December's Photo Challenge Answer
Contributed by Mary Hammer, Digital Projects Archivist
Okay - December was clearly a busy month for people! We only had a couple of guesses on this photo. So where is this wintry scene? If you guessed Mount Rainier, you are correct! The title of this photograph is "Christmas at Paradise Inn, Mount Rainier National Park, ca. 1935." It comes from the State Library Photograph Collection. What a place to spend a white Christmas!
Thanks to those who submitted guesses, and thanks to all of you for a great 2015!
|
|
January Photo Challenge
Contributed by Mary Hammer, Digital Projects Archivist
Moving on to 2016, take a look at our next contestant.
Can anyone name this snow covered peak? It boasts unmatched views of one of Washington's beloved mountains.
|
|
|
Century 21, Gracie Hansen, Paradise International and Show St.
|
|
A good time was not had by all
Contributed by Mike Saunders, Regional Archivist, Puget Sound Branch
Gracie Hansen is one of the most colorful and unlikely stars of Seattle's Worlds Fair, the
Century 21 Exposition. Her exploits, trials and tribulations during the fair along with the other attractions on Show Street are documented in the Century 21 Exposition Records held at the Puget Sound Branch Archives.
Gracie came to Seattle in her late 30s from the small logging town of Morton. She had achieved some success staging variety shows in Morton and Chehalis, but seemed out of her league when she made her initial proposal for a "tasteful adult entertainment" show at Century 21. Read more about Gracie and the misadventures of Show Street
here, and take a look at some more images and memos included in the records.
|
|
 |
"A forest of these trees is a spectacle too much for one man to see."
The
same person died under somewhat mysterious circumstances in a bull trap in Hawaii in 1834.
Who is this and how does it relate to Washington State history? Find out
here!
|
|
|
King County Property of the Month
|
|
|
Almost Famous
Contributed by Midori Okazaki, Archivist at the Puget Sound Regional Branch
This house in the Mt. Baker neighborhood of Seattle was the home of Leo and Kate Rosellini. A member of the Rosellini family related the following story to Archives staff: Leo, a well-regarded surgeon, was the brother of restaurateur Victor and cousin of Governor Al. Kate was one of the first graduates of the UW School of Nursing. Leo passed away in 1981 and in the early 1990s, Kate put the house up for sale. One day, a young couple came to look at the house. Thinking there was no way they could afford the house, Kate declined to show them the property. Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love eventually purchased a house in the Denny-Blaine neighborhood, and this house escaped the fate of becoming the most infamous residential property in Seattle.
|
|
|
Digital Archives tops Family Tree Magazine's Best Of List for 2015
|
|
In case you missed it last month, 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.
|
|
|
Meet Peter Irey, Cutomer Service Specialist for the Records Center, Olympia
Contributed by Travis Pratt, Records Center
Our spotlight this month features one of our State Records Center staff, Peter Irey. Whether he is retrieving boxes or files from 40 feet in the air or driving a truck to destinations all over the state (picking up as many as 2,000 boxes a month), he is always busy. Fortunately for us, he was nice enough to sit down with Travis Pratt and answer a few questions, and even indulge in a game of "would you rather." Click
here to read his answers.
|
|
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.
|
|
|
Washington Remembers WWII project
|
|
|
|
We hope you enjoyed this edition of "Out of the Archives!"
Banner Image: Steamboats New World and Fairhaven, 1890-1910, State Library Photograph Collection, 1851-1990, Washington State Archives, Digital Archives.
|
|
|
|
