Pacific Northwest Historical Documents Database
University of Washington

The Pacific Northwest Historical Documents database is a collection of original diaries, letters, reminiscences and political documents drawn from various sources within the Special Collections Division. These documents recount the early settlement of Washington and the establishment of homesteads and towns and describe the hardships faced by many of the early pioneers. Some writings also focus on political and societal issues that challenged the settlers of the Pacific Northwest, such as the women’s suffrage movement.

To browse the full database, visit University of Washington's Pacific Northwest Historical Documents Database.

Collection List for Pacific Northwest Historical Documents Database Includes:

Lila Hannah Firth papers.

Reminiscences of Lila Hannah who arrived on San Juan Island in 1864. She recounts the education system on the island, encounters with Native Americans, domestic chores and other details of daily life, local economic conditions and businesses, obtaining food, family illnesses, the Hudson's Bay Company activities on the island, missionaries, and childhood pastimes.

Elizabeth Chambers reminiscences, 1863 (Chambers (Andrew Jackson) Family).

Written in 1932 for Andrew C. Denny by his Aunt, Elizabeth Chambers Hunsaker. Elizabeth Chambers was born in 1854, the daughter of Andrew Jackson Chambers whose father settled on Chambers Prairie in 1847. She describes daily domestic chores, fetching water, canning fruit, making candles, social activities, schooling, trips to procure provisions, and farming chores.

Ann S. Conner Hartsuck documents, 1866 (Ann S. Conner Hartsuck papers).

Ann S. Conner sailed for Washington Territory as one of the "Mercer girls" whom Asa Mercer transported to Seattle in a settlement venture. These women were asked to come to Seattle to increase the numbers of marriageable women in the young city. They were also needed to fill jobs, mostly as teachers. Documents in this collection include her diary describing the voyage on the steamship "Continental" from New York to Seattle, her steamship ticket and a letter of introduction to Governor Pickering from Asa Mercer.

Louise Swift Letters, 1863-1869. (Louise Swift papers. Accession No. 4917-1)

Letters written primarily by Louise Swift, wife of Captain James Henry Swift, from Whidbey Island to relatives in Massachusetts in 1863-1869 describing domestic activities, family relationships, illnesses, children, deaths, and social life. Louisa died in the diphtheria epidemic that swept the island in August 1869.