Washington State Historical Society
The Washington State Historical Society is a non-profit 501(c)3 membership organization, open to any and all individuals, families, or firms. The Society is also recognized in statute (RCW 27.34) as a trustee agency of the state of Washington with enumerated powers.
Founded in 1891 and now into its second century of service, the Washington State Historical Society is dedicated to collecting, preserving, and vividly presenting Washington's rich and varied history. The Society is comprised of a family of museums and research centers, offering a variety of services to researchers, historians, scholars, and the lifelong learner.
Our mission is to be Washington’s flagship historical organization offering resources and services to citizens, visitors, and others interested in our state’s history. By preserving and interpreting the stories, images, and objects of our state’s past, the Washington State Historical Society helps residents and visitors understand the present and shape the future.
The Society is governed by a board of trustees, which includes seven public officials (the Governor, Secretary of State, Superintendent of Public Instruction and four state legislators) who serve ex officio. Trustees (excepting statewide elected officials) are limited to three three-year terms, the officers (President, Vice Presidents for western and eastern Washington and the Treasurer) are limited to two three-year terms. The director is appointed by, and serves at the pleasure of, the board and functions as the corporate secretary.
Chronology of the Society
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1891 |
The Society is organized. |
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1896 |
The Society is incorporated. |
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1903 |
The State Legislature passes an act designating the Society as a trustee agency of state government. |
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1909 |
The State Legislature appropriates $25,000 to the Society to build its own building on Stadium Way in Tacoma. |
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1911 |
The original Society building is dedicated. |
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1931 |
The Society merges with the Ferry Museum that had been built adjoining its building. |
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1941 |
The Hewitt Research Library is established. |
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1973 |
A new wing is added to the facility on Stadium Way. |
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1986 |
The Society's board of trustees adopt a long range plan to guide its growth. |
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1987 |
The Society commences publication of COLUMBIA Magazine. |
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1987 |
The State Legislature appropriates planning funds for a new museum. |
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1993 |
The Society merges with the State Capital Museum in Olympia. |
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1995 |
The Heritage Capital Projects program is created under the auspices of the Washington State Historical Society to establish a competitive process to solicit proposals from local governments, public development authorities, nonprofit corporations, tribal governments, and other entities to submit prioritized heritage capital projects for potential funding in the state capital budget. |
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1996 |
The Society opens the new Washington State History Museum next to the restored Union Station in downtown Tacoma. |
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1999 |
The Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Advisory Committee is created under the auspices of the Washington State Historical Society. |
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2000 |
The Society's board adopts a new strategic plan for 2000-2010. |
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2005 |
The Women’s History Consortium is created and the Society becomes the organizing agency for the state. |
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2005 |
The Society becomes the statewide coordinator for National History Day in Washington. |
Management Team
· Jennifer Kilmer, Director
· Patricia Tobiason, Deputy Director
· Tamara Georgick, Director of Information Technology
· Misty Reese, Administrative Director
· Redmond Barnett, Head of Exhibits Department
· Lynette Miller, Head of Collections Department
· Christina DuBois, Managing Editor, Columbia Magazine
· Christopher K. Lee, Financial Officer
· Susan Rohrer, Head of State Capital Museum and Outreach Center
· Stephanie Lile, Head of Education Department
Washington State Historical Society
Strategic and Action Plan 2007-2011
Establishing institutional priorities and operational directions
VISION Statement:
To be Washington’s flagship historical organization offering resources and services to citizens, visitors, and others interested in our state’s history.
MISSION
By connecting personal, local, regional, and national stories to the universality of the human experience, and collecting materials from our state that help tell those stories, we will make the Washington State Historical Society indispensable to the people of Washington and a vital part of state government.
VALUES
· Innovation
· Integrity
· Scholarship
· Accountability
· Service
· Diversity
· Community engagement
GOALS
· Collect, catalog, and preserve artifacts, manuscripts, maps, ephemera, photographs, and books that are reflective of our state’s history. Make the collections available for public and internal use, including digital assets accessible online.
· Engage students and teachers, organizations, agencies, and communities statewide through effective outreach and effective partnerships using National History Day, Heritage Capital Projects, conferences, workshops, and technical assistance.
· Coordinate access to women’s history information and resources at the Society and partner institutions for the Web-based Women’s History Consortium, for which the Society is the lead agency, and plan the 2010 centennial commemoration of women’s suffrage in Washington.
· Provide interpretive services to K-12 students for teachers and the general public using school field trips, teacher professional development training, and public programs.
· Create online curricula closely aligned with state assessment requirements for public use in schools statewide in keeping with the society’s Education Digital Initiative (EDI) and the state’s commitment to increased student academic achievement.
· Provide interpretive services to museum visitors through American and Washington history-themed permanent and temporary exhibits.
· Provide a safe and enjoyable museum experience by maintaining well-functioning museum facilities. Preserve the state’s investment in our facilities through preventive maintenance and building systems upgrades.
