Introduction
This is an introductory guide to useful resources and archival collections about the history of local and regional industries as available through Western Libraries Archives & Special Collections. If you have any questions and/or need assistance finding information, please contact Archives & Special Collections staff and/or the Western Libraries Research Desk.
Original content for this guide was created by Emma Darmody in Spring 2012 (subsequent additions by Archives & Special Collections staff).
Published Resources
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Early Industries of Bellingham Bay and Whatcom County: A Photographic Essay byCall Number: HC108.B43 S33Publication Date: 1980This book places side by side contemporary images and historical information pertaining to Bellingham area industry between the 1880's and early 1900's. The authors focus on Logging, Mining, Fishing, and Farming.
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Bellingham HeraldPublication Date: January 1904See in particular the January 23 "Prosperity Edition" (and subsequent issue on January 25, 1904), which laud the resources, industries and economic opportunities available in the newly incorporated City of Bellingham.
Related Guides
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Environmental History & Activism: Local and Regional ResourcesA guide to resources relating to the history of the environment and environmental activism & conservation in Whatcom County and the larger Pacific Northwest region.
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Fish and FishingA brief guide to archival and other resources about the history of sport & commercial fish and fishing, with a focus on the holdings of Western Libraries Archives & Special Collections.
Western Libraries Catalog
Western Libraries online catalog contains information about a wide variety of published and archival sources. If you have any questions and/or need assistance finding information, please contact Archives & Special Collections staff and/or the Western Libraries Research Consultation Desk. Useful search terms may include:
- Gold Mines and Mining Washington State
Series II: Video Oral History Interviews, 2003-2004
Box 2 continued
2/5 Name: Asmundson, Tut
Interviewer: Suzanne Blais
Date: June 10, 2004
Description: Tut was born in Mitchell, North Dakota and came from an Icelandic family. He attended law school at the University of North Dakota at Grand Forks. He relates stories from his early years in North Dakota during the Dust Bowl and Great Depression before and after the rest of his family had moved to the state of Washington. He joined his family in Washington in 1931 arriving first in Blaine and then eventually settling in Bellingham. He discusses his position he held at the Washington State Social Security Department for 8 years traveling throughout the state handling claims. After failing the Washington state bar exam numerous times, he passed. His focus is on the Port Commission, which he served for numerous years. He discusses various aspects of the shipping industry including interactions with Georgia Pacific, Bellingham Cold Storage, the Bellingham Airport, and Intalco. He expresses the changes that he and his fellow commissioners enacted to existing local industry and the promotion of Bellingham helping to foster the interest of outside industries. Tut also relates how he got his nickname, how he met his wife Esther, population changes, prostitution, and race relations.
Tape Length: unknown # of Tapes in Original Digital Video Master: 3 # of VHS Duplicates: 1
Transcribed: noRestrictions: Interview is open to the public.
Tape Quality-Digital Video Master: Good Tape Quality- VHS Duplicate: GoodLogging Washington State - Lumber
- Mills and Mill Work
Collections of General Interest (Center for Pacific Northwest Studies)
Search Center for Pacific Northwest Studies Finding Aids
Some useful holdings are suggested in the list below - see also the industry-specific suggestions on the relevant pages of this guide. Contact CPNWS if you have any questions.
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CPNWS Pamphlet CollectionPublished documents pertaining to various social, economic, political, and historical issues in the Northwestern United States and British Columbia.
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CPNWS Photo DatabaseSearchable catalog of item-level description for over 7000 historic photographic images housed at the Center for Pacific Northwest Studies.
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CPNWS Map CatalogSearchable catalog containing item-level description of maps housed at the Center for Pacific Northwest Studies
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Skagit County Oral History Project RecordsThis is a collection of microfilmed copies of oral history interview transcripts. The interviews were conducted by the Skagit County Historical Society between 1962 and 1979. Topics covered include social life, historical change, politics, agriculture, fishing, and timber. A more detailed written guide containing interview abstracts is available in-house.
Other Useful Links
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Map CollectionWestern owns more than 100,000 maps, many of them published by the U.S. government. The Map Collection is on the second floor of Wilson Library.
Archives & Special Collections
University Archives and Records Management, Goltz-Murray Building, 360-650-3124
Center for Pacific Northwest Studies, Goltz-Murray Building, 360-650-7534
Archives & Special Collections
OUR MISSION
Western Libraries Archives & Special Collections provides for responsible stewardship of and access to unique and archival resources in support of teaching, learning and research at Western Washington University and beyond. The Center for Pacific Northwest Studies, Special Collections, and University Archives and Records Management work together to document the culture and history of Western, the local community and Pacific Northwest region, and to promote public and scholarly access to holdings.