TACOMA – Mar. 5 - The Permanent Collection of the Washington State Historical Society continues to grow. Recent additions highlight the Society’s commitment to its role as the repository of Washington’s important historical treasures.
The Special Collections Division recently added a significant Western trails guide to its collections.
In "The Prairie Traveler, A Handbook for Overland Expeditions, with Maps, Illustrations and Itineraries
of the Principal Routes between the Mississippi and the Pacific," author Randolph B. Marcy offered advice
and information for a successful prairie crossing. Marcy, a U.S. Army captain, had years of experience
guiding emigrants and military parties across the Great Plains. Published in 1859, the book became a
bestseller and a required reading for a successful prairie crossing. The book includes itineraries such
as "From Soda Springs to Fort Wallah Wallah and Oregon City, Oregon via Fort Hall," and "From St. Paul’s,
Min., to Fort Wallah Wallah, Oregon." This acquisition was made possible by an annual fund donation from
Mr. and Mrs. John M. McClelland, Jr.
The Society’s Digital Collection also continues to grow. An additional 500 photographic prints from the Marvin D. Boland collection has been digitized and 30 of those images will soon be accessible through WashingtonHistoryOnline.org. The rest of the images will eventually be made available online as well. Marvin Boland was a commercial photographer who worked in Tacoma from 1915 through the late 1930s. His collection is a rich visual record of Tacoma, a city of vibrant economic, cultural and social activity during that time period. This project was made possible by a sponsorship from Memeria, a Seattle-based company specializing in digitizing pre-digital-era assets for the purpose of preservation.
The Society is also among the first institutions chosen by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to receive “IMLS Connecting to Collections Bookshelf,” a core set of conservation books, DVDs, and online resources designed to help museums and libraries preserve treasured objects and artifacts for future generations. The IMLS Bookshelf is a crucial component of Connecting to Collections: A Call to Action, a conservation initiative that shines a nationwide spotlight on the needs of America’s collections.
The IMLS Bookshelf is a welcome addition to the Society’s own preservation efforts. The Special Collections Division recently completed the new Nitrate Negative Cold Room, located at the Washington State Historical Research Center in Tacoma. After four years of planning and construction, the Cold Room will provide permanent storage for 75,000 nitrate negatives from the Asahel Curtis, Marvin D. Boland and Chapin Bowen Collections. The constant 45 degree temperature and 42 percent humidity will help preserve these treasures for future generations.
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About the Washington State History Museum
The Washington State History Museum, flagship of the Washington State Historical Society, is located
at 1911 Pacific Avenue in downtown Tacoma, just off 1-5. The Washington State History Museum presents
exhibits, programs, and events that bring to life the stories of Washington's history. The Washington State
Historical Society has been dedicated to collecting, preserving, and vividly presenting Washington's rich
and varied history since 1891.
HOURS - Tuesday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., with extended hours and free
admission every Thursday night, 5 – 8 p.m.; Sunday NOON – 5 p.m. During the
summer, from Memorial Day through Labor Day, the Museum is open on Mondays from
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
ADMISSION - $25 for families (two adults and up to four children); $8 for adults; $7 for seniors, age 60
and above; $6 for students and military with valid ID; children, age 5 and below, and members are always
FREE.
CONTACT – 1-888-BE THERE,
www.WashingtonHistory.org
Media Contact:
Marketing Office
public relations coordinator
Washington State Historical Society
253-798-5877
socialmedia@wshs.wa.gov