William H. Doolittle, Limburger Lover

From the desk of Steve Willis, Central Library Services Program Manager of the Washington State Library:

Sometimes the inside joke behind these eccentric pioneer news articles is just as entertaining as the work itself. Such is the case with this essay I found in The Weekly Vidette (Colfax, Wash.), April 19, 1883:

LIMBURGER

How a Colfax Lawyer had Probably Been Cured of a Bad Habit

“Some fiend incarnate, during the past two weeks, has introduced within the city limits of Colfax, a cargo of that nauseating and marrow-searching article, Limburger cheese. While some persons may fancy this kind of edible as a dainty luxury, or even as a daily diet (from whom the Lord deliver us) others have not the fortitude to eat that which, even should their palate hanker for, their nose will tell them every time it is too utterly unfit to feed to an obnoxious mother-in-law. It is strong enough to lift the mortgage off a 40-acre farm, and as for smell, it would put a skunk or dead horse to the blush. It is said that a buzzard after inflating itself with carrion, will turn its head to windward in order to get away from its own breath. Buzzards are a notch ahead of the Limburger fiend in the scale of common decency. The latter not only has no care for his own nasal organ, but will go about town among the best friends he’s got, drop into the post office, saloon, or anywhere, and if bystanders don’t happen to be aware of his ‘weakness’ for Limburger, they probably think that the man who stands or is sitting next to them had better go home and change his stockings or undershirt, when in fact the innocent party might be the cleanest of men, and he himself may be, in silent thought, regarding the party aforesaid with mingled disgust and pity. And all this on account of the man who has ‘failings’ for Limburger.”

“A few of Colfax’s best citizens during the past two weeks have endeavored to educate their appetites a little in this direction, and among them was a young and rising lawyer of quiet demeanor and epicurean tastes. His partner in business, however, is somewhat older and of a more staid and sober temperament, and does not fancy particularly any such aesthetic foolishness as Limburger cheese. Well, our young friend, whom we will call W.—- for short, procured a small piece of Limburger and took it to his office wrapped in a nice square piece of brown paper, and after eating the cheese, left the paper lying on the office table. As it happened there was no cloth covering the table, and when W.—-‘s partner entered the office some time after, he smoothed the paper out, built up the office fire, and commenced to write, using the brown paper as sort of covering to the table on which to place his letter paper.”

“Along in the afternoon, as the room began to get heated up, a perceptible odor assailed his olfactories, and as it seemed to increase instead of diminish, he began to get nervous. But he kept writing away for some time before mentioning it to his partner, who sat opposite him with his feet elevated on the table at an angle of about 45 degrees and his body tipped back in a chair, busily talking to a client. At last the stench became so ‘numerous’ and ‘utterly intense’ that he commenced to wriggle in his chair, and finally called W.—- aside and said:”

“‘I’ve noticed an awful smell in here for the last two hours. I think I have noticed it in a lesser quantity frequently before in this room. It is unfamiliar stench to me. Don’t know what to make of it. Think you can fathom the mystery?'”

“W.—-, who until now, had forgotten all about leaving the brown paper on the table, and on glancing there had seen it when the above query was propounded, from motives of discretion did not choose to follow the example of the illustrious G.W., and replied that the origin of the smell was a mystery to him, and went back to his former seat and occupation, as also did his partner. The latter, though, seemed to be in a sort of brown study, and the pen lay inactive behind his ear. All at once his eyes brightened up, and casting a hurried look at W.—-‘s feet, which were in their former position, he said in a voice full of fatherly advice and patronage.”

“‘See here, W.—-, you know what’s the matter as well as I do. You just go home, take off them boots, wash your feet and change your socks. Your feet are rancid. And hereafter don’t try to evade a plain, candid question asked of you by your partner in business.'”

“Twere better that he had told the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the (disgusting) truth.”

Discovering the identities of the two gentlemen in the story is not hard. The editor is one E.N. Sweet, the same E.N. Sweet listed in the newspaper advertising as part of the law firm of Doolittle and Sweet—Doolittle as in W.H. Doolittle, to be precise, hence the “W.—-.” Mr. Sweet was describing himself in the piece as “somewhat older and of a more staid and sober temperament.”

