Abby Williams Hill who lived in the late 19^th and early 20^th 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 of equal education for all. However despite these accomplishments, she is best known for her landscape paintings of the American West.

In the early 1900s Hill was commissioned by the Great Northern and later the Northern Pacific railway to produce paintings to promote tourism in the area.  Leaving her husband behind in Tacoma but taking her four young children, one son and three daughters, Hill camped and painted 22 paintings in 18 weeks. Instead of a salary the railroad gave her tickets for a 1000 mile long journey for herself and her children.  This allowed her to keep rights to her work and later she negotiated to have the paintings returned.  The experience of producing these paintings created in Hill a lifelong love for the outdoors.  Later in life, concerned by the threat of commercialism, Hill traveled for 7 years in the 1920s and produced a series of National Parks paintings to document what she viewed as disappearing landscapes.

The painting which illustrates this post exemplifies Hill’s character.  When she painted the mountain, it was unnamed, and the US Geological Survey let her name it.  She named it Mount Booker, after Booker T. Washington, the famous African American educator that she came to know at Tuskegee. As you can imagine, it was controversial in the early 1900s for a white woman to be naming a mountain after a black man however Abby stood her ground.

“Here was a glorious monument not made by the hand of man but carved by the Almighty.  What could be more fitting than to name it for one of the most truly great men of our times… When we look at Mt. Booker let us be thankful for Booker Washington’s life, for what he did to solve seemingly impossible problems… His influence like the stream from the mountain will go on through the ages to bless and help mankind.” (Newsclipping)

If you find yourself fascinated by Hill, a more thorough biography can be found here.

When Hill died in 1943 her children looked for a place to house the collection of her artwork and papers.  As she had spent much of her life in Tacoma, the University of Puget Sound’s Archives & Special Collections (UPS) was chosen as the site.  UPS’s Abbey Williams Hill Collection grew piecemeal over several decades.  The current collection consists of paintings but in addition there are letters and journals. Digitization of these materials is ongoing .  The majority of Hill’s personal papers are still only available in their original paper format.  She was a prolific writer and the bulk of this collection is from the early 1900s through 1910.  There is a collection of photos, both family photos and photos taken by Hill on her travels. Also included is ephemera such as old National Park passes and pamphlets. The collection is housed on the second floor of UPS’s Collins Memorial Library is available for research by appointment only. If you want additional information about the collection send an email to: [email protected].

References

Fields, Ronald. “The wanderer, a portrait of Abby Williams Hill.” The University of Puget Sound. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 July 2016

Newsclipping, “Mountain in State of Washington Named in Honor of Booker Washington by Mrs. Abby Williams Hill, Painter”, The New York Age, March 8, 1930, Box 17, Folder 15, Abby Williams Hill Collection, Collins Memorial Library, University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, Washington.

In May the Library Council of Washington held their quarterly meeting in Pullman at Washington State University’s Holland and Terrell libraries.  After the meeting they were given a tour of the library as well as a visit to Special Collections and Archives.  As part of the tour the members learned that WSU houses Virginia Woolf’s personal library.  How cool is that?  How did this happen? Questions, we have questions… This chance encounter got the wheels spinning.  How many interesting and unexpected collections are housed in Washington Libraries?  With the Virginia Woolf collection in mind this intrepid reporter decided to reach out to the Washington library community and see what she could uncover.  The result of this exploration will be a blog series we’re calling,  “Bet you didn’t know!”  Episode #1 fittingly, will cover The Virginia Woolf Library.

The first question asked of Trevor James Bond, Head of Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections at WSU was “How did the personal library of a British author end up in Pullman, Washington?”  The story can be traced back to WSU’s former English department chair, John Elwood.  In 1967, while on a sabbatical, he and his wife were living in Sussex near the Woolf’s country home. During this time a friendship was struck between the couples.  In 1969, after the death of Leonard, Virginia Woolf’s husband, a mutual friend, Nancy Lucas, told Ellwood’s wife Karen that a “large portion of the Woolf’s personal library would soon be available for purchase” (Becker).  Ellwood jumped on the opportunity and the purchase was arranged.  The timing was prescient as not long after there was a revival of interest in Woolf’s work.

The collection has been augmented and built over time.  In 1974 a large collection of Hogarth Press (the Woolf’s publishing house) publications were purchased from Trekkie Parsons (a friend and executor of Leonard Woolf’s estate).  A purchase of 400 books in 1979, and another 100 volumes in 1983 helped to build the collection (Becker).

