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Tag: Legacy Washington

Lois and John Spellman
The remarkable, formidable Lois Spellman

The remarkable, formidable Lois Spellman

Former Washington State First Lady Lois Spellman died Thursday, January 25th, just days after the passing of her husband, former Washington State Governor John D. Spellman. Lois Elizabeth Murphy was born in 1927 in Havre, Montana. She and her husband prayed the Rosary together every night before bed for all 63 years of their marriage. They have six children and six grandchildren. Legacy Washington Chief Historian and Spellman biographer John Hughes remembers Lois in his book about the former governor: In…

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WSL Updates for September 14, 2017

WSL Updates for September 14, 2017

Volume 13, September 14, 2017 for the WSL Updates mailing list Topics include resources: 1) RESILIENCE RESOURCES 2) FREE BOOKS 3) THINK, DO, SHOW – SAVE THE DATE 4) THE FORGOTTEN WAR REMEMBERED 5) LATINO CULTURES RESOURCES 6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK ————————————————————————————————————— 1) RESILIENCE RESOURCES Many people around the country are facing difficult, trying times right now. Evacuees displaced by the recent hurricanes in Texas and along the southeastern seaboard states, immigrants, refugees, and others who have had…

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1889 Great Seattle Fire
From Digital Archives: photos of 1889 Seattle Fire

From Digital Archives: photos of 1889 Seattle Fire

When you ask the historical significance of June 6, most people think of the anniversary of D-Day. But June 6 also marks a horrific event in Seattle history. On that date in 1889, a fire destroyed much of Seattle, which was then a timber town and many years from becoming a world-famous city. Our Legacy Washington program’s exhibit on the year when Washington reached statehood, “Washington 1889: Blazes, Rails and Year of Statehood,” includes a section on the 1889 Great…

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Korean War veterans and people with ties to Korea meet in front of Korean War Memorial.
Legacy Washington honors those with ties to Korea

Legacy Washington honors those with ties to Korea

As it prepares for the September launch of its new online program and exhibit called “Korea 65: The Forgotten War Remembered,” our Legacy Washington team gathered about 40 people who are either Korean Americans or connected to the Korean War. They included veterans and people displaced by the war. The group met at the Korean War Memorial on the Capitol Campus in Olympia Monday for photographs, followed by an honorees reception in Secretary of State Kim Wyman’s office and a…

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Daughters of American Revolution added to LegacyMakers

Daughters of American Revolution added to LegacyMakers

As the saying goes, one good turn deserves another. In 2015, the Sacajawea Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) approached our Legacy Washington program about volunteering in some capacity. The DAR chapter, based in Olympia, was working on a project to gather all of the biographical information on the Washington State Regents, the women who head the DAR in the state, since its inception in 1894. After accepting DAR’s offer, Legacy Washington soon thought it would be…

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Historic Washington women: Adele Ferguson and Nancy Evans

Historic Washington women: Adele Ferguson and Nancy Evans

One was so well-known (and feared) by lawmakers and others around the Capitol Campus that you could refer to her by just her first name. The other became the youngest first lady in state history, and is credited with resurrecting a “drafty old” Governor’s Mansion. They are legendary Bremerton Sun reporter and columnist Adele Ferguson and beloved former first lady Nancy Evans, wife of three-term Gov. Dan Evans. Both women were subjects of Legacy Washington biographies and oral histories written…

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`Who are We?’ contest ends Nov. 30

`Who are We?’ contest ends Nov. 30

Washington students in grade 6-12 have until the end of November to take part in a contest sponsored by our Legacy Washington program. Legacy Washington’s contest asks students to share who they are and who they hope to become. Contestants can submit entries in different formats, including writings, film projects or two-dimensional art. The contest ends Nov. 30. Go here to sign up and learn about contest rules and other details. The contest is in connection with Legacy Washington’s “Who…

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Legacy Washington releases book of World War II profiles

Legacy Washington releases book of World War II profiles

(Image courtesy of Legacy Washington) A new book featuring a dozen gripping profiles of Washingtonians who served in World War II has just been released by the Office of Secretary of State’s Legacy Washington team. “Washington Remembers World War II” tells personal stories from the global conflict in which the state played a key role. The book is a tribute to the veterans and citizens who lived through unimaginable horrors, as well as the “Rosie the riveters” on the home…

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Ancestry Day event draws packed crowds

Ancestry Day event draws packed crowds

Secretary Wyman with Sons of the American Revolution at Ancestry Day Saturday in Tacoma. (Photos courtesy of Washington State Archives) It takes a special event to keep sun-craving Northwesterners indoors on a nice September weekend, but that was the case Saturday as hundreds packed themselves into a large meeting room at the Greater Tacoma Convention & Trade Center for Ancestry Day. The event was co-hosted by Ancestry, the Washington State Historical Society, and the Office of Secretary of State’s Washington…

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OSOS front lobby then and now

OSOS front lobby then and now

(Photo courtesy of Washington State Archives) We have good reason to think that our office’s front lobby is the best one in the Legislative Building. After all, our lobby’s walls typically are adorned with panels from an eye-catching historical exhibit created by our Legacy Washington team. But our front lobby wasn’t always so visitor friendly. The photo above was taken from the back our office, looking toward the front door. According to a co-worker with extensive knowledge of the Legislative…

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