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Tag: Washington State Archives

Spokane and the Great War

Spokane and the Great War

A century ago, more than 10,000 Spokane residents served in the military as soldiers, sailors, and marines in World War I. More than 180 of them didn’t come back. Now, through the diligent work of State Archives graduate assistant Joshua Van Veldhuizen with the long-neglected public records in the Spokane War Committee cards, the experiences of Spokaneites before, during, and in the wake of the First World War have been chronicled at Spokane Goes To War.  To convert the old…

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Introducing Primarily Washington, a new education resource

Introducing Primarily Washington, a new education resource

How do you make history exciting and real to today’s always-connected students? You meet them online. For the last few years, the Washington State Library, Washington State Archives, and Legacy Washington have been meeting with Washington teachers. We asked for their help in finding a better way to serve our education community, promote education and lifelong learning, and connect Washingtonians to their history. After extensive cooperation with teachers and the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, we are proud to…

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The State Library table at RAD Fair
A rad time with the State Library at RAD Fair

A rad time with the State Library at RAD Fair

In late April, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife hosted an event in the rotunda of the Natural Resources Building for Records Awareness Day, fondly referred to as “RAD Fair.” Among the groups invited to participate in this fair were the Washington State Archives and the Washington State Library. Laurie Fortier and Carmen Tinker represented the State Library and discussed their work throughout the day with DNR staff and other visitors to their table. Many of the people they…

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Man breaking into bank vault
Archives Spotlight: The Hollywood Bandit

Archives Spotlight: The Hollywood Bandit

“I don’t want any bait bills or dye packs, got it?” Scott Scurlock, known to police as “Hollywood,” clutched a black pistol. He didn’t point the gun at anyone. He didn’t wave it around. But he made sure everyone knew he had it as he confidently made simple demands. Heeding Scurlock’s warnings, a bank teller escorted the robber to the vault, while two henchmen manned the lobby. Within minutes, Scurlock wielded a duffle stuffed with over a million dollars, and…

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Old Newspapers
Searching old newspapers is easier thanks to Gordon

Searching old newspapers is easier thanks to Gordon

Meet Gordon Russ. He won the Washington State Digital Archives’ 200 million contest, making the closest guess of December 5th for the day Digital Archives would make its 200 millionth entry into its database. There was no science behind this guess. He picked it simply because of the fact that it was his birthday. Gordon took home an Ancestry DNA kit, a fitting gift for the history buff.  Gordon is a volunteer at the Washington State Library. Retired in 2003,…

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Spokane Public Library
On the road again

On the road again

Over the past few months, Secretary Wyman has been traveling around Washington on a number of multi-purpose trips. As she is the Secretary OF State, we’ve been calling these community visits her Secretary IN State tour. Since August, she’s visited Kelso and Longview in Cowlitz County; Vancouver and Camas in Clark County; Aberdeen in Grays Harbor County; Pasco, Richland and Kennewick in Benton and Franklin Counties; Walla Walla in Walla Walla County; Bellingham and Fairview in Whatcom County, Mount Vernon…

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State Library kicks off Historical Zine contest

State Library kicks off Historical Zine contest

The Washington State Library has launched a fun contest for Washington students and adults that allow them to express themselves about some part of state history. The Historical Zine Contest is in its third year. For those wondering what are Zines (rhymes with beans), they are basically self-published magazines – often via a photocopier – that give the creator’s point of view on a subject. Contest participants are asked to create a Zine about some aspect of Washington history. The…

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2017 History Day winners are honored in Olympia.
Archives honors Washington History Day winners

Archives honors Washington History Day winners

Five Washington students recently showed they might have the stuff to be the next Ken Burns. The Washington State Historical Society coordinates Washington History Day, which features an annual contest for students in grades 6-12 throughout the state. The Washington State Archives supports History Day by having staff volunteer to serve as contest judges. The contest encourages students to become historians by developing research, analysis, presentation and social skills. Working individually or in groups, students select a topic related to…

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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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Just in time for Presidents Day: Archives photos of presidents visiting our Washington

Just in time for Presidents Day: Archives photos of presidents visiting our Washington

President Harry S. Truman with Gov. Monrad Wallgren during his 1945 visit to Washington. (Photos courtesy Washington State Archives) Even though Washington state is 3,000 miles away from Washington, D.C., we do sometimes receive a visit from the U.S. president. In fact, the Washington State Archives over the years has collected several classic photos of presidents who traveled west to visit the Evergreen State. In honor of Presidents Day, we’re showing off some of the Archives’ presidential photos. President Dwight…

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