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Tag: Secretary of State

Come party like it’s 1910!

Come party like it’s 1910!

Mark your calendars for November 7 and 8 for two events commemorating the 100th anniversary of the vote to amend the Washington Constitution for women’s right to vote in the state as part of a Day of Jubilation.  The American Association of University Women is sponsoring a Women’s Suffrage Pink Tea at the State Capital Museum in Olympia  on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Visit this website for more details! The Office of the Secretary of State, the WSHS/Women’s…

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Countdown to the November 8th Day of Jubilation – Part 10

Countdown to the November 8th Day of Jubilation – Part 10

1887 and 1888 proved to be dark years for the women’s suffrage movement in Washington.  In the 1887 case of Harland v. Territory, the Territorial Supreme Court overturned the Women’s Suffrage Act of 1886 because it allowed women to serve on juries.  Justice George Turner (photo on left courtesy of Washington State Archives), who firmly believed that women were incapable of voting intelligently on public matters (tsk-tsk!), ruled that the title of the 1886 election law was defective and the…

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Promoting trade between India and Washington State

Promoting trade between India and Washington State

Hemant Sonawala of Mumbai, India, with Secretary Reed Hoping to increase trade and tourism between Washington State and India, good friend of Sam Reed, Hemant Sonawala, met in the Secretary of  State’s Office today with colleagues from the Department of Commerce and the Lieutenant Governor’s Office.  Hemant is on a two-week trade mission, promoting India and the vast opportunities for small- to medium-sized Washington businesses to invest in that market.

Countdown to the November 8th Day of Jubilation – Part 3

Countdown to the November 8th Day of Jubilation – Part 3

In 1871, Daniel Bigelow brought before the Territorial Legislature a bill granting women’s suffrage.  However,  the Legislature rejected the bill by enacting a law which declared that women could not vote until the U.S. Congress made it the law of the land.  (Dave Hastings alluded to this in his comment on my previous post.)  Here is what they said: “Hereafter no female shall have the right of ballot at any poll or election precinct in this Territory until the Congress of the United…

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Didyaknow…?

Didyaknow…?

… that candidates filing for public office used to crowd the Secretary of State’s lobby?  The photograph below, taken in the late 50’s, depicts what filing week used to look like.   Most candidates were men, but a closer look towards the back of the picture reveals at least two women in the room.   This year candidate filing week is June 7-11, but the lobby won’t look anything like the picture.   Most candidates today file online instead of coming into the office. Photograph courtesy of the Washington State Archives and part of…

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Didyaknow…?

Didyaknow…?

Did you know that some of the decor in the Secretary of State’s office is the same as it was decades ago?  Can you guess which original items in the picture below are still decorating Secretary Reed’s office today?  There are a total of  four items in this old photograph that we can see in Reed’s office right now, and the answers will be revealed on Monday.  (A bonus point goes to you if you can guess the name of the Secretary of…

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Free and fun: E-biography of trailblazer Jennifer Dunn

Free and fun: E-biography of trailblazer Jennifer Dunn

The price is right – like, zero – and the storyline is darned interesting.  The oral-history folks at The Legacy Project have just e-published the ninth in a series about fascinating folks who have made a difference in Washington.  The late Congresswoman Jennifer Dunn is the subject of the latest biography. Family and friends of Dunn’s gathered in Bellevue Tuesday night for a sentimental ceremony rolling out the new e-publication.  Guests ranged from high school classmates and GOP officials she worked with…

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Comcast Newsmakers: Sam Reed

Comcast Newsmakers: Sam Reed

Comcast Newsmakers talks with Sam Reed about the various functions of his office. It’s a good summary of the (rather odd) variety of functions the Office of the Secretary of State performs: elections, corporations, charities, archives, legacy project, the state library. The Washington State Library gets excellent treatment, both time-wise and praise-wise. If you’re impatient, you can skip ahead – we’re covered from 1:01 – 2:16.