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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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774 results for: "al smith collection"

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Image of Mardi Gras parade float, Seattle, circa 1955
Photograph

Mardi Gras parade float, Seattle, circa 1955

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. Here, a group of…
ID Number:2014.49.29.01.13
Date:Circa 1955
Image of Pete Peterson playing saxophone for a group of servicemen, Seattle, circa 1944
Photograph

Pete Peterson playing saxophone for a group of servicemen, Seattle, circa 1944

Seattle's Jackson Street jazz clubs flourished in the first half of the twentieth century, with their popularity peaking in the late 1930s through early 1950s. Seattle-born photographer Al Smith was a familiar figure in the clubs, often taking pictures of musicians and patrons, then returning the following week to sell prints.On this occasion, Smith photographed a group of servicemen listening…
ID Number:2014.49.29.09.01
Date:Circa 1944
Image of Double exposure of Izzy Smith and Lake Washington, Seattle, 1989
Photograph

Double exposure of Izzy Smith and Lake Washington, Seattle, 1989

Seattle-born photographer Al Smith took many photos of family, friends and other local people in their everyday lives. This photo is a double exposure showing Smith's wife Isabelle "Izzy" (Donaldson) Smith (1916-2008) superimposed over a photograph of Lake Washington in Seattle.
ID Number:2014.49.030.043.02
Date:Circa 1989
Image of Bush with flowers along Elliott Bay Trail, Seattle, circa 1990
Photograph

Bush with flowers along Elliott Bay Trail, Seattle, circa 1990

Best known for his images of the Seattle jazz scene and everyday life in Seattle's Black community, photographer Al Smith (1916-2008) also took hundreds of photographs of the natural landscape. He photographed scenic views at various locations in Washington State and British Columbia, and also took many pictures of formal gardens, such as the Kubota Garden in Rainier Valley and…
ID Number:2014.49.033.054.05
Date:Circa 1990
Image of Larry Gossett entering police van at  protest at the South African consulate, Seattle, December 9, 1984
Photograph

Larry Gossett entering police van at protest at the South African consulate, Seattle, December 9, 1984

Beginning in October 1984, demonstrations were held outside the home of the honorary South African consul in Seattle’s Madison Park neighborhood to protest the South African government's polices of racial segregation known as apartheid. In this image, Seattle civil-rights activist and community organizer Larry Gossett, wrists zip tied, steps into a police van. He and 22 others were arrested for…
ID Number:2014.49.033.057.03
Date:1984
Image of Bob Santos entering police van at protest at the South African consulate, Seattle, December 9, 1984
Photograph

Bob Santos entering police van at protest at the South African consulate, Seattle, December 9, 1984

Beginning in October 1984, demonstrations were held outside the home of the honorary South African consul in Seattle’s Madison Park neighborhood to protest the South African government's polices of racial segregation known as apartheid. In this image, Seattle civil-rights activist and community organizer Robert (Bob) Santos, wrists zip tied, steps into a police van. He and 22 others were arrested…
ID Number:2014.49.033.057.06
Date:1984
Image of Protesters at the South African consulate, Seattle, December 9, 1984
Photograph

Protesters at the South African consulate, Seattle, December 9, 1984

Beginning in October 1984, demonstrations were held outside the home of the honorary South African consul in Seattle’s Madison Park neighborhood to protest the South African government's polices of racial segregation known as apartheid. When South Africa’s National Party came to power in 1948, the white leadership put extreme laws in place forcing the country’s racial groups to live and…
ID Number:2014.49.033.059.04
Date:1984
Image of Hazel Scott at the piano, Seattle, October 11, 1947
Photograph

Hazel Scott at the piano, Seattle, October 11, 1947

Hazel Scott (1920-1981), a classical and jazz pianist and singer, performed at Seattle's Civic Auditorium on October 11, 1947. MOHAI’s 2022 Curator’s Fellow Brittney Frantece explored the photographs in the Al Smith Collection for how they demonstrate Black worldbuilding in Seattle. Looking at this photograph, Frantece offered the following analysis:The Al Smith collection demonstrates that experimentation is key to worldbuilding…
ID Number:2014.49.36.01.01
Date:1947
Image of Izzy Smith at ROOTS Family Picnic, Seattle, 1990
Photograph

Izzy Smith at ROOTS Family Picnic, Seattle, 1990

The tradition of the ROOTS family picnic began in the early 1970s, when Arline and Letcher Yarbrough invited to dinner a group of close friends they hadn't seen in many years. Those who attended agreed to establish more regular get togethers. Word went out to the “Old Timers,” as they called themselves, to come to a reunion at Seward Park.…
ID Number:2014.49.047.091.02
Date:Circa 1985
Image of Woman at ROOTS Family Picnic, Seattle, 2001
Photograph

Woman at ROOTS Family Picnic, Seattle, 2001

The tradition of the ROOTS family picnic began in the early 1970s, when Arline and Letcher Yarbrough invited to dinner a group of close friends they hadn't seen in many years. Those who attended agreed to establish more regular get togethers. Word went out to the “Old Timers,” as they called themselves, to come to a reunion at Seward Park.…
ID Number:2014.49.047.093.02
Date:Circa 1985
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