The current collection contains close to 10,000 books and is the amalgamation of four to five libraries that came together.  Books from Virginia’s father Leslie Steven, books from her brother Toby, books from her husband’s library, books from friends and review books.

The Woolf’s personal library tells to us a lot about their reading and provides a peek into their lives and how they thought.  In the library are many volumes inscribed by authors or sent to them for review. The Woolf library reflects how they read and used books; which books are worn and used, which are barely touched. Many of the books arrived in bad condition with detached covers.  Virginia Woolf herself attempted repairs.  Her efforts are described as “slapdash and pathetically inadequate”. (King & Miletic-Vejzovic)

In addition to the books in this collection WSU houses maps that were part of the original acquisition, and almost most fascinating of all there is a collection of “insert papers.” This collection consists of manuscripts, letters, and miscellaneous material that, for a variety of reasons, were placed by Leonard and Virginia Woolf in books from their working library.  (T. J. Bond, personal communication, June 10, 2016)

If you are interested in browsing the collection in the catalog, here is a link limited to just the Woolf library.  Or if you’re in the Pullman area, why not make an appointment and view the collection up close and personal?

Becker, P. (2013, October 25). The first lot of the more than 9,000-volume personal library of Leonard and Virginia Woolf arrives at Washington State University’s Holland Library in Pullman in 1971. In HistoryLink.org. Retrieved June 23, 2016, from http://bit.ly/28SLZC2

King, J., & Miletic-Vejzovic, L. (2003). The library of Leonard and Virginia Woolf: A short-title catalog. Pullman, Wash: Washington State University Press.  Retrieved June 23, 2016, from http://bit.ly/28SC1zO

The Washington State Library has a collection of very special books we keep in our “vault”.  This includes the Territorial Library Collection, as well as many other beautiful and rare books.  These books are old and fragile and special considerations need to be used to view them.  If you make an appointment and travel to Olympia during the library’s open hours, we would love to help you view these rare books. However thanks to the wonders of modern digitization many of these titles are available in digital format through the internet archive.   We thought you might like to have a peek into some of these beautiful old books that the Washington State Library keeps safe for you.

An interesting fact about this book is that it is the first known use of the word “Oregon” used to describe areas to the west of Carver’s travels.

Travels through the interior parts of North-America, in the years 1766, 1767, and 1768/ by Jonathan Carver, which you will find in our catalog. 

This book includes a vocabulary of the Chippewa language (beginning on page 420)

Beautiful maps, descriptions of the strange animals and plants encountered on his travels and engravings of the things he saw.

If you’d like to see the book in its digital entirety use this direct link to the internet archive. Or the next time you’re in the area, why not make an appointment and come and view the original.

Let us know in the comments how you like these sneak peeks into the treasures of our state.

From the desk of Sean Lanksbury. PNW & Special Collections Librarian

This weekend, C-SPAN Cities will be featuring a block of programming on the history and the literary culture of Olympia on its American History TV and Book TV specials.  Individual segments featured in the block will also air in between other programs throughout the weekend.  Each segment deals with a single topic, such as local authors, notable political figures, historic industries, plus visits to literary and historical sites.  Among those featured during Book TV’s block on Olympia literary culture and history is the Territorial Collection of the Washington State Library, maintained at the Central Branch in Tumwater, WA, just south of Olympia.

Book TV’s Olympia block will air Saturday, February 1st at 9am (PST) and again on Sunday, February 2nd at 6:45am (PST) on C-SPAN2. American History TV’s Olympia block airs on Sunday , February 2 at 2pm PST.  (Check your local listings for availability)

Read below for additional details, courtesy of C-SPAN:

“OLYMPIA WEEKEND

Featured on Book TV and American History TV

Weekend of February 1-2, 2014

Hosted by our Comcast cable partners, our C-SPAN Cities Tour staff visited numerous locations to explore the history and literary culture of Washington’s capital city.

 In addition to having the below pieces sprinkled in throughout the weekend on the respective networks, both AHTV and BOOK TV will have a block of programming where ALL of the respective Olympia pieces for their networks will air.