He was, in fact, Edgar Newell Sweet, born in Marshall, NY, Dec. 6, 1842. His family moved to Wisconsin, where Edgar began his training as printer. The Civil War disrupted his plans. He started as a private in the Wisconsin Cavalry in 1861 and ended up being mustered out as captain in the Far West in 1866. In between he saw action as far south as Louisiana.

After the War he married and started a family, settling in Nebraska where he was a newspaper editor. By the mid-1870s he was in Colfax and quickly became a town pillar, serving as mayor, judge, attorney, and newspaper editor. He appears to have moved to Oklahoma by the 1890s and spent his final years in California, where he died March 27, 1928.

William Hall Doolittle, the true identity of “W.—-,” was born in Erie County, Pa., Nov. 6, 1848. His love of Limburger cheese no doubt was due to his upbringing, for his family moved to Wisconsin in 1859 (today Wisconsin is home to the sole manufacturer of Limburger cheese in the U.S.). William served in the later part of the Civil War as a soldier in the 9th Wisconsin battery. After the War he studied law, moved to Nebraska and was elected to the State House.

Doolittle moved to Colfax in 1880 and practiced there until 1888 when he migrated to Tacoma. He was elected to the U.S. Congress and served for two terms, 1893-1897 as a Republican. After his defeat for re-election in 1896 he returned to the practice of law. He died in Tacoma February 26, 1914.

I stumbled across a mention of Sweet in The Wide Northwest / by Leoti L. West. She described him as “a dignified gentleman, who always had a cigar between his lips.” Hmmm. Hey, don’t get me wrong, I myself have been known to enjoy a good stogie now and then, but doesn’t it seem a bit disingenuous for a guy who always smokes a cigar to complain about Limburger? But I guess he enjoyed giving his law partner a hard time in public so much that he probably missed the irony.

Library Development staff at the Washington State Library have long compiled information on our activities to share with our advisory committee, the Library Council of Washington. We do this four times a year in conjunction with the Library Council meetings held in March, May, September and November. We have now taken this report, converted it to a PDF format and posted it at http://www.sos.wa.gov/_assets/library/libraries/Serving_Libraries.pdf.

While not inclusive of everything we do it highlights our activities in several key areas. These are: 1) consulting with library staff, local officials, and others; 2) meetings attended; 3) presentations made; 4) site visits; 5) service to library related organizations; and 6) short updates on projects, programs and services undertaken by Library Development staff at the Washington State Library. Hopefully this will increase your understanding of what we do to support libraries throughout the state. It might also give you thought regarding activities we undertake that could also serve your library and its staff.

For instance, did you know that Joe Olayvar adapted the workshop presentation he did at WALE and presented basic pc troubleshooting as a TechSoup webinar? Or that Gary Bortel is working with Cathlamet Public Library on a proof of concept pilot project using Koha as an integrated library systems platform for small libraries? Or that Evelyn Lindberg is working with small public libraries providing webpage training in conjunction with the development of a web front-end / content management system back-end (Drupal) to make it possible for small libraries to more easily provide online content for their patrons and other website visitors? These are just three examples of the work occurring everyday within Library Development at the Washington State Library.

We hope that you will follow us throughout the year as we continue to serve the libraries of Washington State, and through our library community, the residents of our State.

Jeff Martin, Library Development Program Manager, Washington State Library

The Wolves of Washington

March 7, 2013 @ 6 p.m. (Doors open at 5:30)Presented byCindy Irwin, Director of Education and Volunteer ServicesDiane Gallegos, Executive Director

Come learn about the return of wolves to the state of Washington after being gone for almost 80 years! We will discuss how this top predator may benefit the natural ecosystem in our state. You will also learn about the plan Washington State has to promote the existence of wolves in the wild, and how peaceful co-existence can be achieved.

Wolf Haven International (WHI) is a 501(c)(3) organization that has worked for wolf conservation since 1982. The mission of WHI is to conserve and protect wolves and their habitat. We do this by: providing s

anctuary for captive born wolves, educating the public on the value of all wildlife, promoting wolf restoration, and protecting our remaining wild wolves and their habitat.

For more info or to RSVP, call the Washington State Library, 1-360-704-5221

From the desk of Rand Simmons

Imagine walking into your local public library, community college library, or tribal library and registering to take one of Microsoft’s IT course … for free!

