Looking Back’s theme for 2025 features Thurston County area photographers, artists, and their subjects. Michael O’Connor arrived in Olympia in 1884 and established a book and stationery store that he operated until his retirement in 1915. He also promoted Olympia through photography. He is shown here in a photograph by the Rogers Studio, taken shortly after statehood. Photograph selected and captioned by Deborah Ross on behalf of the Olympia Historical Society and Bigelow House Museum.
Rogers Studio, about 1890, courtesy State Capital Museum Collection, Washington State Historical Society