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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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393 results for: Central Area

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Image of March for Jobs flier, October 21, 1982
Ephemera

March for Jobs flier, October 21, 1982

On October 21, 1982, eleven community organizations representing a variety of Seattle minority, women, labor, and anti-war groups held a rally and march from Seattle’s Central Area to downtown Seattle. They scheduled the event close to the election to remind politicians of the importance of minority voters. Goals were full employment at fair wages, a cut in the national military…
ID Number:2002.23.1.75.1
Date:1982
Image of Black Arts/West presents Ceremonies in Dark Old Men poster, June 1975
Ephemera

Black Arts/West presents Ceremonies in Dark Old Men poster, June 1975

Black Arts/West was Seattle's first Black theater and functioned as a three component program:, dance, and an art gallery displaying the work of local and national artists. As a division of the Central Area Motivation Program, an anti-poverty agency, it was charged with getting young people involved and learning the necessary skills to survive and flourish in society.This poster advertises…
ID Number:2002.23.3.51.1
Date:1975
Image of Women's Fight for the Equal Rights Amendment flier, November 1976
Ephemera

Women's Fight for the Equal Rights Amendment flier, November 1976

The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) would have amended the US Constitution to guarantee equal rights under the law regardless of sex. It was passed by both houses of Congress in 1972 but was not ratified by enough states before the deadline set by Congress. As a result, it was not added to the Constitution, but it has been reintroduced in…
ID Number:2002.23.3.68.1
Date:1976
Image of Poster on proposed site for African-American heritage museum, Seattle, 1985
Ephemera

Poster on proposed site for African-American heritage museum, Seattle, 1985

In 1985, several activists occupied the abandoned Colman School in the Central Area, the proposed site for an African American museum, to claim the site and prevent its demolition. They occupied the building for 8 years, until 1993, when the non-profit African American Heritage Museum and Cultural Center was formed to oversee the museum project. The Northwest African American Museum…
ID Number:2002.23.4.69.1
Date:1985
Image of March Against Weed & Seed flier, 1992
Ephemera

March Against Weed & Seed flier, 1992

Weed and Seed was a 1992 Bush administration initiative to provide federal grants to city governments to help “weed” drug-dealing and crime from troubled neighborhoods, and “seed” those areas with social programs. Mayor Norm Rice procured a $1.1 million grant for a Weed and Seed program for Seattle’s Central Area, but approval was delayed for several months over widespread opposition…
ID Number:2002.23.5.45.2
Date:1992
Image of Reparations 2000 march flier, Seattle, November 30, 1999
Ephemera

Reparations 2000 march flier, Seattle, November 30, 1999

This flier advertises a march organized by the Reparations 2000 Coalition and the African American Heritage Museum and Cultural Center (AAHM&CC), to take place on the first evening of the WTO rallies. The march was set to end at the vacant Colman School, where an encampment for anti-WTO activists would be established. Omari Tahir-Garrett and other activists first occupied this…
ID Number:2002.23.6.42.1
Date:1999
Image of 30th Annual Black Community Festival poster, 1982
Ephemera

30th Annual Black Community Festival poster, 1982

For over 70 years, Seattle’s Black community has a held a summer festival that was part of Seattle's International Festival, now Seafair. The first, in 1952, was called the East Madison/East Union Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras later transformed into the Pacific Northwest Black Community Festival, and in 1997 it became the Umoja Fest African Heritage Festival.This poster advertises the 30th…
ID Number:2002.23.8.1.3
Date:1982
Image of Candlelight March - No Police Station poster, September 1981
Ephemera

Candlelight March - No Police Station poster, September 1981

In 1981, Mayor Charles Royer proposed a new police precinct station for Seattle's Central Area, and the recommendation was approved by the City Council. The plan for the site, located at East Yesler Way and 23rd Avenue South, drew controversy and criticism from local residents, who protested the demolition of a city-owned four-plex at the site, and advocated instead for…
ID Number:2006.42.7
Date:1981
Image of Sir Mix-A-Lot recording with PUSA at Jupiter Studios, Seattle, July 1999
Photograph

Sir Mix-A-Lot recording with PUSA at Jupiter Studios, Seattle, July 1999

In the late 1990s, two huge parts of Seattle’s music scene came together in an unexpected way. Famed hip-hop artist Sir Mix-a-Lot and alternative rock band The Presidents of the United States of America (PUSA) collaborated as Subset between 1998 and 1999. They played several shows in Seattle and worked on recording an album. However, the group disbanded in 2000…
ID Number:2007.45.Box146.03.19990728.01.01.10
Date:1999
Image of Chris Ballew of PUSU recording at Jupiter Studios, Seattle, July 1999
Photograph

Chris Ballew of PUSU recording at Jupiter Studios, Seattle, July 1999

In the late 1990s, two huge parts of Seattle’s music scene came together in an unexpected way. Famed hip-hop artist Sir Mix-a-Lot and alternative rock band The Presidents of the United States of America (PUSA) collaborated as Subset between 1998 and 1999. They played several shows in Seattle and worked on recording an album. However, the group disbanded in 2000…
ID Number:2007.45.Box146.03.19990728.01.03.09
Date:1999
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