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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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770 results for: Activism

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Image of Oscar Eason, Jr. speaking at NAACP chapter meeting, Seattle, August 25, 1986
Photograph

Oscar Eason, Jr. speaking at NAACP chapter meeting, Seattle, August 25, 1986

Oscar Eason, Jr. (1930-2017) was a longtime civil-rights leader and community activist in Seattle, who broke down workplace barriers and fought for social justice. Eason moved to Seattle in 1958 from San Antonio, Texas, to work as a mechanical engineer at the Boeing Company, then in 1962 took a job working for the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers. Eason served…
ID Number:2000.107.053.26.01
Date:1986
Image of Group from the Alki PTA march to support levy, West Seattle, May 25, 1953
Photograph

Group from the Alki PTA march to support levy, West Seattle, May 25, 1953

In a May 1953 special election, Seattle voters approved a 2-mill property tax levy to fund kindergartens for another year. The levy passed by a majority of 54,965 to 18,537. Earlier that year, the state legislature had voted to limit the amount of money for education to $141 million, leaving each school district to fund its own kindergarten classes.Here, a…
ID Number:2000.107.055.27.02
Date:1953
Image of Voter registration table in front of University Bookstore, Seattle, October 3, 1984
Photograph

Voter registration table in front of University Bookstore, Seattle, October 3, 1984

Democrats, Republicans, and a host of other organizations pushed to increase voter registration as the 1984 national election drew closer. In the election, to be held November 6, incumbent Ronald Reagan (Republican) was running against Walter Mondale (Democrat).Here, Valerie Jean Fisher, from the Washington Public Interest Research Group (WashPIRG) sits outside the University Bookstore and registers University of Washington students…
ID Number:2000.107.055.27.03
Date:1984
Image of People on Mercer Street opposing Initiatives 547 and 35, Seattle, November 6, 1990
Photograph

People on Mercer Street opposing Initiatives 547 and 35, Seattle, November 6, 1990

Increasing urban sprawl and environmental degradation led the Washington legislature to work on state-directed growth control measures. Unhappiness with their proposals led to the citizen-initiated Initiative 547 on the November 1990 ballot. The initiative would have would have required comprehensive land-use planning by all Washington state counties and the establishment of two regional growth control panels. Initiative 547 failed by…
ID Number:2000.107.055.28.02
Date:1990
Image of Jim Ellis, Seattle, September 1974
Photograph

Jim Ellis, Seattle, September 1974

James Reed "Jim" Ellis (b. 1921), a Franklin High School graduate and Seattle lawyer, is widely regarded as one of the most visionary civic activists in King County history. In the late 1950s he spearheaded the clean up of Lake Washington, leading to the creation of the Municipality of Metropolitan Seattle (Metro), which became a regional transportation system. In the…
ID Number:2000.107.056.08.02
Date:1974
Image of Jim Ellis at Freeway Park dedication ceremony, Seattle, July 6, 1981
Photograph

Jim Ellis at Freeway Park dedication ceremony, Seattle, July 6, 1981

James Reed "Jim" Ellis (b. 1921), a Franklin High School graduate and Seattle lawyer, is widely regarded as one of the most visionary civic activists in King County history. In the late 1950s he spearheaded the clean up of Lake Washington, leading to the creation of the Municipality of Metropolitan Seattle (Metro), which became a regional transportation system. In the…
ID Number:2000.107.056.08.03
Date:1981
Image of Portrait of Jesse Epstein, Seattle, August 2, 1941
Photograph

Portrait of Jesse Epstein, Seattle, August 2, 1941

Jesse Epstein (1910-1989) was the first director of the Seattle Housing Authority (SHA) in 1939, having been a primary force in its creation. When the U.S Housing Act of 1937 was passed, subsidizing the construction of low-income housing, Epstein worked for legislation to enable the creation of a local housing authority in Seattle. Two housing bills, the Housing Authorities Law…
ID Number:2000.107.057.02.01
Date:1941
Image of Jesse Epstein signing off on Yesler Terrace project, February 27, 1941
Photograph

Jesse Epstein signing off on Yesler Terrace project, February 27, 1941

Jesse Epstein (1910-1989) was the first director of the Seattle Housing Authority (SHA) in 1939, having been a primary force in its creation. When the U.S Housing Act of 1937 was passed, subsidizing the construction of low-income housing, Epstein worked for legislation to enable the creation of a local housing authority in Seattle. Two housing bills, the Housing Authorities Law…
ID Number:2000.107.057.02.02
Date:1941
Image of Jesse Epstein receiving cup of punch from child after Yesler Terrace dedication, Seattle, June 16, 1942
Photograph

Jesse Epstein receiving cup of punch from child after Yesler Terrace dedication, Seattle, June 16, 1942

Jesse Epstein (1910-1989) was the first director of the Seattle Housing Authority (SHA) in 1939, having been a primary force in its creation. When the U.S Housing Act of 1937 was passed, subsidizing the construction of low-income housing, Epstein worked for legislation to enable the creation of a local housing authority in Seattle. Two housing bills, the Housing Authorities Law…
ID Number:2000.107.057.02.03
Date:1942
Image of Sports fishers picketing Boldt decision at Federal Building, Tacoma, March 5, 1974
Photograph

Sports fishers picketing Boldt decision at Federal Building, Tacoma, March 5, 1974

Beginning with treaties in 1854 and 1855, Indigenous tribes of Washington ceded their land to the United States but had reserved the right to fish as they had always done, including fishing at traditional locations that were off the designated reservations. Over time, the state of Washington had infringed on the treaty rights of the tribes despite losing a series…
ID Number:2000.107.064.02.01
Date:1974
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MOHAI stands on the historic and contemporary lands and shores of the Duwamish, Suquamish, Muckleshoot, and other Coast Salish Nations. We acknowledge the forced displacement of Native Communities from this land while honoring the endurance of the Duwamish people who still live here.
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