With 6 percent of Washington’s population being Spanish speakers and with Spanish explorers having sailed along the Washington coast, it should come as no surprise to see that our State Library has numerous Spanish language books and documents in its extensive Northwest collections.  Here is the State Library’s Spanish language collection, an assortment that stretches as far back as the late 1700s.

Some of the State Library’s most interesting material is part of its Spanish language collection, including diaries and journals from notable Spanish explorers like Juan Perez, Bruno de Heceta, Tomas de Suria and Don Francisco Antonio Mourelle detailing their voyages to what are now the Pacific states and Canada.

The image here is a rare picture from the journal of 18th century Spanish explorer and artist Tomas de Suria from the State Library’s copy of his 1791 journal.  Suria accompanied Alessandro Malaspina on an expedition around the globe from 1789 to 1794.

The Spanish language items and picture are the second of this month’s “Library jewels,” three interesting, cool or rare items or collections found in the State Library. There will be one more library jewel this month before we feature all three in an online poll where you can pick which one you like best.