Early this week, we began our “State Library jewels” blog, created in order to give the State Library a chance to brag about some of the most interesting items that reside along its many shelves and beyond.

The first jewel we presented was a 1924 road map, followed by a list of motor vehicle owners in 1912. Our third piece to be showcased is the scrapbook of Clara Watson Elsom, a leading activist in the Women’s Suffrage Movement.

Inside the scrapbook (on the left) is Elsom’s own collection of newspaper articles, photographs, letters and notes, as well as the obituary of Emma Smith DeVoe, president of the Washington Equal Suffrage Association and state organizer for a women’s voting group called NAWSA.

The scrapbook was assembled in no particular order, but does contain several bits of memorabilia ranging from October 22, 1908, to August 27, 1938.

On Monday we’ll have our online poll up and running so you can vote on your favorite State Library jewel for January.