Browsed by
Tag: Territorial Librarian

Profiles of Washington Territorial Librarians – Eleanor (Ellen) Sharp Stevenson, 1888-1890

Profiles of Washington Territorial Librarians – Eleanor (Ellen) Sharp Stevenson, 1888-1890

Eleanor (Ellen) Sharp Stevenson, 1888-1890 From the Desks of the Central Library Staff She was the last Territorial Librarian and by default became the first State Librarian when Washington attained statehood on Nov. 11, 1889. Born July, 1848 in Logan County, Ky., she surfaced as a teacher in Olympia in 1882. In 1884 she was apparently teaching in Mason County. By 1886 Ellen was employed as a clerk for the Legislature and in that brief window of time (1883-1888) when…

Read More Read More

Profiles of Washington Territorial Librarians – Andrew Jackson Moses, 1859

Profiles of Washington Territorial Librarians – Andrew Jackson Moses, 1859

From the Desks of the Central Library Staff Called “a family of rascals” by one historian, the Moses brothers (Simpson, A.B., and Andrew, a native of South Carolina) along with Elwood Evans, came from Ohio to Olympia 1851 via the Nicaragua route. Simpson had been appointed the Collector and Andrew became a merchant on Main Street (Capitol Way). He had the instincts of an information professional when he ran this notice in the Feb. 5, 1853 issue of the Columbian…

Read More Read More

Profiles in Washington Territorial Librarians – Henry R. Crosbie, 1857

Profiles in Washington Territorial Librarians – Henry R. Crosbie, 1857

[The Territorial Librarian profiles were compiled by Sean Lanksbury, Mary Schaff, Kim Smeenk, and Steve Willis] Born ca. 1825, Pennsylvanian “Harry” Crosbie was elected to the first three territorial legislative sessions (1854-1855) as a member of the House representing Clark County (then known as Clarke County), where he had been District Court Clerk. In his capacity as a House member he was also on the first Commission on Education. In the 2nd Session he served as Speaker of the House….

Read More Read More

Digging Up History: The Unintentional Washington State Library Connection

Digging Up History: The Unintentional Washington State Library Connection

From the desk of Steve Willis, Central Library Services Program Manager of the Washington State Library: A few decades ago, back when my family still had a farm out in northwestern Thurston County, my father noticed a small glass object that had surfaced after he plowed the field. The farm had once been home to an inn called “The Hicklin Halfway House” on the stage road between Olympia and Montesano in Territory days. We were used to plowing up small pieces…

Read More Read More