BOOK TV OLYMPIA BLOCK: SATURDAY, February 1 at 9am PT/12pm ET on C-SPAN2 (Comcast Ch: 25)

AHTV OLYMPIA BLOCK: SUNDAY, February 2 at 5pm ET on C-SPAN3 (Comcast Ch: 150)

AHTV FEATURES

• Tour the Washington State Capitol Building with Tour Guide David Shipley. Learn about the history of Olympia as the state’s only capital city.  Hear about Washington’s transition from a territorial government to becoming a state, its historical significance and the damage caused by two earthquakes since the building was built. See the granite halls of this historic building and view its extensive Tiffany collection.
• Learn about the Boldt Decision, which secured Native American’s fishing rights on the Puget Sound in the 1970s. During the 20^th century Native Americans were arrested and jailed for fishing salmon in certain parts of the Puget Sound.  Washington State claimed their fishing activities were eroding the fish supply.  The Native Americans argued they had a right to fish these lands under the Medicine Creek Treaty, signed in 1854. Hear former Washington State Supreme Court Justice Gerry Alexander explain the origins of the treaty and the events leading to the Boldt Decision, and Nisqually tribal member and activist Billy Frank Jr. share his stories and thoughts on what many call the landmark civil rights issue of the Pacific Northwest. 
• Learn about naturalist and explorer David Douglas, the namesake for the Douglas Fir Tree.  Douglas, a Scottish botanist, explored North America and Hawaii in search of plants that could be grown in his native land. Jack Nisbet, author of “The Collector” talks about Douglas’ adventures, and showcases Douglas’ findings which were part of the first systematic collection of flora and fauna in the Northwest
• See the Murrow Brothers Exhibit at the State Capitol Museum.  Susan Rohrer, Manager of the State Capitol Museum, showcases the traveling exhibit that explains the lives of the three Murrow brothers, including Edward R. Murrow, who grew up in Washington’s Skagit (SKAA-git) County.  See photos of the men throughout their lives and hear how each contributed to Washington State and to the country.
• Tour Taylor Shellfish and learn about the history of the Olympia Oyster. Hear local historian Ed Echtle talk about the origins of Olympia’s shellfish industry and the impact oyster harvesting has had on the Puget Sound and the rest of the country.  Taylor Shellfish’s Sustainability Manager, Marco Pinchot takes us on a tour of one of their processing plants, and talks about the health of the Puget Sound today.
• Visit the Bigelow House, one of the oldest homes in Olympia.  Explore this historic home with local historian Shanna Stevenson. Hear about Daniel and Ann Elizabeth Bigelow’s ties to the early settlement in Olympia, their relationship with Susan B. Anthony, and their fight to get women the right to vote.

• Hear Governor Jay Inslee (D) talk about the state’s economy and the impact of recent legislation.
• See the Grand Coulee to Grunge Exhibit at the Washington State Capitol. Washington Secretary of State Kim Wyman takes us through the exhibit and highlights several innovations from Washington that have changed the world— the timber industry, the Grand Coulee Dam, the Hanford plutonium production site, Boeing, the music industry and more.

 

Book TV FEATURES

• Learn about the Marbled Murrelet and the litigation surrounding its habitat from author Maria Mudd Ruth, author of “Rare Bird: Pursuing the Mystery of the Marbled Murrelet.”
• Hear author S.R. Martin, Jr. recount his families migration during the 1940’s from East Texas to San Francisco by way of Wyoming and Montana.  In his book, “On the Move: A Black Family’s Western Saga,” Martin compares his childhood growing up in Wyoming and Montana to those of his relatives who remained in the Jim Crow south.
• Learn about the maritime history of the Puget Sound from author and historian, Chuck Fowler author of “Tall Ships on Puget Sound.”  From the first 18th century explorers to the barges that populate the Puget Sound today, Fowler explores its role in the development of the Pacific Northwest region.
• Tour the Special Collections of the Washington State Library with Special Collections Librarian Sean Lanksbury.  Housed within the collection are 900 rare books purchased by Washington’s first governor, Isaac Stevens.  Governor Stevens purchased the books to create a makeshift library for the people of the newly formed state.
• Learn about Washington State’s 2004 gubernatorial race between Dino Rossi and Christine Gregoire from Trova Heffernan, author of “An Election for the Ages.”  At the conclusion of election night, out of 2.8 million votes, only 261 separated the candidates.  After two recounts and multiple lawsuits, Gregoire was declared the winner by 133 votes.  In “An Election for the Ages,” Heffernan talks about the media frenzy surrounding the case and its impact on Washington politics.  We also hear from Sam Reed, who was Washington’s Secretary of State during this election.
• Hear about naturalist and explorer David Douglas, the namesake for the Douglas Fir Tree.  Douglas, a Scottish botanist, explored North America and Hawaii in search of plants that could be grown in his native land. Jack Nisbet, author of “The Collector” talks about Douglas’ adventures, and showcases Douglas’ findings which were part of the first systematic collection of flora and fauna in the Northwest

For more information on the C-SPAN Cities Tour of U.S. cities, go to www.c-span.org/localcontent.”

