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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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497 results for: Women's Rights

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Image of Seattle, My Own Home Town
Music, notated

Seattle, My Own Home Town

The music and lyrics for "Seattle, My Own Home Town," were written by two women who were born elsewhere but spent their adult lives in the greater Seattle area. A songwriter born in Illinois who enjoyed considerable success in Seattle, Rosetta Adelle (Perry) Gibbon (1904-1988), also wrote "Hail, the Navy," which won a 1933 Chamber of Commerce Fleet Week contest,…
ID Number:Lib1996.28.13
Date:1952
Image of Woman in work clothes waiting to cross street, Seattle, 1942
Photograph

Woman in work clothes waiting to cross street, Seattle, 1942

During World War II, many women were trained to fill the jobs left by men serving in the military. Women did auto repair, aircraft assembly and other jobs once considered men's work. Handwritten on image: Women slacks.Handwritten on sleeve: Fashions - slacks - women's.Date photograph was filed at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer (date of photograph and file date may differ by…
ID Number:PI21377
Date:1942
Image of Three women singing at Bon Odori festival, Seattle, 1937
Photograph

Three women singing at Bon Odori festival, Seattle, 1937

During the summer of 1932, Seattle's first Bon Odori festival was held by the Seattle Buddhist Church (Seattle Betsuin Buddhist Temple). Bon Odori is a traditional Japanese style of dancing performed during Obon, a Buddhist memorial service. The joyful dance celebrates selfless giving and expresses gratitude to departed family members and ancestors. Over the years, the annual open-to-all event has…
ID Number:PI22454
Date:1937
Image of Child care center at High Point housing project, April 1942
Photograph

Child care center at High Point housing project, April 1942

Many people came to the Seattle area during World War II to work in the shipyards and other war industries. Some of these men and women lived at the High Point housing project in West Seattle. Child care was a problem for working mothers. Many of High Point's young children were looked after at the community's child care center.This April…
ID Number:PI23697
Date:1942
Image of Woman sewing a hat at the J.T. Hardeman  Hat Company, Seattle, 1935
Photograph

Woman sewing a hat at the J.T. Hardeman Hat Company, Seattle, 1935

Polk's 1935 Seattle city directory lists the J.T. Hardeman Hat Company at 700 Republican Street, in what is now known as the South Lake Union neighborhood. The firm made men's fur felt hats. Handwritten on negative: Hats candid.Handwritten on sleeve: Hats - men's.Date photograph was filed at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer (date of photograph and file date may differ by a…
ID Number:PI23970
Date:1935
Image of First women mail carriers, December 1942
Photograph

First women mail carriers, December 1942

Before December 1942, only men delivered mail on foot in Seattle. With so many men away serving in World War II, the postal service decided to give female carriers a try. Starting in mid-December, Donna Pennington and Ardyth Hamilton sorted mail at the Broadway station and delivered it to homes and businesses on Capitol Hill.This photo shows Seattle residents Donna…
ID Number:PI25090
Date:1942
Image of Seattle Bicycle Club outing, Seattle, 1947
Photograph

Seattle Bicycle Club outing, Seattle, 1947

Bicycles have been popular in the Seattle area since their introduction in the 1890s. The region's many cycling groups regularly sponsor outings along roads and bicycle trails.In this photo, taken on a sunny November day in 1947, members of the Seattle Bicycle Club cycle along an unidentified Seattle street. At that time, it was not at all unusual for women…
ID Number:PI26750
Date:1947
Image of Madrona air raid wardens drilling with gas masks, August 1942
Photograph

Madrona air raid wardens drilling with gas masks, August 1942

On August 2, 1942, Seattle staged a city-wide air raid drill to test its wartime emergency preparedness. Sirens wailed and army and navy planes roared low over the city as 58,000 civil defense workers handled traffic, dealt with imaginary fires, gave first aid and evacuated people from areas where bombs had supposedly landed. During the drill one theoretical bomb landed…
ID Number:PI27965
Date:1942
Image of Japanese Americans surrendering equipment to police, Seattle, December 29, 1941
Photograph

Japanese Americans surrendering equipment to police, Seattle, December 29, 1941

On February 19, 1942, shortly after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor and United States entry into WWII, President Franklin Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, calling for the exclusion of all civilians of Japanese descent from "designated military areas." More than 9,000 Japanese and Japanese American people living in the Pacific Northwest were forced into incarceration at camps in Idaho and…
ID Number:PI28030
Date:1941
Image of Man stacking radios surrendered by Japanese Americans, Seattle, December 29, 1941
Photograph

Man stacking radios surrendered by Japanese Americans, Seattle, December 29, 1941

On February 19, 1942, shortly after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor and United States entry into WWII, President Franklin Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, calling for the exclusion of all civilians of Japanese descent from "designated military areas." More than 9,000 Japanese and Japanese American people living in the Pacific Northwest were forced into incarceration at camps in Idaho and…
ID Number:PI28032
Date:1942
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Land Acknowledgement

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.
Address: 860 Terry Ave N, Seattle WA, 98109
Phone: 206 324 1126
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