Tim Ransom
- Vice President
- Term 2012-2014
Tim Ransom has lived in Washington State since 1974 and in Olympia since 1993. After receiving his doctorate in Psychology from the University of California, he has pursued a number of careers, including behavioral scientist, professional photographer, musician, owner/operator of an art gallery/custom framing shop, and environmental educator (for The Whale Museum in Friday Harbor and the Puget Sound Water Quality Authority/ Action Team). In 2002 he retired from state employment to work on local history projects and is currently completing a book on the history of the Braget family and farm, located across the river from the Nisqually Wildlife Refuge, in Pierce County.
Tim’s interest in local history was kindled by an opportunity to photograph elders in his community when living on Orcas Island in the 1970s and 80s. He initiated the “Orcas Elders Project,” an oral history compilation that is still being added to today. He served as president of the Orcas Historical Society/Museum for several years.
Tim conceived of the idea of writing about the Braget farm while working on water quality protection for the Nisqually Valley. He has been working on the project for a decade, with the goal of using the story of the farm and family to illustrate the difficulties American society has faced in balancing its needs for public and private lands and in honoring those who have maintained our open spaces. Tim’s research has taken him into the early histories of Thurston County and Olympia, and he is very pleased to be a part of the Olympia Historical Society.
Tim also serves as President of the Board of Panza, a local nonprofit that developed Quixote Village, a multiunit, permanent supportive housing project for the homeless that received nationwide media attention after opening late in 2013.