November's Photo Challenge Answer
Contributed by Ben Helle, Olympia Branch Archivist
The number of folks familiar with this structure was impressive! So many of you weighed in with guesses ranging from Lake Quinault Lodge to Longmire, all very good guesses! The correct answer? This is the old Mt. Baker Lodge before it burned in 1931. Karen Johnson, of the
Olympia Tumwater Foundation knew the answer based on a colorized post card she has of the same structure. Interestingly, she discovered that the Schmidt family of Tumwater was very involved with the Mt. Baker Lodge. The Schmidts were stockholders in the Mount Baker Development Company, which owned the lodge when it burned in 1931. Read Karen's fascinating post
here, and take a look at the Mt. Baker Development Co.'s Articles of Incorporation from our collection
here.
Small world...or at least a small state! (Unless you're driving across and back in a day.)
Once again, thanks so much for playing!
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January Photo Challenge
Contributed by Mary Hammer, Digital Projects Archivist
What a lovely winter scene! Skis encircling a bonfire and a lighted tree.
Can anyone name the location of this lodge?
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Out With Logic, On With Lunacy!
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Contributed by Amber Raney and Mary Hammer, with additional help from Molly Rooney
In 1976, candidates of the OWL Party (whose name meant "Out With Logic, On With Lunacy") polled about 3 percent of the vote for governor and other state offices. The group, started by
Red Kelly, began as a joke alternative to candidates of the time.
At that time, a minor political party could register candidates simply by collecting one hundred signatures at a nominating convention--for which Red and friends called a gathering at their jazz club, the Tumwater Conservatory--to win a ballot slot. For a small filing fee, the jovial candidates were able to insert their photos and 'statements' in the official Voters' Pamphlet and the campaign was on. Read more about the court case that ensued on the Legacy Project's website.
In October, staff sat down with some of the OWL Party participants. Many stories were told, and much hilarity was enjoyed. Watch this teaser video to see more, and look for a full-length video to be released in the near future.
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...that the infamous lawman Wyatt Earp used to have a business in Seattle? He and business partner Thomas Urquhart opened the Union Club at the present-day location of 111 Second Ave. S. near Yesler Way in Pioneer Square.
While not necessarily the larger-than-life figure of today, Earp's presence garnered attention nonetheless. Read the full story
here, and find archived editions of local papers at the Library of Congress'
Chronicling America.
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Mother Joseph in both Washingtons
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The National Statuary Hall in the United States Capitol Building is a collection of 100 statues, 2 from each state, donated to pay tribute to notable people from each state's history. One of the statues from Washington State is Mother Joseph.
Sister Joseph led a group of enterprising nuns on a 6,000-mile journey from Montreal, Quebec, to Fort Vancouver in December 1856 at the request of Bishop Blanchet of the Nisqually Roman Catholic Diocese. Sister Joseph was a trained carpenter, architect and builder, leading the women as they not only constructed schools, hospitals and orphanages, but also built communities through their compassion and selflessness. She later became Mother Joseph of the Sacred Heart.
Read more of her amazing story here, and visit the Legislative Building in Olympia to see a duplicate of the above statue that also graces the Capitol Visitor Center in Washington, D.C.
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Digital Archives tops Family Tree Magazine's Best Of List for 2015
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Once again, Family Tree Magazine has included the Washington State Digital Archives among its 75 Best State Websites! The list honors the best websites that specialize in genealogy research for one of the 50 US states. The 75 websites represent the go-to online destinations for tracing American ancestors, state by state. Their hope is that
this article highlights valuable, often-overlooked resources for genealogical research.
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Meet Molly Rooney, State Acquisitions Archivist, Olympia
Contributed by Mary Hammer, Digital Projects Archivist
As Acquisitions Archivist, the hundreds of archival records collected per month from Washington's 194 state agencies go through Molly first! She attempts to find space for them, catalogs the collections, communicates with agencies, and so much more.
Click
here to read about the Cap'n, and find out where drugs are hidden in the Archives.
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The Office of the Secretary of State routinely updates a blog entitled
"From Our Corner,"
in order to provide from-the-source information about important state news and public services. Often, stories of note from the Archives are included on this page.
Click here to check out past stories.
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Washington Remembers WWII project
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We hope you enjoyed this edition of "Out of the Archives!"
Banner Image: Paradise Inn/Photograph by Mr. Questa, ca. 1930, Questa, General Subjects Photograph Collection, 1845-2005, Washington State Archives, Digital Archives.
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