Meet author, curator, and scholar Candacy Taylor, whose book Overground Railroad: The Green Book and the Roots of Black Travel in America formed the basis for the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Services exhibition on view at the History Museum right now. The Black Heritage Society of Washington State has partnered with WSHS to bring Candacy Taylor for this special event.

“I'm honored and thrilled that this exhibition based on my research is at the Washington State History Museum. I'm looking forward to sharing what I've learned over the last decade, driving over 60,000 miles documenting Green Book sites, and how much I've seen the country change since Overground Railroad was published,” Candacy Taylor said.

“It’s a special day when you get to meet someone of Candacy’s caliber, someone who has contributed so much to documenting history," said Stephanie Johnson-Toliver, president of the Black Heritage Society.

Thursday's event begins at 6:00 PM with members of Seattle’s African American Writers Alliance reading original responses to passages from Overground Railroad; Then, Candacy Taylor will take the stage to talk about her Green Book quest and bringing the Black past alive. She will be in conversation with Stephanie Johnson-Toliver and Jackie Peterson, a Seattle-based exhibit developer and curator. 

Afterward, guests will have an opportunity to have books signed. Overground Railroad will be available for purchase ($35.00), and visitors are welcome to bring their own copies of Taylor’s books as well. 

The Washington State Historical Society will distribute 100 free copies of the youth version of Overground Railroad to young readers and families on a first-come, first-served basis.  

Linda Nicole Blair is an Associate Teaching Professor at the University of Washington, Tacoma where she teaches literature and writing. Her other scholarly work includes the book Virginia Woolf and the Power of Story: A Literary Darwinist Reading of Six Novels. She has also recorded and released three CDs of original Americana music: Little Queenie (2016), No Limits (2017), and most recently, By Your Side (2021).

Join us at the museum for this fascinating talk! Through poems and songs, women speak their truth, and in so doing create and sustain a discourse of FemPoetiks which is passed down through the generations.

Linda Nicole Blair presents the key points of her book, FemPoetiks of American Poetry and Americana Music: A Woman’s Truth and links to American history through the works of the three female poets: Anne Bradstreet, Phillis Wheatley, and Emily Dickinson. She’ll also explore the history of FemPoetiks through poets and songwriters from Washington State.

Read an enlightening review of her book here.

The Washington State Historical Society is excited to announce the second cycle of the Diversity in Local History (DLH) grants. The DLH program is funded by the Washington State Legislature and awards grants for paid internships that support diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at heritage organizations. This program connects emerging professionals in the heritage sector to local history museums and historical societies in Washington, giving the heritage sector more capacity to diversify the stories they tell and the communities they serve.

Grant applications are due through the Heritage Portal on June 30, 2022, 5:00 PM. Projects selected to receive grants will be announced on July 20, 2022, after which organizations will begin selecting interns.

Prospective interns may submit a statement of interest at any time through the Heritage Portal. Statements of interest will be sent to all grantee organizations after the July 20 project announcement. Or, prospective interns may directly contact the organizations that have been selected for grants after the July 20 announcement.

Visit washingtonhistory.org/DLH for more information. Questions? Contact Andre Jimenez, DEI Specialist, at [email protected].

Image credit: Shana Yellow Calf Lukinich, Northern Arapaho. Spring Time, 2022, acrylic on canvas. 12 × 8 inches. 

Every year we look forward to seeing the incredible art submitted by contemporary Native artists for this juried exhibition.

Enjoy light refreshments and explore the 38 original works of art on view. You’ll see a wide range of mediums and themes, along with artists’ statements.

Opening night is also an opportunity to hear from some of these talented artists in person as the jury presents artist awards for Best in Show, Spirit of the Northwest, Honoring Innovation, Honoring the Ancestors, and the Purchase Prize. Artists are invited to receive awards and talk about their work and the influences on their creativity.