The Library of Congress, along with 12 other governmental agencies and non-governmental organizations, including the American Library Association and the  Institute of Museum and Library Services, have recently created the Declaration of Learning.  This document “formally announces their partnership as members of the Inter-Agency Collaboration on Education”.  Each organization involved pledges to utilize its historic artifacts and institutional expertise to create interactive digital media, apps, and websites.

In the spirit of this declaration, Washington State Library would like to highlight some of  our digital services and activities that also share this pledge.

Washington Rural Heritage

Washington Rural Heritage is a collection of historic materials documenting the early culture, industry, and community life of Washington State. The collection is an ongoing project of small, rural libraries and partnering cultural institutions, guided by an initiative of the Washington State Library (WSL). The initiative provides the infrastructure and training to both digitize and serve unique collections to a widespread audience.

Classics in Washington History

The State Library is delighted to present Classics in Washington History. This digital collection of full-text books brings together rare, out of print titles for easy access by students, teachers, genealogists and historians. Visit Washington’s early years through the lives of the men and women who lived and worked in Washington Territory and State.

Special Collections of the Washington State Library

 The Special Collections of the Washington State Library collect and preserve rare and archival materials that enrich research in the history and culture of the Pacific Northwest.
The geographical region comprises the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho in their entirety; the province of British Columbia; and western portions of the State of Montana.  Alaska and Yukon Territory materials are also acquired selectively when they relate to the Pacific Northwest region.

These non-circulating collections are comprised of historic and unique books, pamphlets, maps and manuscripts that are made available for research in our reading room.

Historical Maps

The State Archives and the State Library hold extensive map collections dealing with the Washington State and the surrounding region. Maps for this digital collection will be drawn from state and territorial government records, historic books, federal documents and the Northwest collection.

Genealogy at the Washington State Library

Washington State Library has Wide array of genealogical resources both online and on site, including biographies, bibliographies, vital records, cemetery inscriptions, City and County histories, directories, Immigration records , military records and more.

Historic Newspapers in Washington

Washington State Library’s newspaper collection includes current issues on paper and historic newspapers on microfilm with some searchable online. We subscribe to about 125 daily and weekly newspapers throughout Washington, plus a few out-of-state papers. The microfilm collection consists of over 40,000 reels of newspapers dating from the 1850s to the present.

From the desk of Sean Lanksbury. PNW & Special Collections Librarian

Have you ever wanted to learn more about Pacific Northwest and Washington State History?  Perhaps you moved here later in life and hear faint murmurings of arduous emigration, political intrigue, land dispute, and subsequent prosperity, but know little of the stories or characters involved?  Maybe you vaguely remember those early Washington State History lessons you had in school and want to brush up on the details?

Whatever the reason might be, a fine way to start your reading selection is to consult The Washington 89, a standard bibliographic reference authored by Boeing executive and respected antiquarian George Tweney.  Mr. Tweney selected and annotated 89 essential Pacific Northwest Americana titles that were published before 1959, in honor of the 1989 Centennial of Washington Statehood.  In 2002, The Washington State Library set upon a project to unify all Washington 89 titles highlighted by Mr. Tweney into a curated collection that spans multiple library collection areas.  The result became the Washington State Library Tweney 89 Collection.

A first-class article describing the library’s Tweney 89 project appears in the Fall 2011 issue of The Journal of the Book Club of Washington.  Written by retired Special Collections Librarian Kathryn Hamilton-Wang, the article details the project from soup to nuts.  Starting with identifying what the collection already held, Ms. Hamilton-Wang describes the acquisitions process, the extensive cataloging description and record cleanup, the establishment of a unified author to establish the link to Tweney’s work.  She concludes with an analysis of the collection’s many facets and highlights representative selections throughout the story.

