information from SWSHS
The longest-lasting outreach program of the Southwest Seattle Historical Society, (SWSHS) "Words, Writers & West Seattle" is expanding and changing its name! In an effort to better focus on the society's mission, "to promote local heritage through education, preservation, and advocacy," the new series will be presenting authors, books, and stories of the Puget Sound and Duwamish Peninsula and will continue to enjoy the partnership of the Seattle Public Library.
For almost six years, WW&WS has been hosting presentations by West Seattle authors, chaired by SWSHS volunteer and board member, Dora-Faye Hendricks. Several years ago another SWSHS series, "Southwest Stories" was started that featured speakers of various backgrounds sharing historical stories of various interests, chaired by several different volunteers. Wanting to present more history of the larger area Puget Sound area, the Historical Society decided to combine the two series under one name with just one volunteer chair instead of two.
Beginning immediately "Words, Writers and West Seattle" is combining with "Southwest Stories," and will be known as "Words, Writers & SouthWest Stories," in an obvious attempt to maintain the recognition, audiences, and intent of both earlier programs. These FREE presentations will be held on the Second Thursdays of each month from 6 to 7:30 PM at the SW Library Branch of the Seattle Public Library, 9010 35th Ave SW, in West Seattle, although some events might be moved to another branch on a weekend.
Future speakers will include: Roberta and John Newland presenting,The Cle Elum Fire of 1918. on July 11th; Mayumi Tsutakawa, speaking Aug. 8th on "Washington's Undiscovered Feminists"; Elise Hooper and her book, Learning to See: A Novel of Dorothea Lange, one of the preeminent and pioneering documentary photographers of the 20th century (date TBD); Jeff Smoot, presenting Schurman Rock: A History & Guide (date TBD); Feliks Banel, local broadcaster and historian on Storm Warning, Historic Weather in the Evergreen State, co-sponsored by Humanities, WA, (date TBD); and presidential historian, Mike Purdy and his book, 101 Presidential Insults: What They Really Thought About Each Other - and What It Means to Us (date TBD). All presentations of the former series and the new one are videotaped and available through SWSHS's website: www.loghousemuseum.org.
