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Docs, photos of first WA territorial prison top Archives poll

Docs, photos of first WA territorial prison top Archives poll

Seatco Prison, near present-day Bucoda. (Photo courtesy Washington State Archives) Nowadays, it seems like anything about prison is hot. First, there’s the TV series “Orange Is the New Black.” And, OK, now you have documents about Washington’s first territorial prison capturing the June edition of the Archives Treasures poll. Is that a trend or what? The docs and photos related to the Seatco Prison near present-day Bucoda took first place with 57 percent, easily defeating State Ferries schedule pamphlets (30…

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June Archives Treasures: Vote, baby, vote!

June Archives Treasures: Vote, baby, vote!

Now that we’ve finished showcasing the June edition of the Archives Jewels, we’re ready for you to vote on your favorite.  Your three contestants are a collection of Washington State Ferries schedule pamphlets going back decades, documents on Washington’s first territorial prison and photos of the Spafford murals being removed from the House Gallery in 1993. You can pick your favorite by going to our online poll (below), which will be open until this Friday at 5 p.m. State Ferries…

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Archives Treasure #3: Photos of Spafford murals removal from House

Archives Treasure #3: Photos of Spafford murals removal from House

Workers remove one of the Spafford murals. (Photos courtesy Washington State Archives) In the long history of Olympia’s Legislative Building, you’d be hard-pressed to think of a more controversial set of artwork that once graced (some would say disgraced) its walls than the Spafford murals. Called the Twelve Labors of Hercules, they were created by artist Michael Spafford. Soon after the first murals appeared on the walls above the House Gallery in 1981, critics voiced displeasure over them. Some called…

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