Through a partnership with Microsoft, the Washington State Library, a division of the Office of the Secretary of State, is seeking funding from the legislature which will be used to pay for the non-discounted portion of the cost of taking a Microsoft course. (Microsoft has discounted these courses by 90%.) It will also cover the cost for the Washington State Library to oversee the project.

The Washington Microsoft IT Academy will provide the people of Washington access without charge to a wide range of Microsoft online courses and learning resources through their local public, community college or tribal libraries. The IT Academy will also be available through the Washington State Library prison libraries. It is currently available through school districts, a project administered by the Office of Public Instruction. Course certification is also available but will not be covered by state funding.

“The Microsoft IT Academy delivered through Washington libraries is a no-brainer. The return on investment of state funds is astounding; an investment of $1.5 million will yield $4 million if Washington’s libraries were to pay full price. There will be no direct charge to people for IT training. Libraries are ready and capable of taking on this project. People are used to coming to their libraries for assistance,” notes Secretary of State Kim Wyman.

The ubiquity of libraries throughout the state, estimated at 472 outlets, and the recognized nature of libraries, to connect to their communities to improve the lives of citizens brings credence to this project model. The Washington State Library is a leader and facilitator among the library community and has decades of experience in managing statewide projects.

For more information on this project, please visit our broadband page.

Comments and inquiries can be sent to Rand Simmons, State Librarian.

From the desk of Steve Willis, Central Library Services Program Manager of the Washington State Library:

This item on page 1 of the Jan. 17, 1907 issue of the Seattle Daily News caught my eye due to the use of the words “eccentric,” “peculiar,” and the mention of a $100,000 monument for a man and his dog:

CLAIMS TO BE CHOIR’S WIDOW

Latest Claimants for Estate of Dead Man Declare His Name Was Joseph Calentine

“That Melody Choir, alias Joseph Melchoir was really Joseph Calentine, and that he left a widow and a son residing in Wenatchee, Washington, who are his legal heirs, is the substance of a claim to the estate of the eccentric and wealthy Seattle man who died two weeks ago.”

“Through local attorneys George C. Calentine has petitioned the probate court to appoint a special administrator to the estate of Melody Choir, whose real name was Joseph Calentine. He further alleges that Mrs. Lucy Calentine of Wenatchee, is the widow of Melody Choir, having married him in the East, come West with him and then separated from him. She is said to possess a marriage certificate and other proofs of her claim.”

“The petition for a special administrator to take charge of the estate went on for hearing before Judge Albertson this afternoon. Rev. W.G. Jones, a friend of the dead man, who yesterday applied for the appointment, is satisfactory to the new claimants, Mrs. Calentine and her son.”

“If the special administrator is appointed it will be possible to search the personal effects of Melody Choir for proof of his relationship to the claimants for his money. The special administrator will have no right to carry out the will of the dead man, which provided that his $100,000 estate will be used to build a monument for himself and his dog.”

“The Melchoir family, which is represented in this city by an alleged brother of the deceased, has not yet entered a claim to the estate, but is expected to do so shortly.”

“The petition filed by Calentine does not take cognizance of the peculiar will left by Choir.”

The gentleman known as Melody Choir is yet another one of those great characters in Washington history who has yet to be fully discovered. According to information provided in the 1900 Census, he was born in Kentucky in March, 1850. Several sources indicate his previous name was Joseph H. Melchoir. It would appear he was among the youngest of his siblings. He surfaces in Seattle around the mid-1870s under the name of Melody Choir. His birth family probably lived in Canton, Ohio at this time.

Melchoir was one of the earliest compilers of a Seattle area city directory. His Choir’s Pioneer Directory of the City of
Seattle and King County, History, Business Directory, and Immigrant’s Guide to and Throughout Washington Territory and Vicinity was published in 1878 and contained a statement it was meant to be an annual publication, but apparently only this issue made it to print. The Washington State Library has a copy on microfilm. It is a fun read, which is not something you can normally say about city directories.

In addition to providing colorful local descriptions, Choir included a photograph of himself with the handwritten caption: “His Royal Impudence, M. Choir, as he daily appears out on the war-path of Professional Business.”

Also he gives the reader a full page advertisement of his services and wares, marketing everything from wooden shoes, marble work for cemeteries, real estate, sewing machines, etc.