The Book Club of Washington was founded in 1982 and “is a non-profit organization of book lovers and collectors who have a special interest in collecting and preserving printed materials. Its mission is to further the interests of book collectors and scholars and to promote an understanding and appreciation of fine books.”

There are other fine bibliographic references for researcher of Western and Pacific Northwestern history.  A selected list of Indexes, Union Lists, Catalogues, and Bibliographies for Western Americana and Pacific Northwest Research, available at the Washington State Library is available to you for download here.

From the desk of Sean Lanksbury. PNW & Special Collections Librarian

The Washington State Special Collections contains nearly 600 distinct manuscript collections.  What unifies these collections is their focus on Pacific Northwest and Washington State history, but oftentimes the primary documents contained within each box has broader national or international appeal.

One example of this broader appeal is Washington State Library’s collection of Civil War veterans’ correspondence concerning attendance of the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg reunion, 1913 (MS 115).  Consider the following description, taken from the catalog record:

This fascinating collection also contains correspondence from the railroads for proposals with quotes on the cost of the transportation and descriptions of what would be included in the trip, a copy of the itinerary of the special train to attend the celebration, a list of the veterans in the train program, and a typescript of all of the veterans with their addresses that made up the Washington State delegation that attended the reunion.  A few of the items are facsimiles of material kept at the Washington State Archives, but most of the collection is made of originals.

As our nation commemorates the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, and approaches the anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, the State Library is taking special strides to provide access to our Civil War-related materials.  Want to get a better look at this collection, or learn more about what the State Library has to offer war researchers?  Feel free to contact the State Library Special Collections or use the Washington State Library “Ask-a-Librarian” service for further information. Too far away to visit?  The library has recently scanned much of the related material to make it more readily available to researchers.

The Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania was fought around July 1–3, 1863 and is considered by many the turning point in the Civil War.  For more information about the battle, the American Civil War, and Washington State’s Civil War veterans, please consider some of these links:

• US Civil War – Selected Resources at Library of Congress
• Civil War 150 – A commemoration by the National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
• The United States Civil War Center at Louisiana State University Special Collections
• Civil War Historians at Pennsylvania State University
• Civil War Trust
• WCWA: The Washington Civil War Association
• Civil War Veterans Buried in Washington State 

From the desk of Sean Lanksbury. PNW & Special Collections Librarian

Otherwise, you might end up with the sight you have before you: rotting timber, broken windows, and a sagging foundation.  Egads!  Long-time library volunteer Gordon Russ recently uncovered this undated image of Washington’s Territorial Legislative Building in disrepair while processing a portion of the State Library Special Collections.

The original capitol building was built for $5,000 appropriated by U.S. Congress as described in Section 13 of the Organic Act of 1853 and granted to newly appointed Governor Isaac Ingalls Stevens.  Stevens used another $5000 to acquire volumes for the Washington Territorial Library and have them shipped to the new seat of government in Olympia, as described in Section 17 of that same document.

The building was never really finished to any condition that would be considered proper for housing government. The following description comes from “Historic Sites of the Washington State and Territorial Library: 1853 to the present”:

The building was built in 1856 on 12 acres donated by Edmund Sylvester. The new Legislative Building was described by historian Gordon Newell as a “wooden two-story structure that stood between where the present Legislative and Insurance Commissioner buildings now stand.” The building was hastily built and never really in an ideal state following its occupancy.  Reports of the era described it as a “sad picture of melancholy dinginess” [Ex. Doc. 144, 43rd Congress, 2nd Session] and “in a sad state of repair” [Smith letter, 1868.11.01] with worn out furniture; “faded, soiled, and ragged carpets;” and a rotting wooden block foundation that had caused the building to slope toward one end.   As described in 1874 by Henry J. Struve, Territory Secretary, the territorial Capitol Building was “left in an entirely unfinished condition” following its construction. He continues:  “The walls of the main chambers, committee rooms, library, entrance halls, &c., have never been lathed, plastered, or painted, and a portion of the same were and remain to this day, covered with rough, unplanned boards with a coat of common whitewash.”

Eventually the building proved too small and ramshackle to use.  The building served its original purpose until 1901 when the Legislature purchased the building that originally was built for use as the Thurston County Courthouse. The Library relocated to the Old Thurston Courthouse in 1901 and the Legislature moved in upon completing renovations in 1905.  The Territorial Legislative building was destroyed in 1911 to make way for the new Legislative Building designed by architects Walter Wilder and Harry White (now celebrating 100 years) , and the new Capitol Campus, as envisioned by landscape design firm Olmstead Brothers.

