Washingtonians will celebrate their rich documentary heritage at a range of events throughout the state during October’s Washington Archives Month with the theme, "Hard Times: Struggles, Setbacks and Recovery in Washington."
This fourth annual statewide celebration of Archives Month is coordinated by a committee of representatives from archival and manuscript repositories throughout the state. Co-sponsors are the
Washington State Archives,
National Archives and Records Administration,
Pacific Alaska Region
and the
Washington State Historical Records Advisory Board.
The purpose of Archives Month is to celebrate the value of Washington's historical records, to publicize the many ways these records enrich our lives, to recognize those who maintain our communities' historical records, and to increase public awareness of the importance of preserving historical records in archives, historical societies, museums, libraries, and other repositories across the state. Here, you will find a Calendar of Archives Month Events, Workshop Information, Resources on Archives and Preservation for the Public, and Archives Month Resources for Institutions.
History is nothing more than the conglomerated stories of the lives of people, and as Longfellow wrote, “into each life some rain must fall.” This year we exhibit those struggles and setbacks that Washington has faced. This year’s theme is designed to show how Washington and its communities have come through those sometimes dark times stronger and hopefully wiser. Archival and manuscript repositories, historical societies, museums, public libraries, and university special collections throughout the state are invited to explore how Washingtonians have persevered through difficulties.
Archives, historical societies, museums, public libraries, and university special collections throughout the state invite you to explore how Washingtonians have endured and triumphed in the Evergreen State. The stories of the Seattle and Tacoma Hoovervilles, the devastating fires and reconstruction in Ellensburg, Spokane Falls and Seattle, the 1910 Wellington Avalanche, and the devastation, regrowth and recovery at Mount St. Helens are all documented in photographs, film, and letters. See just a small sampling in our
'Hard Times' Collections Guide and Photo Gallery.
