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 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.

This portrait shows Councilman Sam Smith as he listens to demonstrators from the South End Seattle Community Organization, who were protesting the comprehensive land use plan written by the City Council. Failing to bring the group to order, six council members walked out; Sam Smith was one of three who remained to listen.

Caption information source: "Smith, Sam (1922-1995)," by Mary Henry, HistoryLink.org Essay 63.
Caption information also derived from captions written by Post-Intelligencer staff and attached to the back of the photograph.