The former Thurston County Courthouse continued to house most of the state agencies until 1919. The Legislature met there until the present Legislative Building was completed in 1928.  That building was then kept to house the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and does so to this day.

Feeling inspired to do some research of your own?  Feel free to begin your search by using the Washington State Library “Ask-a-Librarian” service!

From the desk of Sean Lanksbury. PNW & Special Collections Librarian

49 years ago, Seattle’s Lower Queen Anne district was abuzz with excitement.  Many locals were curious to what the futurist wonder of the Century 21 World Exposition – still in construction – would hold for them when it opened.  Others were skeptical of the prospects for success and debated the costs involved.  Seattle now prepares for the 5oth Anniversary of the Fair, and it feels like a good time to give a brief overview of its history and impact on the city, and to highlight a few things that might assist researchers preparing histories of the event.

The World’s Fair began as the desire and vision of one man in particular, city council member Al Rochester (1895-1989).  As a young boy he attended Seattle’s Alaska-Yukon–Pacific Exposition (AYPE) held in 1909 on the nascent University of Washington campus.  Recalling the civic pride and recognizing vast commercial potential in such a grand event, Al wanted to commemorate its 50^th anniversary with another Seattle exposition.

Though Al’s idea was slow to excite the imagination of potential boosters, it eventually caught hold.  The Washington State Legislature was approached with the concept.  On November 20, 1955 the legislature resolved that a World’s Fair Commission would be created and given $5000.  Then the City Council submitted a bond proposal of $7,500,000 was issued to the people of Seattle. The voting majority approved it 187,053 yea to 63,752 nay.  The State of Washington matched that bond with an additional $7,500,000 bond, funded by an increase in Corporations fees.  The fees were adjusted by the legislature after realizing that they were significantly below all other western states and had been left unadjusted since statehood in 1889!

Construction began on a 74-acre plot at the base of Queen Anne Hill that prior to white settlement was known to natives as Baba’kwob, a prairie used for tribal gatherings.  In the 1860’s the land was homesteaded by early pioneers David Denny and Louisa Boren Denny, but retained the nickname common amongst white settlers: “Potlatch Meadows.”  This swale between Queen Anne and Denny Hill was the site of many pioneer social events such as circuses and tent revivalist meetings.  Denny Hill is no longer a part of the landscape, having been obliterated in the regrade of 1910.  The site was also significant as the location where a shaman named Chaoosh came to warn Denny, and the other whites of Seattle, of a coming attack by Natives outraged at the increasing arrogance of the government and settlers towards the tribes of the region.  This attack is remembered as the original “Battle of Seattle”.

At the time of construction, the land contained homes, schools and churches that were razed to the ground; all except the school playfield, the enormous National Guard Armory and a Civic Auditorium that was notorious for its terrible acoustics.  Soon the playfield became the site of the Exposition Stadium and International Fountain, the armory became the Food Circus – now known as the Center House – and the auditorium transformed into an acoustically improved Opera House – renovated again in 2003 and reopened as McCaw Hall.

The Commission hired Paul Thiry, a renowned Pacific Northwest architect who also designed the Pritchard Library Building, as the chief architect of the site.  He designed the new Washington State Coliseum, known currently as Key Center.  Seattle born architect Minoru Yamasaki designed the United States Science Pavilion (currently the Pacific Science Center).  UW Professor, Architect and chronicler of Pike Place Market life Victor Steinbrueck, UW engineering professor Al Miller, artist Earle Duff, designer John Ridley, and design partner Nate Wilkinson made hotelier and commission member Edward E. Carlson’s dream of a floating restaurant that highlighted the beautiful vistas of the state a reality.  The tallest building west of the Mississippi River when it was built, the Space Needle is a testament to high concept and daring made reality and since April 21, 1999, a national landmark.