And as frosting, we are treated to a long poem he created honoring Seattle. His name might’ve been Melody Choir, but there was nothing melodious about his poetry. An example:

In plenitude thy people live,
Regaled by health that’s wealth: so can attain
Blended this gift with their endowments
Ruling power in Mortal’s highest plane:
Here churches and clans, schools and the press, All tutors of the public mind, that governs
Thy people’s hopes and fears, rights and wrongs
Though one and all are clothed as sovereigns.

I vaguely remember adding a local note to the bibliographic record for his directory a few years ago (when I was WSL’s Head of Cataloging) and encountering this poem and the author’s unusual name. At the time my reaction was, “That’s not something you see every day.” Little did I know.

In city directories his occupation is listed as “book agent” in the 1880s, and “real estate” or “capitalist” in the 1890s. For a brief time at the end of the 19th century he amazingly held public office as a Seattle Park Commissioner.

How did Choir acquire his wealth? In volume 90 of the Central Law Journal (Jan.-June 1920) an attorney named Fred H. Peterson contributed an article entitled “Odd Wills and Peculiar Testators.” It turns out Mr. Peterson represented Choir in the 1890s on the losing end of a deed case that went to the State Supreme Court. Peterson didn’t have a lot of positive things to say about his client:

“For many years an eccentric character lived in Seattle, who called himself Melody Choir, his real name being Joseph H. Melchoir. Like many people, not insane, however, he tried to get something for nothing, which he sought to accomplish by acquiring tax titles to Seattle property. Some of the lots he purchased for less than $5 each, through the rapid growth of the city, in the course of thirty years, had increased to $5,000. At the time of his death than $120,000 … For years he lived in a dug-out, his only friend being a dog, as queer as his master.”

Melody Choir’s will apparently is something of a manifesto, as Peterson describes:

“Of course, he left a will. ‘For the benefit of posterity’ he listed mankind according to a scale of merits; some were designated as trustworthy, others as suspicious, and the remainder as ‘unhung scoundrels;’ his counsel and the appellate court attained to the ‘bad eminence’ of the last class.”

“Choir’s will is closely written in a bound book of 148 pages, ten inches by 18 inches. At the top and bottom of each page he wrote in red ink, ‘Witness my hand and seal–Melody Choir,’ followed by an elaborate seal, and dated October 20, 1900. The will was admitted to probate March 1, 1907. He writes of himself thus: ‘The incontrovertible facts in my case are these– there never was a better, all round individual ever set foot upon the regions of this broad State, than myself!’ He declares that in 1875 he read Blackstone, but detested attorneys, for he says: ‘I never liked lawyers as a class, and to keep away from them and steer clear of their inveigling schemes and grasping machinations– ever an active ingredient in their diabolical profession– has been my constant, lifelong effort.'”

“His egotism stood out ad nauseam; his egregious vanity caused him to provide that all his property should be spent for a mausoleum for himself and dog ‘Hoboe,’ [SW note: all other sources spell the dog’s name as “Hobo”] plans and specifications for which are completely shown in the will– it even shows a diagram of his teeth; his great virtues were to be engraven on the monument in ten languages. That no one might contest because of any marital relations, he declares: ‘I never was married or even engaged to be married. Nor ever gave to any female, old or young, married or single, maid or widow, white or any color, directly or indirectly, verbal or written, open or implied, any pledge, vow or promise of marriage whatsoever.'”

Choir died in Seattle on the last day of 1906.   Choir’s dog, Hobo, a black and white Newfoundland, was killed by a streetcar on May 26, 1906.

It took almost a full year to settle Choir’s estate. The Superior Court jury decided in favor of granting the now $200,000 estate to Choir’s mother, 89 year old Elizabeth Melchoir of Canton, Ohio, apparently rejecting the Calentine claim. There was a real Joseph Calentine, he was last recorded living with his family in Kansas in 1875, but according to Census records he was a carpenter who was Ohio born and at least six years older than Melody Choir.

Choir was buried in Seattle’s Lake View Cemetery, under considerably more modest circumstances than he dictated, and Hobo was not allowed to be buried with him.    Where and how Hobo’s body was preserved is a question yet to be answered.

Spokane Public Library. Photo by Andrea Parrish-Geyer.

Spokane voters handily approved raising taxes for library services in a February 12, 2013 election to preserve smaller branch libraries of the Spokane Public Library from closure. Now these branches will increase their hours of service.

