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 on July 21, 1922 in Gibsland, Louisiana but was stationed in Seattle during WWII, and returned to earn his bachelor’s degree in Economics at the University of Washington. Smith also worked at Boeing for almost 17 years, before entering politics.

In this photograph, Sam Smith prepares to vote in the Seattle municipal primary election held in September 1969. On the ballot was Smith himself, one of ten candidates running for mayor, as well as candidates for four City Council positions and four school board posts.

Caption information source: "Smith, Sam (1922-1995)," by Mary Henry, HistoryLink.org Essay 63; "Have You Remembered to Vote? Pace at Polls: 'Slow to Terrible'", The Seattle Daily Times, September 16, 1969, p.1.