The fair opened at 11 a.m. on April 21, 1962.  The planners knew that they would not be able to open on the 50^th anniversary of the A-Y-P, but to be fair, that 1909 event was supposed to commemorate the 10^th anniversary of the 1897 Klondike Gold Rush to the Yukon, so it was oddly appropriate.  Another interesting connection is that this new center in a way realized a portion of civil engineer Virgil Bogue’s 1909 vision of a bustling civic center (albeit one more political than cultural) on almost the exact same spot.*

The forward-looking campus greeted nearly 10 million visitors who were treated to a broad array of diversions:

• Northwest quarter was the International Mall, representing select countries from across the globe, the Washington State Coliseum and its famous Bubbleator, a hydraulic elevator whose orb shaped transport refracted light prismatically and featured “space-age” music and narration.  Parts of the Bubbleator are now serving as exhibit pieces at MOHAI and another part at one point was the greenhouse of a Burien man who helped to build it.  A bit south of the coliseum was a dedicated NASA exhibition showing progress in the still furious race to space with the Soviet Union, the beautiful International Fountain that is still enjoyed today and the Fine Arts Pavillion that exhibited eight fantastic exhibitions – regional and international in scope – of upcoming and renowned artists.
• To the South of the Pavilion and Fountain were the Space Needle and the Friendship Mall that contained exhibits on the co-existence of faith and science and showcases for American industrial giants such as Ford Motor Company, Bell Systems, International Business Machines (IBM), General Electric and Standard Oil.
• In the Northeast quarter, was the Opera House and Stadium, Food Circus, plus amusements and rides in the carnival-like section known as The Gayway.  In the furthest northeast corner, there was Show Street.  Show Street was an adult themed entertainment district with Vegas showgirls, an adult puppet show put on by Sid and Marty Kroft and a famously shut down show of galactic-themed nude female models.  Despite the raised eyebrows and concerns that these risqué attractions would corrupt all adult attendees, the Fine Art Pavilion drew far more people and interest.

The World’s Fair was a badly needed boost to a city struggling since the growth experienced during World War Two, but it changed the city in so many ways.  The Space Needle redefined Seattle’s skyline, and the monorail transit system that the fair added still shuttles people between Downtown and Queen Anne to this day.

It Happened at the World’s Fair also paired Seattle with the Elvis the “Pelvis from Memphis” Presley.  Financially, the fair ended in the black, unlike many other World’s Fairs.  It is also interesting to note that other World’s Fair sites have failed to stick as landmarks within their host city.   Its power as a gathering place undiminished for centuries and the site, known as the Seattle Center since 1962,  is well-loved amongst the city’s people and continues to be developed in new ways to a meet the social needs of Seattleites and visitors worldwide.  The native peoples of this region have also found contemporary use for the space.  Local tribes returned to the Seattle Center in 1966 and 1986 to hold two major 20th Century Powwows.

The State Library has quite a few items of interest to Century 21 historians and enthusiasts.  Among those:

• 13 boxes of  World Fair Commission’s records and correspondence (MS 178), and collected by Mr. Ray Olsen, State Representative and Chairman of the Historical Committee for the State World’s Fair Commission.  This manuscript collection spans the years 1957-1963 and includes correspondence, minutes, the Commission’s organization, photographs, reports and committee assignments.  There’s lots of other fun stuff in this collection like the official souvenir program, magazines and newspaper clippings that cover the fair from construction to closing, stickers, and flyers.  Lastly it has a recording of a musical panorama for symphony orchestra titled, “The World of Century Twenty First” music by Alexander Laszlo; words by Wesley La Violette; narrated by Vincent Price and pressed as a vinyl record.  Hey, how hip is that?  Let’s hear it for vinyl records!
• A map of Seattle showing off the newly designated exposition grounds that, naturally, highlights some local spending opportunities (RARE MAP-1 912.7977 KING 1962?)
• A flyer for the gala opening concert, April 21, 1962, honoring famed Russian composer Igor Stravinsky on his 80th year and featuring the guest of honor as one of the evening’s conductors  (State Documents; WA 606 C33ga)
• Washington State Federation of Music Clubs’ brochure on Washington State composers, with a salute to the Seattle World’s Fair–Century 21 Exposition (RARE 780.9797 WASHING 1963)

Not mention Seattle Center and Century 21 Exposition clippings and pamphlet files and the ever-fabulous Washington Newspapers and Journals collections that cover this critical era of Puget Sound history.  Feel free to contact our staff via “Ask-a-Librarian” and ask about what else at the Washington State Library might be helpful or interesting to you.

Did you attend the Seattle World’s Fair?  Care to reminisce about your experience?  Please share your comments, we love a good story!

*Come to think of it, Bogue and his audacious plan could use a separate blog post.  Perhaps a bit more on that later.