Modern View of Seattle
What is the modern interpretation of the of city Seattle? For many, the prevailing stereotype is a city perpetually shaded in rain clouds full of tech geeks, hipsters, and European Christians who settled in masses. In fact, Priceonomics wrote a piece ranking cities of comparable size within the U.S. and Seattle, right now, is ranked the 5th whitest. You can read their article here: https://priceonomics.com/how-diverse-is-your-city/
Mayer, Harold
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Mayer, Harold
KXAS-TV (Television station : Fort Worth, Tex.)
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KXAS-TV (Television station : Fort Worth, Tex.)
Plastichrome
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Plastichrome
unknown American
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unknown American
While this stereotype seems to have permeated through American minds and culture, the history of the city is, in fact, a history of great diversity. This archive seeks to demonstrate the true history of the city, develop how this stereotype has spread, and acknowledge many of the city's shortcomings in addressing what diversity issues it does indeed have.
Native Heritage (1850's-1920):
The Pacific Northwest, being a place of great ecological diversity and opportunity, offered a perfect building place for society. However, before the first pioneers would ever discover this, various Native American tribes called the area home for hundreds of years. Where the city now sits, as well as the greater Pacific Northwest, was inhabited by the Suquamish, Duwamish, Nisqually, Snoqualmie, and Muckleshoot Tribes all of which are pictured in the gallery below.

Muckleshoot tribal member Big John (Sukwa'leskt), with a dip net he made.

View of bay and beach, in foreground is painted prow of canoe, in background is small wooden houseCaption on image: 1039 WilseCaption in album: Indian hut at Shilshole BayNote from unidentified source: Home of Indian CharleyIn Prosch Indian Album. PH Coll 18, v. 2, no. 23
Wilse, Anders B

On August 11, 1919, the Puget Sound Bridge & Dredging Company launched the steamer "Snoqualmie" at its Seattle shipyard on Harbor Island. The vessel was named for the Snoqualmie Tribe, in honor of their friendship with pioneer settlers and their war record in service to the United States. This photo shows some of the tribal members who traveled to Seattle to take part in the launching ceremonies.
Nowell, F.H. (Frank H.)
Looking into the namesake of the city provides a unique insight into the city's native past. The city of Seattle was named after Chief Seattle, who was the leader of both the Suqamish and Duwamish tribes. He helped unite the two tribes and was the first leader to emphasize the need to work together with the pioneers. He famously delivered a speech in which he discussed the importance of the land and nature both the natives and the settlers call home. While the exact manuscript of what Chief Seattle said has since been lost, the spirit of caring for the environment still prospers throughout the city today.
Pioneering Days: (1850's-1900)
The first pioneers came to the Seattle area in 1851 and established a town they called "New York" near what is now Alki beach. Slightly after this, the pioneers moved across the Puget Sound and settled into what is now the Pioneer Square neighborhood, to leverage the more abundant resources and better geography. The city of Seattle was officially founded in 1851.
What kept the small pioneering town viable was the profitable logging industry, abundant fishing, and the hope of a transcontinental railroad linking Seattle the rest of the country. Below are images of Alki Beach, Pioneer Square, and photographs of many of the original settlers years after the rough-and-tumble pioneering days of Seattle.

Webster & Stevens
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Webster & Stevens

Webster & Stevens
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Webster & Stevens


Curtis, Asahel, 1874-1941
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Curtis, Asahel, 1874-1941
Rapid Expansion (1900-1950):
With the hard-work of the pioneers, the area around Pioneer Square quickly evolved from a small outpost to a forming city. In this time, Seattle took great strides in both modernizing its way of life and broadening its population.
Lifestyle:
The lifestyle of Seattle's population began to drift away from its roots as a pioneering town with the founding of the University of Washington, the building of the Smith Tower (tallest building west of the Mississippi when constructed), the creation of a new ferry system, and the overall development of infrastructure after the great Seattle fire in 1889.

Handwritten on verso: [...] Class 1903.Filed in: UW - Students, General (#875).

Handwritten label on image: U. of W. Crew 1925.Stamped on verso: Webster & Stevens print.Filed in: UW - Athletics, Crew (#630).
Webster & Stevens

1 nitrate negative: b&w; 4 x 5 in.
Staff PhotographerSeattle Post-Intelligencer

This photo looks north on First Avenue from Yesler Way and shows Pioneer Square when it was still a vital part of Seattle's commercial life. The buildings seen across the square include, left to right: the Lowman Building, the Lowman and Hanford Building, the Howard Building and the Pioneer Building. The Hoge Building towers over them on Second Avenue.
Webster & Stevens
Diversity:
During this time, Seattle also took many steps (and step-backs) in terms of its diversity. Many immigrants from all around the world settled into the developing city. Large populations of Scandinavians, Chinese, and Japanese all settled throughout the city. The economic boom in shipbuilding brought in many of these groups and most were able to make a fair living in the city. Many of these Chinese, Japanese, and soon to arrive Vietnamese populations would settle in the SoDo neighborhood of Seattle and later establish the International District. However, during WWII, in one of Seattle's darkest turns its diversity began to develop. Thousands of Japanese-Americans living throughout the city were rounded up and sent to internment camps to avoid the possibility of spying when at war with Japan. Yet while they were gone, the city continued to flourish and the Japanese populations were forced to start again from nothing after the war.

