s online catalog will continue to preserve Sam’s career in public service as an author, co-author, and through subject headings. Sam Reed is listed as an author or co-author in 17 entries in the online catalog.  The authority heading as an author is Reed, Sam, 1941-.  There is a “See” reference for Reed, Sam Sumner, 1941 which points…

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Secretary of State Elect Kim Wyman Names Simmons State Librarian

Secretary of State Elect Kim Wyman Names Simmons State Librarian

Rand Simmons   Kim Wyman, who will be sworn in as Washington’s 15th Secretary of State, announced her choices for her executive team Friday December 7.  In making her appointments, Wyman consulted with outgoing Secretary of State Sam Reed, senior managers and others both inside and outside of government.  In her email, she described the team as “a mix of people from within and outside the office, with a wide variety of experience and perspectives.” Rand Simmons was chosen as Washington…

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Chronicling Washington: WSL receives additional funding for newspaper digitization project

Chronicling Washington: WSL receives additional funding for newspaper digitization project

(Image courtesy of the Washington State Library.) We are pleased to announce that the State Library has received an extension of funding from the National Digital Newspaper Program to continue digitizing historical newspapers through 2014.  The NDNP is a collaborative grant program between the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Library of Congress.  The Chronicling America project covers all newspapers in the public domain in all U.S. states and territories, approximately from 1836-1922.  Select titles are available through the…

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And they’re off and running!

And they’re off and running!

Washington’s campaign season is officially under way. Filing Week opened with a bang Monday with hundreds of candidates statewide filing for office.  There are 344 state offices open this year, along with potentially thousands of party precinct committee officer slots. Besides the presidential election and a U.S. Senate race, the state has an unusually rich assortment of open offices this year that are sure to attract heavy attention this week, says Secretary of State Sam Reed.  Reed himself is an…

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Slade talks redistricting, 9/11, Senate and more

Slade talks redistricting, 9/11, Senate and more

John C. Hughes and former U.S. Senator Slade Gorton sign copies of the book that Hughes recently wrote about the longtime statesman. Former state Attorney General and U.S. Senator Slade Gorton was the featured guest at a forum and book signing Thursday in the Legislative Building’s State Reception Room. More than 50 attendees heard Gorton speak about his enduring and prominent career in state and national politics.  Gorton is the subject of a recent biography entitled “Slade Gorton A Half-Century…

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From Your Corner Of Washington: Dick & Jane’s Spot

From Your Corner Of Washington: Dick & Jane’s Spot

Photo courtesy of Jim Nielend Dick and Jane’s Spot “Art for the heart, from the heart, in the heart of Washington” 101 North Pearl St., Ellensburg, WA 98926 If you’re ever rolling through Ellensburg, check out this vibrant and eye-catching corner, you can’t miss it! Dick and Jane’s Spot is made up of their own homemade artwork but also various other artists that they have compiled together. It’s so intricate! All the different artistic elements that they incorporate can keep…

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March is National Umbrella Month

March is National Umbrella Month

Despite Washington’s notoriously long (okay, endless) rainy season, Washingtonians tend to be ambivalent about the use of umbrellas.  The following is a typical conversation in a Washington workplace… Jill: “Ack, it’s pouring!  It wasn’t pouring two minutes ago when I was packing up for lunch.” Jane: “Give it two minutes, and it’ll stop.” Jill:  “What do you think?  Should I bring my umbrella?” Jane:  “No.” Jill:  “But I don’t want to ruin my suit.” Jane:  “Fine, then take an umbrella.” Jill: …

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Countdown to the November 8th Day of Jubilation – Part 11

Countdown to the November 8th Day of Jubilation – Part 11

Image courtesy of Washington State Archives In 1889, Congress passed the Enabling Act, which “enabled” Washington to draft a state constitution and request admission to the Union.  During the Washington State Constitutional Convention, women petitioned the delegates to include women’s suffrage in the new state constitution.  The issue was presented to the voters as a separate amendment on the ballot.  In the ensuing vote, 16,527 voters voted to include the amendment granting women the right to vote, but 34,613 voted…

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