A Thousand Words Worth

What happens when you bring creative writers into a building filled with tens of thousands of historic artifacts and ask them to pick a few objects?

The Washington State Historical Society did just that. The resulting exhibition is lively and nostalgic, as if your favorite bookstore befriended your Great Grandma’s attic. A Thousand Words’ Worth: Washington Authors Tell Stories With Objects runs through August 24 at the Washington State History Museum in Tacoma.

“We invited a group of well-loved authors with diverse voices from around the state to dive into our collections. We asked them to select objects to tell stories with,” said the museum’s audience engagement director Mary Mikel Stump.

“Many of these objects would not necessarily be shown together in a traditional exhibition,” added lead curator Gwen Whiting. “A Thousand Words Worth is more like a library, where we invite visitors to consider each author’s display as a book. Metaphorically, you can pull one off the shelf and take some time to read the objects. We hope visitors will make connections between the author’s selections and their own experiences of Washington.”

Historic artifacts, ephemera and images hold significance and embody our state’s history; that is one reason the museum seeks to preserve them. The thirteen selected authors, including interpreters on behalf of late authors, selected objects that resonated for them to create unique, meaningful vignettes. The authors for this project have lived in Washington State and represent a diverse variety of genres and cultures. Their work was significantly influenced by this place or has had a literary influence in our region. The authors include:

Farm Master egg grader, circa 1940-1950. Selected by Paula Becker interpreting Betty MacDonald, who wrote THE EGG AND I.

Betty MacDonald is best known as the author of the humorous memoir set on the Olympic Peninsula, The Egg and I, which topped the national bestseller list in 1945 and inspired a film. As a young bride, MacDonald moved with her husband to a farm near Port Townsend which lacked plumbing and electricity – it was the setting of her most famous book (written after she moved with her second husband to Vashon Island). MacDonald also wrote the Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle series of children's books. MacDonald’s contribution to the exhibit is interpreted by Paula Becker, who wrote a biography of MacDonald, Looking For Betty MacDonald: The Egg, The Plague, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle and I.

Octavia E. Butler was a renowned Black American author. She was the first science fiction writer to receive a MacArthur “Genius” Grant; she also received the PEN Lifetime Achievement Award and multiple Hugo and Nebula Awards. Born in Pasadena in 1947, Butler was raised by her mother and grandmother. As she struggled to achieve success as a writer, she woke at 2am every day to write, and then left for work including jobs as a telemarketer, potato chip inspector and dishwasher. Butler spent the last years of her life in Lake Forest Park, where she penned her final novel, Fledgling.

Clam basket, Puget Sound Salish, circa 1890-1920. Selected by Chenoa Egawa of the Coast Salish of the Lummi and S’Kallam Nations of Washington State

Chenoa Egawa is Coast Salish of the Lummi and S’Kallam Nations of Washington State. She is a ceremonial leader, singer, speaker, environmental activist, writer and artist. She has long been active in work for indigenous peoples, children and the environment. For over 20 years, she worked in Washington State schools to create programs that integrate Native American culture and history, often teaching through song and storytelling. Egawa has served as host of two Native news television programs.

Fallout Detection Meter. Selected by Kathleen Flenniken, whose poetry collection, PLUME, is a meditation on the Hanford Nuclear Site in her hometown of Richland.

Kathleen Flenniken, who began her career as a civil engineer and didn’t discover poetry until her 30s, served as Poet Laureate of Washington State in 2012. She is the author of two poetry collections including Plume, a meditation on the Hanford Nuclear Site in her hometown of Richland, and Famous, which was named a Notable Book by the American Library Association.

Jamie Ford’s bestselling debut novel, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, was set in Seattle. It spent two years on the New York Times bestseller list and has been optioned for and film and stage. His second book, Songs of Willow Frost, was also a national bestseller. Ford grew up in Seattle’s Chinatown district but now lives in Montana. His website shows him beside a photo of his great-grandfather, Min Chung, who changed his name to William Ford (it’s a long story, says Ford).

Samuel Green, who served as the first Poet Laureate of Washington in 2007, has lived off the grid for more than 36 years on a remote island off the Washington coast. With his wife, Sally, he is co-editor of the award-winning Brooding Heron Press. He has been a visiting professor at many universities and has received multiple awards and honors for his work. From 1966 through 1970, he was in the U.S. Coast Guard, with service in Vietnam.

