A new online exhibit exploring Urban Renewal in Seattle is now available on the Seattle Municipal Archives website. Placing Seattle’s urban renewal projects within the context of federal funding, state laws, and the City’s identification of “blighted areas,” the exhibit outlines and explores Seattle’s Urban Renewal Program from its first project, Cherry Hill, to various Neighborhood Development Projects. In addition to narrative and images, the exhibit also includes timelines and a full bibliography.

Please help us to recognize the best in our profession!

Have you read a great new book about archives? Encountered a new documentary publication that is head and shoulders above the rest? Has a new web publication really stood out to you?

If you have, please consider nominating it for the Society of American Archivists Waldo Gifford Leland Award. Nomination forms, a list of previous winners, and more information are at http://www2.archivists.org/governance/handbook/section12-leland. The deadline for nominations is February 28, 2022.

The annual Leland Award – a cash prize and certificate – recognizes “writing of superior excellence and usefulness in the field of archival history, theory, and practice.”  (Please note that periodicals are not eligible.) 

Established in 1959, this award honors American archival pioneer Waldo Gifford Leland (1879-1966), president of the Society of American Archivists in the 1940s and one of the driving forces behind the founding of the National Archives.

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month! Use your personal and organizational platforms to amplify the voices of AAPI folks speaking now, and those who have built King County into what it is today. Check out the programs and resources below to get started:

• Facing the Mountain Book Launch Event | May 11, 5:00pm. Join Densho for the official launch of Facing the Mountain, a new book about WWII Japanese American incarceration and the 442nd RCT by Daniel James Brown, NYT bestselling author of The Boys in the Boat.
• Pagdiriwang Philippine Festival | June 6-7. The Filipino Cultural Heritage Society of Washington (FCHSW) proudly presents Pagdiriwang, commemorating the anniversary of Philippine Independence.
• Stop AAPI Hate | Resource center. Report hate crimes, read reports and statistics, and print out Stop AAPI Hate signs for your institution.
• We Hereby Refuse Book Release | May 18. This new graphic novel co-published by the Wing Luke Museum about the complex realities of being Japanese American during World War II presents an original vision of America’s past with disturbing links to the American present.
• Seattle Asian Art Museum Reopening | May 28. The Seattle Asian Art Museum is reopening with limited capacity to members May 7 and to the public on May 28.

Looking for more? Share these articles about unique pieces of local AAPI history:

• A History of Go: The Impact of Korean American Players upon Seattle’s Go Playing Community, Korean American Historical Society.
• Hawaiian Music and its Historic Seattle Connection, HistoryLink.
• Filipino Americans and the Making of Seattle’s Dr. Jose P. Rizal Bridge and Park, Seattle Civil Rights & Labor History Project, University of Washington.
• Lao Highland Community Center opens in Southeast Seattle on May 14, 2005, HistoryLink.
• (More) Stories of Little Saigon: past, present, and future, Friends of Little Sàigòn.
• Ruby Chow (1920-2008), HistoryLink.

Don’t forget to nominate yourself or another for a position on the 2021-2023 SeaAA Steering Committee. Nominations close Friday, April 30.

 All 5 positions are up for election right now:

– Chair
– Vice-Chair
– Treasurer
– Secretary
– Member-at-Large

This really means if you have ideas on how SeArch could be improved now is the time to shape it into what you really want. The current committee will remain available along the way to answer questions or to give advice. Whatever you need to make SeArch great going into a post-pandemic world we’re here to help. But we need more nominations; we need you and your brilliant minds!

To nominate yourself or another, please email us your name, a brief bio, and if you like, a beautiful selfie. It’s a great opportunity and really is a lot of fun. As always, let us know if you have any questions, and we hope to see your names on the ballot soon! seattle.area.archivists@gmail.com

We wanted to put out a reminder that there are two weeks left (nominations close on April 30) to put your names on the ballot for the upcoming 2021-2023 steering committee elections!

To be honest, this is a plea to those of you who are considering it but haven’t yet submitted to please do so. We have received very few nominations and we would hate to see this transition result in a half full committee. Worse, if we don’t receive enough nominations we may find ourselves forced to dissolve Seattle Area Archivists. Without a new group of wonderfully talented and committed people such as yourselves, the future of Seattle Area Archivists is uncertain.This has been a tough year for everyone. We understand that people may be more hesitant to put themselves out there for something like this. But let’s be optimistic! With the vaccine rolling out and more and more things going back to “normal” we think this new committee would have the potential to do a lot of fun things! This will be a completely new committee; all 5 positions are up for election right now:

– Chair
– Vice-Chair
– Treasurer
– Secretary
– Member-at-Large

This really means if you have ideas on how SeArch could be improved now is the time to shape it into what you really want. The current committee will remain available along the way to answer questions or to give advice. Whatever you need to make SeArch great going into a post-pandemic world we’re here to help. But we need more nominations; we need you and your brilliant minds!

Four Reasons to Serve on the SeArch Steering Committee

• It’s fun! Meeting other professionals (and making friends!), putting on exciting events, planning tours, going behind the scenes of amazing places, and so much more!
• It’s a fantastic networking opportunity! You’ll be in an excellent position to connect with dozens of local archives and information organizations. 
• It looks great on a resume! This is a great way to dip your toe into professional service without the stress and overwhelming size of larger organizations like SAA.
• The time commitment is low! Current steering committee members spend 8 hours a month or less dedicated to SeArch activities. This may increase slightly when life returns to normal, but the cadence with which SeArch events occur is up to YOU, the future steering committee!

TLDR

So please, if you’re considering putting your name in the hat and haven’t yet, email us your name, a brief bio, and if you like, a beautiful selfie. It’s a great opportunity and really is a lot of fun. As always, let us know if you have any questions, and we hope to see your names on the ballot soon!

Sincerely, 

Your (outgoing) Steering Committee

seattle.area.archivists@gmail.com