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Category: Digital Archives

Debbie Bahn of Washington State Digital Archives
Digital Archives staffer contributes to award-winning book

Digital Archives staffer contributes to award-winning book

As the electronics records archivist for the Washington State Digital Archives, Debbie Bahn plays a key role at the first digital archives in the U.S. Bahn now can claim she also is part of a team of contributors that earned a national archives award. The Society of American Archivists recently announced that Philip C. Bantin, director of the archives and records management specialization at Indiana University, is the 2017 recipient of its Waldo Gifford Leland Award for his book, Building…

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Mount St. Helens eruption
From the Archives: Mount St. Helens photos

From the Archives: Mount St. Helens photos

If you mention “May 18, 1980” to an older Washingtonian, you’ll likely get a knowing response: It’s the day Mount St. Helens erupted. It was on a sunny morning 37 years ago today that the eruption blew off the top 1,300 feet from its once cone-like summit, killing 57 people and thousands of animals, and destroying or flattening thousands of acres of timber. The eruption occurred when the mountain’s north face collapsed due to an earthquake, resulting in the largest…

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From the Archives: Classic fishing photos!

From the Archives: Classic fishing photos!

We know we don’t have to tell Washington’s fishing community, but Saturday marks the opening weekend of trout fishing in many lowland lakes. To help celebrate the big opening, and to help get folks in the mood to grab their poles and tackle boxes, we’re sharing a few of the classic fishing photos found in the State Digital Archives website. The top photo shows a man in waders fishing in an unidentified river with mountains in the background.  The photo…

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Classic Archives photos capture blossom time

Classic Archives photos capture blossom time

Seeing trees and flowers in bloom is one of the highlights of spring. Nowhere is that more evident than Central Washington’s fruit orchards, where blossoming apple, cherry and pear trees add a dash of pretty color to the landscape this time of year. These classic photos found on the State Digital Archives show what we’re talking about. The top photo, taken in the 1920, features an orchard in bloom in the Wenatchee Valley. The bottom photo shows blossoming rhododendrons, Washington’s…

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From the WA State Digital Archives: 1939 bill-signing photo

From the WA State Digital Archives: 1939 bill-signing photo

Gov. Clarence Martin signs a bill into law in 1939 as Secretary of State Belle Reeves (seated on left) and female legislators watch. (Photo courtesy of Washington State Digital Archives) We’ve reached that point of the legislative session when Gov. Jay Inslee starts signing bills into law. In honor of Women’s History Month, we’re sharing a Washington State Digital Archives photograph from 1939 that depicts a bill-signing ceremony. This shot shows Gov. Clarence Martin signing into law House Bill 300,…

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Hey, put me down!

Hey, put me down!

Two skiers at Mount Rainier in 1940s. (Photo courtesy of Washington State Digital Archives) If you’re looking to go somewhere for winter recreation that has jaw-dropping views and can take your breath away (or at least make you pant a little bit due to the altitude), try Paradise in Mount Rainier National Park. Located on the south side of Rainier, Paradise offers a snow play area for tubers and plastic disc riders. Paradise also is a popular place for snowshoeing,…

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From the Archives: 1929 Kettle Falls basketball team photo

From the Archives: 1929 Kettle Falls basketball team photo

(Photo courtesy Washington State Digital Archives) The regular season is ending for high school basketball teams throughout Washington. For many teams, it means no more practices and games. But for others, the playoffs await. With anticipation building ahead of the postseason, our State Digital Archives has this classic photo of a hoops squad from long ago. This photo, taken around 1929, shows the Kettle Falls High School boys basketball team. Gotta love the uniforms! The photo is part of the…

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From the Digital Archives: 1959 Capitol Christmas tree

From the Digital Archives: 1959 Capitol Christmas tree

(Courtesy of Washington State Digital Archives) Now that Christmas is over, many families have removed their Christmas trees or will soon. In fact, the Holiday Tree in the Capitol Rotunda outside our office will be coming down in early January. In case you’re wondering about these trees of yesteryear, here’s a rare photo of the 1959 Christmas tree that stood in the Rotunda. The classic photo is part of the Susan Parish Photograph Collection, 1889-1990 found in the State Digital…

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Archives and Library’s connection to `Queen of the Fakers’

Archives and Library’s connection to `Queen of the Fakers’

Maud Wagnon’s State Penitentiary mug shots. (Image courtesy of Washington State Archives) Many people associate our State Archives and State Library with old government documents and historic books and collections that are like gold to genealogists and history buffs. But many of those documents and collections kept by the Archives and Library also tell fascinating stories. One example focuses on an Oregon woman named Maud Wagnon (aka Maud Johnson), who defrauded interurban railroads more than a century ago, earning her…

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2016 Archives Month celebrates Washington parks

2016 Archives Month celebrates Washington parks

  2016 Archives Month poster. (Image courtesy of Washington State Archives) When it comes to parks, Washington is pretty blessed. Just consider our national parks. Our oldest, Mount Rainier, includes its namesake peak that majestically stands nearly three miles above sea level and draws visitors not only from our state but around the nation and world. Then there is Olympic National Park, which is highlighted by the breathtaking view from Hurricane Ridge, the incredible rain forests on the park’s west…

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