David Guterson is the best-selling author of many books, including Snow Falling on Cedars. The lines of Guterson’s poetry that accompany the museum exhibit are from his book-length poem Turn Around Time, (Mountaineers Books, Fall 2019). A native of Seattle, Guterson has lived on Bainbridge Island for the past 35 years.

Frank Herbert is author of the science fiction classic, Dune. His son, Brian Herbert, the author of multiple bestsellers, worked on his father’s behalf for this project. Frank Herbert grew up in Washington State loving the books of H.G. Wells and Jules Verne. DUNE took six years to complete and was rejected by 23 publishers before finally being accepted. In all, Frank Herbert wrote nearly 30 books and collections of short stories.

Dr. Charles Johnson – novelist, philosopher, cartoonist/illustrator, essayist, screenwriter and professor emeritus at the University of Washington – is the author of the National Book Award-winning novel, Middle Passage. This and other works address the issues of black life in America. A MacArthur fellow, Johnson is a student of Buddhism and martial arts. Since retiring from teaching, Johnson explores many different things “just for the sake of curiosity.”

Debbie Macomber’s #1 New York Times bestselling novels include the popular Cedar Cove series (adapted into a TV series) and her annual Christmas books, many of which have been made into Hallmark Channel movies. She serves on the Guideposts National Advisory Cabinet, is a YFC National Ambassador and is World Vision’s international spokesperson for their Knit for Kids charity initiative. A devoted grandmother, Debbie and her husband live in Port Orchard, the town which inspired the Cedar Cove series.

Diorama with labels showing internment and relocation centers during WWII. Signed by the artist John Sasaki. Selected by Frank Abe interpreting John Okada, who wrote NO-NO BOY, a novel that tells the story of a Japanese American in the aftermath of the internment.

Seattle-born John Okada is the author of No-No Boy, the story of a Japanese American in the aftermath of his internment during WWII. Okada’s contribution to the project is interpreted by Frank Abe, author of the John Okada biography. Abe is a widely published journalist and producer/director of the PBS documentary Conscience and the Constitution. He is also collaborating on a graphic novel dramatizing the resistance to wartime incarceration. Abe was senior reporter for KIRO radio in Seattle, served as communications director for two King County executives and the King County Council.

Woman’s proper right shoe worn by Fay Fuller to climb Mount Rainier. Circa 1885-1890. Selected by Chandler O'Leary and Jessica Spring, who write on women’s accomplishments, among other topics.

Chandler O'Leary and Jessica Spring collaborated on the Dead Feminists book and broadside series. The series features quotes by historical feminists, tied in with current political and social issues. Jessica Spring designs, prints and binds unique artist books and other projects with handmade paper and letterpress printing. She teaches at Pacific Lutheran University. Chandler O’Leary is an author and artist and owns a small business that specializes in hand lettering and illustration. Her second book is The Best Coast – A Road Trip Atlas: Illustrated Adventures Along the West Coast’s Historic Highways.

Shawn Wong is an award-winning novelist, screenwriter, professor at the University of Washington and race car driver. He is the author of Homebase and American Knees, the latter of which was adapted into a feature film. He is the editor of many anthologies, including the landmark Aiiieeeee! An Anthology of Asian-American Writers. He is deeply involved with the Red Badge Project, which teaches storytelling to veterans suffering from PTSD, depression, trauma or anxiety disorders.

The museum hopes that visitors will be inspired to draw new connections between historic objects and contemporary life. The gallery includes an interactive space for visitors to create and tell their own stories.

MORE INFORMATION

Upcoming events related to this exhibit include:

Book Fair, April 6, 10am-5pm. In celebration of the new exhibition, the museum will host its first ever book fair. Meet and hear from some of the authors who participated in the exhibition.

Question & Answer with Washington Author David Guterson, April 6, 6-7:30pm, immediately following the book fair (see above) head to the 7 Seas Brewing at 2101 Jefferson Avenue for a casual Q&A with David Guterson. FREE and open to the public, all ages welcome.

For more information about the exhibit or events, call 253-272-9747 or visit www.washingtonhistory.org/1000words.