Staff PhotographerSeattle Post-Intelligencer
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Staff PhotographerSeattle Post-Intelligencer
Western Defense Command and Fourth Army: author
DeWitt, J.L, Lieutenant General, U.S. Army: author
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Western Defense Command and Fourth Army: author
DeWitt, J.L, Lieutenant General, U.S. Army: author
Western Defense Command and Fourth Army Wartime Civil Control Administration: author
DeWitt, J.L, Lieutenant General, U.S. Army: author
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Western Defense Command and Fourth Army Wartime Civil Control Administration: author
DeWitt, J.L, Lieutenant General, U.S. Army: author
The World's Fair (1962):
The World's Fair, held in Seattle in 1962, brought on what is now considered stereotypical Seattle. The fair emphasized technology and the coming of "the new world". It saw the construction of the Space Needle, Key area, and Seattle Center. All of which still stand today. This event is responsible for marketing the city to the world as a scientific community which brought with it lots of rich, educated, and largely white families. Setting up the Seattle so many think they know today.

Typewritten on slide mount: Cb 16-Coliseum interior showing life in 2000 ADThis slide appears to have been purchased by Alden B. Couch, Sales Director of the Puget Sound Power & Light Company, from a set of professional slides promoting the 1962 Seattle World's Fair.PH Coll 1021.84

Printed in lower left corner: Century 21 Theme Exhibit. State of Washington Department of Commerce and Economic Development. Donald Deskey Associates, Inc.-Designers; Paul John Grayson, AIA-Project Architect; Synergetics, Inc.-Engineers; Howard S. Wright Construction Co.-Contractors. Date: 2-25-62.Stamped on verso: Roger Dudley. Commercial Photographer. PH. MA. 2-8878. RM. 64-Cobb Building, Seattle 1, WashingtonHandwritten on verso: 43215BThis photograph is No. 15 in a series.
Dudley, Roger
Increase in Tech (1970-present):
After the World's Fair, Seattle was credited for "inventing the future". This theme continued long after the aftermath of the World's Fair and carried on into the 80', 90's, and even today. This spirit of inventiveness, innovation, and futurology have brought rise to one of the U.S.'s largest tech bubbles. Today, Seattle is home to headquarters for Microsoft, Facebook, Amazon, and many small start up companies.
Literary works Selections
Saint-Saëns, Camille, 1835-1921
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Saint-Saëns, Camille, 1835-1921
Tech, Modernism, and Homlessness:
Because of the emerging tech bubble, many of Seattle's long time resedents as of the 80's and 90's have been pushed out of their homes. As the cost of living continues to skyrocket and these companies continue to buy up land for office space, Seattle has fallen vicitim of a horrible homlessness crisis. Specifically, the neighborhoods of SoDo and Bell Town have been effected and, disporpotionate amounts of minorities, youth, and sick have fallen victim .

Wallen, Don
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Wallen, Don
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Wallen, Don
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Wallen, Don
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Wallen, Don
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Wallen, Don
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Capitol Hill (1970-present):
Capitol Hill as of the late 70's and early 80's, is one of Seattle's most vibrant and diverse neighborhoods. The culture of Capitol Hill is built around both the thriving music scene, food, and the popularity of grunge and counter-culture movements. Many gay and lesbian couples call this neighborhood home and many of the sidewalk paint is actually painted rainbow colors. It is also the site for many gatherings and protests in the city.

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Freedom Day Committee
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Freedom Day Committee

Bell,Amy
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Bell,Amy

Washington Coalition for Sexual Minority Rights
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Washington Coalition for Sexual Minority Rights
Seattle Today:
Seattle indeed does have issues with its diversity. The statistics do not lie. Seattle is one of the whitest cities in the country. Seattle today is also struggling with a brutal homelessness crisis and many of its tech companies struggle with diversity internally. However, lots of the colorful history of the city, is often overlooked. Many fail to acknowledge the cities vibrant Asian communities in the International District the unique culture that is Capitol Hill, and the native heritage on which the city was founded. The world as a whole is disconnected with what this city truly is. The goal of this archive was to enlighten the city's past and illuminate its true diversity.
―This archival exhibit was created by Nathan Cunningham in Literature and Digital Diversity, fall 2017.