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Explore stories in Northwest history through highlights from MOHAI’s collections. Search by keyword below or browse the entire online collection by entering the asterisk symbol (*). Filter your search by type of materials.

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We have many more items in our collections and not everything you see online is on view at the museum. We have additional materials online at the University of Washington’s Digital Collections.

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525 results for: Government and Public Services

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Image of Radical Women rally outside the Federal Courthouse, Seattle, July 3, 1989
Photograph

Radical Women rally outside the Federal Courthouse, Seattle, July 3, 1989

This image shows some of the approximately 150 demonstrators gathered in front of the Federal Courthouse in a rally sponsored by Radical Women protesting the Supreme Court's decision to allow states to determine if public funding can or cannot pay for abortions. Caption information derived from captions written by Post-Intelligencer staff and attached to the back of the photograph.
ID Number:2000.107.001.16.06
Date:1989
Image of Supporters of Initiative 471 demonstrating outside Capitol, Olympia, January 18, 1985
Photograph

Supporters of Initiative 471 demonstrating outside Capitol, Olympia, January 18, 1985

In this image Initiative 471 supporters bow their heads in prayer on the steps of the Capitol in Olympia. About 3,700 demonstrators came to show support for the measure, which would repeal state funding of abortions. Caption information derived from captions written by Post-Intelligencer staff and attached to the back of the photograph.
ID Number:2000.107.001.16.09
Date:1985
Image of Workers removing sign at SeaTac airport, March 1984
Photograph

Workers removing sign at SeaTac airport, March 1984

In September 1983, shortly after the death of longtime US Senator for Washington Henry "Scoop" Jackson, the Port of Seattle commission decided to rename Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (or SeaTac for short) to Henry M. Jackson International Airport in his honor. Tacoma officials objected that the name change both insulted their city and violated the deal made when the airport first…
ID Number:2000.107.005.05.02
Date:1984
Image of Melanie Anderson in her firefighting gear, Seattle, July 2, 1981
Photograph

Melanie Anderson in her firefighting gear, Seattle, July 2, 1981

Melanie Anderson, shown here in her firefighting jacket and helmet, was one of seven women to join the Seattle Fire Department in July 1981, the largest group of women to make it through the program thus far, bringing the total number of female firefighters in the department to 24. Their success was attributed, in part, to a special training program…
ID Number:2000.107.008.06.04
Date:1981
Image of Worker attaching welcome banner to post prior to APEC conference, Seattle, November 1993
Photograph

Worker attaching welcome banner to post prior to APEC conference, Seattle, November 1993

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference (APEC) was founded in 1989 as an informal dialog group with limited participation by ministers and cabinet-level officials in the Asian-Pacific region, and rose to world prominence in Seattle in 1993 when President Clinton endorsed the organization and used it for what is now an annual summit meeting of Asian and Pacific leaders. The group…
ID Number:2000.107.009.35.03
Date:1993
Image of Bicyclists waiting outside City Hall to attend City Council hearing on new West Seattle bridge, Seattle, September 29, 1983
Photograph

Bicyclists waiting outside City Hall to attend City Council hearing on new West Seattle bridge, Seattle, September 29, 1983

West Seattle and Seattle were once connected by two low drawbridges, but when a ship rammed one of these in 1978, discussion turned to the building of a high bridge that would permit ships to pass underneath. A low bridge would also be replaced. In 1983, Seattle’s City Council held hearings on the plans. Over 300 cyclists jammed City Hall…
ID Number:2000.107.021.22.01
Date:1983
Image of Black Panthers protesting on steps of Capitol building, Olympia, February 28, 1969
Photograph

Black Panthers protesting on steps of Capitol building, Olympia, February 28, 1969

The Black Panther Party for Self Defense established its Seattle chapter in the spring of 1968, after Aaron Dixon, Elmer Dixon, Anthony Ware, Gary Owens and several other future Panthers attended a memorial service in San Francisco for 17 year-old Bobby Hutton, who had been killed in a shootout with local police. While in Oakland, the Seattle youth met BPP…
ID Number:2000.107.022.21.02
Date:1969
Image of Vivian Caver, Seattle, September 9, 1975
Photograph

Vivian Caver, Seattle, September 9, 1975

Vivian Caver (1928-2021) was a civil rights activist from Seattle. She was born in Tennessee and grew up in Washington. While a student at the University of Washington, Caver worked for the Seattle Urban League as it fought to integrate department store workforces in Seattle. In the 1960s, she set up race relations councils in white neighborhoods to make housing…
ID Number:2000.107.033.27.01
Date:1975
Image of Vivian Caver at press conference, Seattle, February 1980
Photograph

Vivian Caver at press conference, Seattle, February 1980

Vivian Caver (1928-2021) was a civil rights activist from Seattle. She was born in Tennessee and grew up in Washington. While a student at the University of Washington, Caver worked for the Seattle Urban League as it fought to integrate department store workforces in Seattle. In the 1960s, she set up race relations councils in white neighborhoods to make housing…
ID Number:2000.107.033.27.02
Date:1980
Image of Three Chinese women receiving citizenship papers, February 10, 1979
Photograph

Three Chinese women receiving citizenship papers, February 10, 1979

On February 10, 1979, three long-time Seattle residents received their naturalization papers from Federal Court clerk Joe T. Ramame to become American citizens. The women were all born in China, and had lived in Seattle for 28-47 years. Here, Ramame hands Sau Chee Chin her naturalization papers, while Lee Shee Eng and Lim Tan-ying Eng wait behind her. Tan-ying Eng's…
ID Number:2000.107.036.09.06
Date:1979
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