Women's History Month
photo challenge
Presidents Day
challenge results


To celebrate Women's History Month, tell us the name of the woman in this photo. She was Washington's first female superintendent of public instruction, elected in 1912.
A record number of readers responded to last month's Presidents Day challenge and all but one were able to correctly identify President Harry S. Truman.

This picture shows Truman in Olympia during his visit to award the Congressional Medal of Honor to U.S. Army Sgt. John D. "Bud" Hawk.
On March 2, 2022, Frank Porter Hungate, the 103-year-old grandson of 1889 Constitutional Convention delegate James Allen Hungate, visited Washington State Archives’ headquarters in Olympia to view the original 1889 Washington State Constitution.

The original State Constitution is kept in a secure vault and — save for exclusive viewings and ceremonies (such as an anniversary of statehood or Constitution Days) — is not available for public viewing. Yet the opportunity for Frank to see his grandfather’s signature and further his family’s legacy not only served as a conduit to Washington’s past but offered a rare glimpse at a man who helped advance Washington’s path to statehood. James Allen Hungate’s story is unique, and Frank’s visit brought it full circle... keep reading on From Our Corner, a blog from the Office of the Secretary of State.
Archives' longest-tenured employee to retire this month; new manager appointed
Puget Sound Regional Archivist Mike Saunders is retiring after 45 years of public service. His last day in the office is March 15.

Mike started as an intern with Washington State Archives in 1976. From 1985 to 1989 he worked in Seattle as Assistant City Clerk and Campaign Coordinator with the Combined Fund Drive. He then returned to the State Archives and has managed the Puget Sound Branch ever since.

Mike has been an avid supporter of Washington State History Day since its inception in 1983, writing and maintaining its yearly topic guide.
He is a frequent presenter at archival, historical, and genealogical events.

Thank you Mike for your decades of service to the people of our great state. Enjoy your well-deserved rest and relaxation!
Please welcome Emily Dominick! She will take over Saunders' position as Puget Sound Regional Branch Manager.

Emily has over 15 years of experience with the University of Washington Special Collections Department and the Providence Archives, Seattle. Previously, she worked at Augustana College in Rock Island, Ill., Unity Archives in Unity Village, Mo., and the Kansas City Branch of the National Archives and Records Administration.

Emily received her master’s degree in museum studies from the University of Kansas and bachelor’s degree in history from St. Olaf College.
Washington State Archives will present another iteration of "Stump the Archivist," a Q&A webinar for researchers of all experience levels, on March 18 at 10 a.m.

Bring your questions and a notebook, and chat with Research Archivist Tracy Rebstock! Learn how to use state and local government records in your historical research or family history.

New records are added to our collections all the time. Updates to vital records means more access to birth, death, marriage, and divorce collections. As promised during last month’s webinar, Rebstock will talk briefly about land records and then take your questions so you can dig deeper into your research.

Register here. It is free to attend this event.

Visit our YouTube channel to view past webinars.
Who said
that?
Records and Information Management Month (RIMM) celebrates the importance of records-management professionals and highlights the value they bring to organizations and communities.

RIMM is now recognized internationally. It’s a time to highlight the important impact good records and information management has on government and business.
All Washington State Archives branches are open to the public.

Appointments are highly recommended. Contact a certain branch for COVID protocols as they may vary.

Go here for more information, including how to contact each branch to set up an appointment.
“I think if we had raked the nation with a fine-tooth comb we could not have found Mrs. Emma Smith DeVoe’s equal as an organizer, state president, and presiding officer.”

Which famous Washington suffragist said that about famous Washington suffragist DeVoe? (Hint: it's not the person in the photo.)

Last month's quote was from Yakima native, former Eastern Washington University football player, and Super Bowl LVI MVP Cooper Kupp.