The Jackson Street Community Council (1946-1967) was established to represent both Seattle's Asian and African American communities in part of the Central District and the Chinatown - International District, supporting businesses, volunteer organizations, and social groups. The JSCC linked these two communities of color and later advocated for civil rights for both. This brochure, titled Seattle's International Settlement, gives an overview of the "International Area," pictures from various Asian American festivals, and a map of the area (3rd Avenue South to 14th Avenue South and South Washington Street to South Dearborn Street) with markers for restaurants, specialty gift shops, import and export shops, specialty food stores, financial institutions, and interest points.
The brochure is stamped for Higo Variety Store at 602-608 South Jackson Street, which was founded in 1909 by Sanzo and Matsuyo Murakami and moved to this location on Jackson Street in 1932. The Murakami family was incarcerated in April 1942 during Japanese American exclusion and the store was boarded up. Neighbors Julius Blumenthal and Maurice Zimmer kept watch over the store and paid bills for the family during this time, and the Murakamis were able to restart the business upon their return to Seattle on January 22, 1945. The business was passed down through the family until 2003 when Higo Variety closed permanently. In 2004 the art gallery Kobo at Higo opened at the same location.
Businesses included: Restaurants: Bush Garden, Maneki, Miyako, Nikko, Gasperetti's Roma Cafe, Bamboo Terrace, Gim Ling, Golden Pheasant, Gyokko Ken, Hong Kong, Linyen, Little Three Grand, Shai Hoo, Tai Tung. Specialty Gift Shops: Higo, Kong Sun, Sun Wah, Tobo, Tom's Grocery and Gifts, Uwajimaya, Wilma's Century Shoppe. Import and Export: Wah Young, Yick Fung. Specialty Food Stores: Sagamiya, Quong Chong. Financial Institutions: Seattle First National Bank, International Branch; United Savings & Loan Association. Interest Points: Chong Wa Benevolent Association, Filipino Forum, North American Post, Seattle Buddhist Church, Jackson Street Community Council.
Caption source information: "Jackson Street Community Council (1946-1967)," by Allison Marie O'Connor, BlackPast.org, https://blackpast.org/aaw/jackson-street-community-council-1946-1967; "Higo Variety Store," by Kathleen Kemezis, HistoryLink, http://www.historylink.org/File/9094.
