Last month we published the winning essays in a first-of-its-kind
Southwest Seattle Historical Society contest – and this Friday night you can see, hear, and cheer the winners during an online event. Here’s the announcement from SWSHS:
The
Southwest Seattle Historical Society is pleased to announce a virtual Award Ceremony honoring the winners of our first annual
Youth Writing Contest. Join us for a live Zoom program on Friday, May 7th at 6:00 PM to celebrate our winners
Lillian Stowell, Elliott Neves, and
Halle Morgan, and hear the authors read their essays. Additionally, we’ll be joined by local authors
Mary Fleck, Judy Bentley, and
The
Southwest Seattle Historical Society is pleased to announce a virtual Award Ceremony honoring the winners of our first annual
Youth Writing Contest. Join us for a live Zoom program on Friday, May 7th at 6:00 PM to celebrate our winners
Lillian Stowell, Elliott Neves, and
Halle Morgan, and hear the authors read their essays. Additionally, we’ll be joined by local authors
Mary Fleck, Judy Bentley, and
Joey Richesson to speak about the importance of historical writing and young authorship. Congratulations to our winners!
As a reminder, the theme of our competition was:
WOMEN HISTORY MAKERS OF THE DUWAMISH PENINSULA. Students explored the contributions of a specific woman from the Duwamish Peninsula who has made an historical impact on the community, past or present, famous or not-yet-famous.
Bertha Landes
By Halle Morgan
Bertha Ethel Knight Landes was born in 1868. She was born into a world where women couldn’t vote and where there were barely any women in politics. Landes paved the way for many, becoming the first female mayor of a major US city. All her adult life was devoted to making the city of Seattle a better place.
Landes saw the community as an extension of home and was always very active in it. She founded the Women’s City Club and played leadership roles in many organizations including the Women’s University Club, the Woman’s Century Club, the League of Women Voters, the Women’s Auxiliary of University Congregational Church, and was the president of the Washington State League of Women Voters. This leadership led her to be appointed by the mayor to serve on a commission studying unemployment.