Washington’s new Legacy Project debuts at the Capitol Tuesday afternoon — and on a computer screen near you.

 This is the re-launch of oral histories of some of the fascinating people who make this such a cool state.  And it will be done in a fresh new way, breezy, readable and compelling, and will be published free and online.

The first three will be unveiled Tuesday at 2 p.m. by Secretary of State Sam Reed and the project’s chief historian and writer, John Hughes, a veteran editorial and publisher, himself an author and historian who is a trustee of the Washington State Historical Society.  He’s written a spritely, mini-biography for each, and then provides transcripts of his fascinating sit-down conversations with his subjects.  Eat your heart out, Barbara.

The first three honorees are all pioneers in their own way —  Charles Z. Smith, the state’s first African-American Supreme Court justice; Adele Ferguson, the trailblazing journalist who has illuminated, amused and irritated as a Capitol reporter and statewide columnist for decades; and Krist Novoselic, the son of Croatian immigrants to helped invent new forms of musical expression as bassist for Nirvana and now is uber-involved in the Grange movement, voting rights and progressive politics.

All three will be present for the rollout event in Reed’s office, and Hughes will announce the next batch of oral histories he has up his sleeve.  (Not literally, people.)  Under 2008 legislation, the Secretary of State will produce profiles and oral histories on former statewide officials and jurists, former members of Congress, as well as interesting Washingtonians from all walks of life who have made notable contributions. The Legislature’s oral history program will specialize in legislative oral histories.

This site will house the project once it’s posted, no later than Tuesday! Enjoy, and let us know whatcha think.