As the United States prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday, SMA is presenting the exhibition We the People of Seattle: America at 250. The free display, which is open to all members of the public, is now on view in the Seattle Municipal Tower Gallery on the 3rd floor. Records… [ Keep reading ]
We’re excited to present Lunchtime Rewind—a Lunch & Learn Archival Screening! Take a break and travel back in time with us on Thursday, July 16, from 12:00–12:45 PM for a special screening of archival footage from City Light and the Seattle Channel, featuring: The screening will take place in the… [ Keep reading ]
We recently processed the records of City Councilmember Mark Solomon, who served as interim representative for District 2 on the council in 2025. Solomon was born and raised in the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Seattle. After earning a BA in humanities from Seattle University in 1981, he entered the U.S…. [ Keep reading ]
We recently received an accession of posters from the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute that show the variety of events sponsored by the center over the years. With the help of our volunteer Natalie Edmonds, they are now processed and available as Record Series 7420-03. The Langston Hughes Performing Arts… [ Keep reading ]
Here at SMA we hold many different kinds of records: textual records, photographic materials, drawings, posters, maps, and audiovisual materials – that is, film, video, and audio recordings. These recordings exist in both analog and born-digital formats, each with their own needs and challenges for preservation and access. For example,… [ Keep reading ]
We recently completed processing the records of Councilmember Kshama Sawant, including seven different record series. Sawant served on City Council from 2014 through 2023, first in a citywide position and then representing District 3 after a charter amendment reorganized the council into geographical districts. She was associated with the successful… [ Keep reading ]
SMA archivists and staff from the Cedar River Watershed recently traded visits to learn more about each other’s work and discuss preservation of records. The watershed is an important part of Seattle’s history as well as its current infrastructure, and records created and held there are vital to understanding the… [ Keep reading ]
The Ballard Neighborhood District Coordinator Records (Record Series 5752-16) are now available for use in our research room. The records date from 1974 to 2016 and include meeting minutes, reports, correspondence, and notes relating to the activities of Ballard District Coordinator Rob Mattson. Each of Seattle’s 13 neighborhood districts had… [ Keep reading ]
Happy World Digital Preservation Day, everybody! Whether it be all those pictures and videos on your phone, important tax documents, papers you’ve written for school, or for us at the archives, alllllll of those many thousands of digital objects in our holdings – today is a great day to think… [ Keep reading ]
October is Archives Month! This year’s theme for Washington State is “Express Yourself,” highlighting the diverse ways people have documented their lives, creative outlets, and personal perspectives. Archival repositories throughout the state hold materials of self-expression such as handwritten letters revealing thoughts and relationships; photographs of music and dance performances;… [ Keep reading ]