Generally voters made wise decisions regarding their local libraries in 2012. Other funding levy elections will keep the doors of the Ocean Shores Library open (approved 51.73% 08/07/2012) as well as in Castle Rock where the Library got approval to continue opperating (approved 62.32% 2/14/2012). Voters in Ocean Shores rejected the measure in April but changed their minds in August.  The successful levy measure in Seattle will allow the Seattle Public Library to regain losses from budget reductions (approved 64.17% 08/07/2012).

Voters approved a partial-county library district in Sedro Woolley (approved 60.14% 11/06/2012) in an area where creating a unified county-wide library district has been difficult to achieve. Voters in the City of Morton agreed to annex into the Timberland Regional Library (approved 72.75% 11/06/2012) and Lamont voters agreed to join the Whitman County Rural Library District (approved 96.88% 11/06/2012). In King County voters in Enumclaw agreed to annex into the King County Library system (approved 50.71% 04/17/2012).

An advisory vote regarding location of the Renton Library (King County Library System) indicated that the Cedar River location was preferred over the location west of the Piazza (76.4% 08/07/2012).

The success of these elections is heartwarming. It indicates that voters continue to be willing to support their libraries financially and to vote for increased library service through creation of library districts and through annexation.  That is my perspective. I’d like to hear yours.

Rand Simmons
State Librarian

Courtesy of the Legislative Planning Committee, Washington Library Association Library Related Legislation. The Washington Library Association (WLA) tracks state legislative activity that will potentially affect Washington Libraries. Their tracker is posted to the WLA web site and we will also post it weekly on this blog.

For information on the legislative process or becoming involved, see the WLA site referenced above.

From the desk of Steve Willis, Central Library Services Program Manager of the Washington State Library:

The very first issue of The Democratic Press (August 31, 1877) covered a visit to Port Townsend by Treasury Agent William Gouverneur Morris. It is safe to say the reporter was not impressed.

  A GILT-EDGED FARCE

 “Port Townsend has been the recipient, recently, of a visit from Major Morris, Special Agent of the Treasury Department. This individual was sent here ostensibly for the purpose of inspecting affairs pertaining to the Custom House, Marine Hospital, etc., which errand was sufficient to insure him a hospitable reception by Custom House officials.”

“Doubtless the gallant Major will long remember his biennial visits to Port Townsend. Certainly no where that his arduous duties, as a Government Inspector may call him, will he receive more downright gushing homage than was lavished upon him here by those whose affairs with the Government he was sent here to inspect. Quartered, with his family, at the residence of the contractor for the Government hospital, no pains or expense were spared to render his stay a perpetual ovation. The gallant Inspector spent the time while here in fishing and hunting, wining and dining, always under guard by some of the official brotherhood. Supplied with a pack of deer hounds and ample escort, he was carried in state about among neighboring islands in a steamboat, rioting amid the finest hunting grounds and trout-streams in the Territory, slaughtering the timid deer by dozens, in pure wantoness, to cast the carcasses to the dogs and crows.”

“But all good times must have an ending. An order from the Department called our festive Nimrod back to San Francisco, to attend the investigation of Custom House affairs in that city. We would like to read his official report of this visit to Port Townsend. No doubt he remunerates our obsequious officials by an abundance of fulsome flattery in return for their zeal in fawning over him while here.”

“He has gone from among us– vamoosed– and the Custom House folk breathe easier. But the ruby glow of a blooming nose is missed, which was wont to illuminate the sample rooms of our wholesale liquor houses a few short weeks ago, and the bummers who polish the counters and the heads of beer barrels in those institutions, while waiting for free drinks, listen in vain for a familiar voice, which in maudlin accents rehearsed pointless jokes and retailed obscene stories. Gone like the shadow of a beautiful vision! Vanished like the memory of some pleasant dream!”

Major Morris actually had quite a record. The book Who’s Who in Alaskan Politics gives the vital statistics on his career: MORRIS, William Gouverneur, collector of customs, lawyer. B. in Morrisania, N.Y., Dec. 25, 1832; father was Army officer; collector of customs, Key West, Fla., 1849; B.A., Georgetown Coll.; LL.B., Harvard U.; clerk, Calif. Supreme Ct., 1857-; fought in Civil War; U.S. Marshal, Calif., 1865-74; special agent, U.S. Treas. Dept., 1875-; made 2 trips to Alaska; collector of customs for Alaska, Sitka, 1881-84; died in Sitka, Jan. 31, 1884; buried in Nat. Cemetery, Sitka. Mem., Masons, Loyal Leg., GAR. Republican.

