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, Smith addresses a meeting of Business and Professional Women's Clubs of King County during a seminar titled "Crime and its Prevention - What Women Need to Know," held in the Shaw Room at Seattle Center. Seated at the table with Smith, left to right, are Mrs. Winifred Young, State Federation of B&PW Clubs, Inc.; Mrs. Ruth Niman (behind Smith), Symposium Sunrise Club; Miss Dorothy Kasch, Dist. Dir. B&PW clubs; Dr. Clarence Schrag, UW; Mrs. Noreen Hartsfield, Seattle policewoman; Judge Morell Sharp, King Co. Superior Court.
Caption information source: "Smith, Sam (1922-1995),' by Mary Henry, HistoryLink.org Essay 63.
Date photograph was filed at Seattle Post-Intelligencer (date of photograph and filing date may differ): March 29, 1969
