From Our Corner

Archives Treasure #3: 1886 U.S. flag

On the evening of February 8, 1886, General John Gibbon presented the "Tribute of Merit" award to the University Cadets of Seattle in Washington Territory. The Cadets were part of the militia (including Company D of the Seattle Rifles and the city’s Home Guard) who kept the peace on the night before when rioters rose up against the Seattle Chinese. Historylink: Mobs forcibly expel most of Seattle's Chinese residents beginning on February 7, 1886. Anti-Chinese riots at Seattte [sic], Wn.,… Read more

From the Digital Archives: 1963 Olympia from the air

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(Photo courtesy of Washington State Digital Archives)

Ever wonder what Olympia looked like 50 years ago? Just see this photo. It’s an aerial shot of our state’s capital taken on Sept. 9, 1963. The photo,… Read more

2016 Election Art Contest launched

Image After 14 years, our Elections Division’s annual Kids Art Contest is getting a makeover. It isn’t… Read more

A Snapshot of Franklin County

[caption id="attachment_20732" align="aligncenter" width="557"] Image Franklin County Flag (image courtesy of Washington State Archives) [/caption] Located within the fork of the Columbia and… Read more

Profiles capture WWII heroes' incredible stories

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Ferndale resident Joe Moser during World War II (Photo courtesy of Joe Moser)

As the number of living World War II veterans dwindles daily, our Legacy Washington team is busy capturing and sharing gripping stories about some of these… Read more

IT Academy named finalist for national award

Image One of the Washington State Library's most popular programs is receiving national attention, too. We just found out that the Washington State… Read more

Time to pick your favorite “WTBBL Jewel”

One of the most beloved parts of our Washington State Library is the Washington Talking Book & Braille Library in Seattle. We’ve featured three interesting WTBBL-related items for our September “Library Jewels” blog series, and now it’s time for you, our dear blog reader, to choose your favorite. Just go to the online poll below to vote. You have until this Friday at 5 p.m. to select your fave.… Read more

Presidents Day

First Term, Barack Obama Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States, Barack Obama, 2009, Book 1 in cloth edition format can be purchased here:http://bookstore.gpo.gov/products/sku/069-000-00184-0 In ePub eBook file format can be found here:… Read more

Vote in July Archives Treasures poll!

W Image hat do an old boat, an old building and an 1886 U.S. flag have in common? They are the three Archives Treasures for July, and it’s time for you to vote on your favorite. Your choices are photos of the Greenwood Ark, which was… Read more

March Archives Treasure #1: 1857 WA Territory map

When you look at maps of Washington nowadays, you see a state that is fully developed, with lines of highways and railroads snaking here and there, and cities and town dotting so much of the state. That wasn’t the case in 1857, when Washington was only in its fourth year as a territory and 32 years before statehood. Simply put, there was a lot of wide-open space between the Columbia River and the Canadian border. Curious to know how cartographers viewed Washington in 1857? Look no further… Read more

More classic Mount Rainier skiing photos!

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(Photos courtesy of Washington State Digital Archives)

We recently… Read more

Time to pick your favorite “WTBBL Jewel”

One of the most beloved parts of our Washington State Library is the Washington Talking Book & Braille Library in Seattle. We’ve featured three interesting WTBBL-related items for our September “Library Jewels” blog series, and now it’s time for you, our dear blog reader, to choose your favorite. Just go to the online poll below to vote. You have until this Friday at 5 p.m. to select your fave.… Read more

Classic WA photos: Asahel Curtis river shots

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Elwha River (Photos courtesy of Washington State Digital Archives)

When you live in a state with mountains, snow and rain, you’re bound to have rivers. And Washington has them in abundance, with many rivers running from both the Cascades and Olympics, as well as a few originating in SE Washington's Blue Mountains. When you combine… Read more

State Library/Microsoft IT Academy is now Imagine Academy

The popular Washington State Library/Microsoft IT Academy is getting a new name – the Microsoft Imagine Academy. Since launching in November 2013 as a partnership between the State Library http://www.sos.wa.gov/library/ Microsoft, and Washington libraries, the program http://www.sos.wa.gov/library/libraries/projects/ita/ has seen an impressive increase in enrollees statewide, and is helping thousands of Washingtonians improve their skills and lives. “We’re excited about the program’s name… Read more

WA PrezPrimary enters homestretch

Image As Washington’s Presidential Primary enters the final days of its voting period, nearly 1 million ballots already have been returned to counties. “I’m very encouraged by the large number of ballots… Read more

Newly Received Federal Publications -- January to March 2017

The following publications were received during January - March 2017. This list is provided to create an awareness of the breadth and depth of the Washington State Library’s federal publications collection and to alert readers to specific titles available to them either online or in print (or other tangible mediums such as microfiche). The titles included in this document represent the many valuable publications produced by the Government Publishing Office (GPO) and distributed to federal… Read more

Special Collections, Additions, 01/2014 - 06/2016

The following materials are all non-circulating, unless an additional circulating copy is noted. RARE PUBLICATIONS 000s Washington newspapers, 1852-1890 inclusive, a supplement to Professor Meany's list. By Douglas C. McMurtrie. (Seattle, Washington University Press, 1935. 48 pp.) One hundred copies reprinted, with revisions, from the Washington historical quarterly for January and April, 1935. RARE 016.0719 MCMURTR 1935 http… Read more

Western State Hospital - A library newsletter story

From the desk of Kathleen Benoun It is said that there’s an opportunity during every crisis. In 2011, the branch libraries of the Washington State Library learned that their book budgets had been severely cut. Magazine subscriptions dwindled and there was no money for new materials. At the same time, several units at the Western State Hospital were restricted from certain areas on campus that included the library building. Library attendance dwindled. Overnight I was in charge of a… Read more

Filing Week launches campaigns for hundreds

Washington Newspapers Highlight: Northwest Enterprise

Image In 1879, Anacortes, Washington was founded and named by a railroad surveyor, Amos Bowman, who hoped it would become the major terminus for North America’s northwest railroad system. He brought in Alfred D. Bowen and Frank M. Walsh from Seattle to establish the Northwest Enterprise [LCCN: SN88085204], using its platform to promote the fledgling community and to solidify his city’s metropolitan status. First appearing on March 25, 1882, the… Read more