Looking Back’s theme for 2026 was Downtown by the Decades. In the early 1960s, IBM was primarily associated with typewriters and adding machines (computers would not be widely available for some time to come). Its Olympia store was on Capitol Way, near 8th Avenue. IBM founder Thomas Watson required all workers to display IBM’s motto THINK on every desk and wall.
Susan Parish collection, Washington State Archives
Text © Deborah Ross and The Olympian 2026