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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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506 results for: Government and Public Services

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Image of Crowd of voters at the Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, November 3, 1948
Photograph

Crowd of voters at the Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, November 3, 1948

On November 3, 1948, Seattle voters crowded polling places, including one at the Seattle Art Museum. Here, voters at the museum wait patiently in line to enter voting booths to vote for President, Governor and state office holders. Voting time was limited to two minutes. Caption information source: The Seattle Daily Times: November 3, p. 1.Caption information also derived from…
ID Number:2000.107.220.40.01
Date:1948
Image of Demonstration of punch-card voting machine, Seattle, March 25, 1969
Photograph

Demonstration of punch-card voting machine, Seattle, March 25, 1969

On March 29, 1969 over 4,500 Seattle residents went to the polls to elect the 16-member Central Area School Council. This was the first community council elected to help the Seattle School Board run an attendance area’s schools. It was also the city’s first computer-assisted election, and it used IBM Votomatic machines, on loan from Clark County, WA. After the…
ID Number:2000.107.220.41.01
Date:1969
Image of Young Voter Registration Coordinating Committee staffers, Seattle, July 1, 1971
Photograph

Young Voter Registration Coordinating Committee staffers, Seattle, July 1, 1971

On July 1, 1971, when the 26th Amendment gave the vote to US citizens as young as 18, work immediately started on registering new, younger voters. In Washington state, representatives from a variety of national, state and local groups had recently formed the Young Voter Registration Coordinating Committee. Its mission was to become familiar with voting regulations and to plan…
ID Number:2000.107.220.41.02
Date:1971
Image of League of Women Voters voter registration booth at Westlake Mall, Seattle, August 21, 1971
Photograph

League of Women Voters voter registration booth at Westlake Mall, Seattle, August 21, 1971

In 1971, after the 26th Amendment gave the vote to US citizens as young as 18, many younger Washingtonians registered to vote in the September 21 primary elections. The League of Women Voters (LWV) set up registration tables throughout the community, including this one at the Westlake Mall in downtown Seattle. Here, on the last day of registration before the…
ID Number:2000.107.220.41.03
Date:1971
Image of Voters at Madrona Middle School, Seattle, January 5, 1974
Photograph

Voters at Madrona Middle School, Seattle, January 5, 1974

A $55.9 million special school levy for general education went before Seattle voters on February 5, 1974. The levy figure was an all-time high, influenced by a decrease in federal school funding and changes in state funding formulas. Here, late in the day of the election, a family arrives while citizens vote at the Madrona Middle School polling place. The…
ID Number:2000.107.221.02.01
Date:1974
Image of Martin J. Weideman using a curb ramp, Seattle, February 1981
Photograph

Martin J. Weideman using a curb ramp, Seattle, February 1981

In an effort to cut government spending and regulations, President Ronald Reagan’s 1982 budget proposed the elimination of Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (now the U.S. Access Board). The board’s near decade of setting standards, plus federal funding, had helped American cities begin to build curb cuts, provide bus lifts, and make other improvements to help people with disabilities…
ID Number:2000.107.228.26.01
Date:1981
Image of Leo Whiteford at Puyallup tribal substance-abuse treatment center, March 19, 1990
Photograph

Leo Whiteford at Puyallup tribal substance-abuse treatment center, March 19, 1990

This photo shows Leo Whiteford, who was in charge of the Puyallup Indian substance abuse treatment center, sitting at the center. The Serenity Prayer, written by Reinhold Niebuhr and adopted by Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) in 1942, is painted on the wall behind him. As of 2019, the Puyallup Tribe's Community/Family Services Program continues to provide drug and alcohol screening, assessments…
ID Number:2000.107.230.07.01
Date:1990
Image of Harold Whitehead at Seattle Veterans Action Center, March 25, 1991
Photograph

Harold Whitehead at Seattle Veterans Action Center, March 25, 1991

The Seattle Veterans Action Center (or Sea-VAC) was founded by Joseph Garcia in 1971 to provide readjustment assistance to veterans, especially minority, disadvantaged and disabled Vietnam war veterans. Services included family counseling, job-placement help, post-traumatic-stress-disorder therapy, substance-abuse counseling and housing aid, among others. In April 1991, Harold Whitehead, director of the Seattle Veterans Action Center, nine staff members, and heads…
ID Number:2000.107.230.07.02
Date:1991
Image of Roz Woodhouse at her Senate Higher Education Committee confirmation hearing , February 19, 1992
Photograph

Roz Woodhouse at her Senate Higher Education Committee confirmation hearing , February 19, 1992

Dr. R.Y (Roz) Woodhouse became the first woman executive in the history of the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle (formerly Seattle Urban League) when she was appointed its President & Chief Executive Officer in 1984. She served in the position until 1998. Immediately prior to joining the Urban League, Dr. Woodhouse was Vice President and Manager of Employee Relations for…
ID Number:2000.107.232.37.01
Date:1992
Image of Roz Woodhouse, Seattle Urban League President, May 23, 1988
Photograph

Roz Woodhouse, Seattle Urban League President, May 23, 1988

Dr. R.Y (Roz) Woodhouse became the first woman executive in the history of the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle (formerly Seattle Urban League) when she was appointed its President & Chief Executive Officer in 1984. She served in the position until 1998. Immediately prior to joining the Urban League, Dr. Woodhouse was Vice President and Manager of Employee Relations for…
ID Number:2000.107.232.37.02
Date:1988
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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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Phone: 206 324 1126
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