Legacy Washington
Extraordinary people, compelling stories...
About Legacy Washington
As Washington State Archives’ oral history arm, Legacy Washington captures extraordinary stories that illuminate our state's dynamic political history. Since 2008, Legacy Washington has produced more than 22 books and exhibits.
Our projects are based on first-person accounts gathered by the Legacy team, as well as materials found in Washington State Archives, the Washington State Library, and public and private manuscript collections from across the state.
Contact Legacy:
Legacy Washington
6880 Capitol Blvd SE
Olympia, WA 98501
Books
To purchase printed copies, please visit the Secretary of State Seal Store. Proceeds benefit the ALL Foundation of Washington in support of Legacy Washington and the Washington State Archives.
Licensed resellers: contact us at [email protected] for bulk sales and pricing.
Traveling Exhibits
Legacy Washington has several traveling exhibits available for loan based on our projects. They are available free of charge to qualified organizations and institutions and may be displayed for extended periods.
Presentations
Legacy Washington historians and staff are available to speak to your group on a wide variety of historical topics. We also provide introductory training and support for organizations that wish to launch their own Oral History gathering efforts.
Contact us for more information:
Project Index
A complete list of all Legacy Washington’s oral-history publications and exhibits since 2008. Many Legacy Washington titles are available free of charge as downloadable PDFs.
Featured Projects
New Land: Southeast Asian Refugees Finding Home in Washington (2025)
Washington was a leader in the resettlement of Southeast Asian refugees following the war in Vietnam. New Land features the stories of Vietnamese, Lao and Khmer refugees and their families starting over in the half century since their arrival, as well as the political leaders and private individuals who facilitated their transition to becoming Washingtonians.
The Boldt Decision at 50 (2024)
Three books trace Washington State tribes’ struggle to defend their treaty right to “fish in common”:
- Where the Salmon Run: The Life and Legacy of Billy Frank, Jr.
- Lightning Boldt: Judge George H Boldt and a Defining Moment in Tribal Sovereignty
- Confluence: The Boldt Decision at 50
From the “Fish Wars” of the 1960s through the first contentious steps toward tribal and state cooperation to today’s shared responsibility for resource management, this collection recounts the struggle in the words of those who devoted their lives to protect salmon and the environment.
Mr. Mainstream: Sam Reed's Half-Century of Public Service and Civility (2024)
Over a lifetime of political activism, former Washington Secretary of State Sam Reed championed civility and civic engagement. He is a nationally recognized leader in the movement to make voting more accessible and secure.
Love Equally: The Journey to Marriage Equality (2023)
Love, Equally celebrates the history of marriage equality in Washington State, with profiles featuring champions of the cause. Same-sex marriage was won in 2012 after advocates concentrated their message in a single word: love. Legacy Washington brings you the story of how marriage equality came to the Evergreen State.
Daniel J. Evans: An Autobiography (2021)
Former three-term Washington State Governor in his own words. A descendant of territorial-era pioneers, Evans was a naval officer at 19, earned engineering degrees at the University of Washington, and was elected to the Legislature in 1956. Eight years later he became governor, serving in an era of unprecedented change and challenges.
Legacy Washington is a program of the Washington State Archives
Our Mission
“...to record and document oral histories of current and former members and staff of the Washington state executive and judicial branches, the state’s congressional delegation, and other citizens who have made indelible contributions to the political history of Washington state.” (RCW 43.07.363)
Support Legacy Washington
Washington State Archives Legacy Project is funded in part by the nonprofit ALL Foundation of Washington. Your financial contributions support our public events and the production and distribution of our publications and exhibits.