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Washington State Library honors Hispanic heritage / Biblioteca del Estado de Washington rinde homenaje a la herencia hispana

Washington State Library honors Hispanic heritage / Biblioteca del Estado de Washington rinde homenaje a la herencia hispana

Información en español From the desk of Rand Simmons Need assistance finding information? Why don’t you Ask WA? “Ask WA,” you say. Ask-WA is a cooperative of more than 60 libraries throughout Washington State, both public and academic, that provide online reference services through chat, email, and instant messaging (IM). This statewide network is tied to a global network that provides access to online reference service, 24/7. So, when you enter the Ask-WA portal, no matter the day or time, you…

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Tale of a torn wagon cover

Tale of a torn wagon cover

From the desk of Evan Robb COLUMBIA Magazine contributor Lionel Youst recently contacted us to identify a ca. 1901-1905 photo of a covered wagon (at right). The wagon is depicted aboard the Columbia River steamboat Charles R. Spencer. This badly-faded albumen print is from the Stevenson Community Library’s Skamania County Heritage digital collection (click image to see full record). Despite the photo’s poor condition, Youst spotted something about the wagon’s canvas cover—a large tear. It made him recall a detail…

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The river of the west: life and adventure in the Rocky Mountains and Oregon

The river of the west: life and adventure in the Rocky Mountains and Oregon

From the desk of Jeff Martin The river of the west: life and adventure in the Rocky Mountains and Oregon By: Frances Fuller Victor, 1826-1902 Hartford, Conn: Columbian Book Company Publication Date: 1870 “Mr. Meek was born in Washington Co., Virginia, in 1810, one year before the settlement of Astoria, and at a period when Congress was much interested in the question of our Western possessions and their boundary. ” Manifest destiny” seemed to have raised him up, together with…

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North Cascades National Park – National Park Service – Celebrating 100 Years of Service

North Cascades National Park – National Park Service – Celebrating 100 Years of Service

The last of the three great National Parks we are featuring this month is Washington’s North Cascades Park.  It is also the last of our parks to be designated as such, with park status only coming in 1968 with the passing of the North Cascades National Park Act.  The park along with two “National Recreation Areas”, Ross Lake and Lake Chelan, and all are managed as the North Cascades National Park Complex. However long before it became a National Park this area…

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Classics in Washington History – Army letters from an Officer’s Wife, 1871 – 1888

Classics in Washington History – Army letters from an Officer’s Wife, 1871 – 1888

From the desk of Jeff Martin  Army letters from an Officer’s Wife, written by: Frances M.A. Roe Appleton And Company, New York and London Publication date: October 1909 Note: In 1871, Lieutenant Colonel Fayette Washington Roe (1850-1916) was sent to Fort Lyon, Colorado Territory. His wife, Frances M.A. Roe, describes their experiences while stationed at the fort in this collection of letters. “It is late, so this can be only a note to tell you that we arrived here safely, and…

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2nd Annual Zine Contest

2nd Annual Zine Contest

From the desk of Judy Pitchford Do you like history? Do you enjoy creative projects? Well, do we have something for you! Washington State Library, a division of the Office of the Secretary of State, is sponsoring the 2nd Annual Historical Zine Contest with co-sponsors Washington State Archives and Timberland Regional Library. Participants are asked to create a Zine about some aspect of Washington History. Washington residents from 4th grade and up (yes, adults, too!) are asked to participate. Don’t know…

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Mount Rainier National Park – National Park Service – Celebrating 100 Years of Service

Mount Rainier National Park – National Park Service – Celebrating 100 Years of Service

For many people when they think of Washington State the first thing that comes to mind is Mount Rainier. The tallest peak in the state, at 14,410 feet above sea level, Mount Rainier dominates the landscape on both the east and west side of the state and all Washingtonians feel that it is “their mountain.” On March 2, 1899, Mount Rainier was established as the fifth national park, named so by William McKinley.  The park is a veritable year round…

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Bet you didn’t know!… Special Collections in Washington State Libraries – Abby Williams Hill Collection

Bet you didn’t know!… Special Collections in Washington State Libraries – Abby Williams Hill Collection

Abby Williams Hill who lived in the late 19th and early 20th century (1861-1943) was a remarkable woman for her time.  She was a painter and a social activist, a brave woman who did not let much stand in her way.  She was the founder of the Washington State Congress of Mothers which eventually became known as the PTA.  She was a supporter of early childhood education.  Visits to the Tuskeegee Institute and the Flathead reservation made her a champion…

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The Tale of the Washington State Bird, Volume 2: Emma Otis the Bird Chairman, and the Garden Ladies

The Tale of the Washington State Bird, Volume 2: Emma Otis the Bird Chairman, and the Garden Ladies

From the desk of Mary Paynton Schaff Read Volume 1 here From 1943 until 1951, the matter of designating an official Washington state bird languished.  Legislators seemed reluctant to bring the matter to a vote and interested outside groups appear to have lost hope in forcing their lawmakers to act.  Finally in 1951, another wave of interest in making the willow goldfinch official broke ashore, courtesy of a group of determined women from the Washington State Federation of Garden Clubs….

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Olympic National Park – National Park Service – Celebrating 100 Years of Service

Olympic National Park – National Park Service – Celebrating 100 Years of Service

Washington is home to three National Parks (aren’t we lucky?)  Each park has its own unique features and opportunities for exploration and discovery.  As the state library we have a mission to collect, preserve, and make accessible to Washingtonians materials on the government, history, culture, and natural resources of the state.  As the national parks are one of our state unique treasures we have a variety of items in our collection that focus on Olympic, Rainier and the North Cascades…

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