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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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256 results for: Politics and Politicians

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Image of Wing Luke and his mother inside a store, probably in Seattle, 1962
Photograph

Wing Luke and his mother inside a store, probably in Seattle, 1962

Wing Luke was the first Asian American to hold elected office in the Pacific Northwest. He served on the Seattle City Council from 1962 until his death in a plane crash in 1965. Handwritten on sleeve: Luke, Wing, city council and mother.Date photograph was filed at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer (date of photograph and file date may differ by a month…
ID Number:1986.5.33602.1
Date:1962
Image of Sam Smith and his sons, November 7, 1967
Photograph

Sam Smith and his sons, November 7, 1967

Sam Smith was the first African-American person to be elected to the Seattle City Council in 1968 and was on the Council until 1991, chairing many committees and serving as Council President from 1974-1979 and 1986-1989. Smith also served in the Washington State Legislature for five terms, beginning with his election from the 37th district in 1958. He was born…
ID Number:1986.5.42352.27
Date:1967
Image of Leaders of Negro Voter's League, Seattle, August 6, 1968
Photograph

Leaders of Negro Voter's League, Seattle, August 6, 1968

Seattle's African-American population increased dramatically between 1940 and 1960, making the community the city's largest minority group, overtaking the Chinese, Japanese, and Filipino residents, which together had historically formed Seattle's largest minority population. All of the city's minority groups experienced some form of discrimination, including geographic segregation, employment inequity, and housing discrimination. This image shows three leaders of the Negro…
ID Number:1986.5.50024.1
Date:1968
Image of Sam Smith at voting machine, September 16, 1969
Photograph

Sam Smith at voting machine, September 16, 1969

Sam Smith was the first African-American person to be elected to the Seattle City Council in 1968 and was on the Council until 1991, chairing many committees and serving as Council President from 1974-199 and 1986-1989. Smith also served in the Washington State Legislature for five terms, beginning with his election from the 37th district in 1958. He was born…
ID Number:1986.5.51173.6
Date:1969
Image of Peggy Joan Maxie after election as State Representative, November 4, 1970
Photograph

Peggy Joan Maxie after election as State Representative, November 4, 1970

Peggy Joan Maxie (b. 1936) was the first Black woman elected to public office in Washington state. In 1970, she was elected by a wide margin to the State House of Representatives. From 1971 to 1982, Maxie served in position 2 in Washington’s 37th Legislative District, covering most of the Central Area and parts of Capitol Hill and downtown. Early…
ID Number:1986.5.53165.26
Date:1970
Image of Sam Smith in his office, February 1971
Photograph

Sam Smith in his office, February 1971

Sam Smith was the first African-American person to be elected to the Seattle City Council in 1968 and was on the Council until 1991, chairing many committees and serving as Council President from 1974-199 and 1986-1989. Smith also served in the Washington State Legislature for five terms, beginning with his election from the 37th district in 1958. He was born…
ID Number:1986.5.53800.10
Date:1971
Image of Councilman Sam Smith addressing Women's Clubs,  March 1969
Photograph

Councilman Sam Smith addressing Women's Clubs, March 1969

Sam Smith was the first African-American person to be elected to the Seattle City Council in 1968 and was on the Council until 1991, chairing many committees and serving as Council President from 1974-199 and 1986-1989. Smith also served in the Washington State Legislature for five terms, beginning with his election from the 37th district in 1958. He was born…
ID Number:1986.5.56539.7
Date:1969
Image of Bertha Knight Landes, circa 1927
Photograph

Bertha Knight Landes, circa 1927

Bertha Knight Landes was the first woman mayor of a major American city. Serving a single term from 1926 until 1928, she improved law enforcement, expanded the parks department programs, and improved the management of the City Light department. Active in many civic organizations, she viewed her community and mayoral activities as an extension of her home duties and well-justified…
ID Number:1986.5G.1424.1
Date:Circa 1927
Image of Portrait of Beriah Brown, Seattle, circa 1890
Photograph

Portrait of Beriah Brown, Seattle, circa 1890

Beriah Brown (1815-1900), originally from New York, was an editor and politician who helped establish Seattle's journalistic and educational institutions. A vocal critic of President Lincoln and devoted to preserving state's rights to choose slavery, following Lincoln's assassination Mr. Brown was forced to flee San Francisco, where he edited the Daily Democratic Press. Arriving in Seattle around 1870, he launched…
ID Number:1989.80.1
Date:Circa 1890
Photograph

Richard Nixon signing his book at Frederick & Nelson, Seattle, August 10, 1962

Frederick & Nelson department store in downtown Seattle was a popular stopping point for authors and celebrities on book tours. On August 10, 1962, Richard Nixon appeared at Frederick & Nelson in conjunction with his book tour for "Six Crises," which examined six crises he'd experienced thus far in his political career as congressman, senator, and vice president. Both police…
ID Number:1993.43.21.39.1
Date:1962
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