Another brief, but colorful description of Morris comes from pioneer James G. Swan, who described the Treasury Agent in 1880: “The major was short of stature, with duck legs and a ponderous belly …” (found in Thomas Warner Camfield’s Port Townsend : vol. 1. An Illustrated History of Shanghaiing, Shipwrecks, Soiled Doves and Sundry Souls)

The Democratic Press appears to have ceased publication in early 1881. It is available on microfilm from the Washington State Library.

In June 2001, Martha Shinners started her work to develop and implement a youth services program at the Washington State Library. Prior to that date no individual on the State Library’s staff was specifically charged with these duties. Some work was just beginning in the area of early learning and in working with the K-12 school library community in Washington State when Martha was hired.

Martha was the right person to develop these fledgling projects. She brought a strong youth services background having worked in Michigan in a public library setting for 17 years, first as a children’s librarian and then as the coordinator of youth services for the Public Libraries of Saginaw.

Martha partnered with the Pierce County Library System (PCLS) several years ago to bring Read to Your Baby Booklets to the State Library. Initially developed by PCLS, the booklets are now available in seven languages. More than 450,000 booklets have been distributed by the State Library, in ones and twos, packets of 100, and boxes of thousands. Requests are received from throughout the nation although the primary audience is the Washington library community and the early learning community partners.

Since coming to the Washington State Library Martha has taken on additional roles. In addition to her primary focus as the Youth Services Consultant and Coordinator, Martha now supervises four staff and is an Assistant Program Manager for the Library Development program. As one of her staff has stated, “She’s an amazing supervisor and amazing person.”

Martha has advanced two K-12 school library projects, the first supporting teacher-librarians to better advocate for their roles within their schools. Teacher-librarians provide essential information literacy skills to the students with whom they interact. “It is important that these positions remain in schools,” Martha said. “Teacher-librarians help students to research and find information, evaluate that information for its quality, and better use that information. These are skills that will serve the students for the rest of their life.”

The second project supported Classroom Based Assessment first in Social Studies and in the final year of this project with the tribal sovereignty curriculum. Many school library and public library partnerships grew out of these grants. “This is the only grant cycle at the Washington State Library that has seen more than 100 applications submitted in competition for roughly 35 awards,” said Jeff Martin, Acting Library Development Program Manager. Martha is now working with the Washington Library Media Association and the K-12 school library community to advance common core practice in schools. This will be Martha’s third major project with schools and school libraries in her 11 years at the Washington State Library.

Every year Martha attends the annual meeting of the Collaborative Summer Library Program (CLSP). Washington State fully participates in this program of summer reading. Through our membership in the Collaborative public and tribal libraries receive valuable summer reading themes and supporting materials.

Martha provides (and has provided years of) consistent, dedicated, highly relevant, and inspired leadership to youth services and related areas throughout the state, exhibiting a dedication to the highest standards of professional leadership, through careful planning, consultation, and program implementation,” stated Diane Hutchins, a colleague from the Library development Program. “Her exemplary work has directly benefited library staff, library patrons, and especially the youth of our state, from babies and toddlers to teens, through such efforts as her outstanding leadership role in the nationwide summer reading cooperative, her work in creating, promoting, and distributing the Read to Your Baby booklets, and through the various other youth services projects she has successfully spearheaded during her tenure at the State Library.”

If all that were not enough, Martha is deeply involved in early learning in the state as a member of the Early Learning Public Library Partnership, working with faculty at the University of Washington and Florida State in supporting Project Views, and in partnering with the Department of Early Learning to move forward their Race to the Top grant.

State Librarian Rand Simmons noted, “Martha has worked tirelessly to support the literacy of Washington’s children, reaching out to all members of the early learning community. She is a treasure!” This spotlight is on you Martha.

By the way, when you see Martha say hello if you haven’t already met her. You might also ask about her time volunteering as a library puppeteer as one half of Hidden Me Puppet Productions.

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.