Oyster Harvesters – 3/24/24

Looking Back’s theme for 2024 is Many Streams, celebrating our rich and diverse history. Oysters have been a staple of Pacific Northwest diets for thousands of years. While oysters were originally harvested by Native Americans, by the 1930s Japanese immigrants were the primary source of harvesting labor in Thurston County. Pictured here are harvesters doing the back-breaking work of loading oysters into a scow. Photograph selected and captioned by Deborah Ross on behalf of the Olympia Historical Society and Bigelow House Museum, https://olympiahistory.org/many-streams-a-resource-guide/.

unknown photographer, early 1900s, courtesy State Capital Museum, Washington State Historical Society

Legislative Building repair – William Conser – 6/8/25
Looking Back’s theme for 2025 features Thurston County area photographers, artists, and their subjects. William B. Conser was a photographer for the Olympian who captured many events and people, including an historic series that documented the destruction caused by the 1949 earthquake. Shown here is the elaborate scaffolding and tramway erected to repair the lantern…
June 8, 2025
William Conser – 6/1/25
Looking Back’s theme for 2025 features Thurston County area photographers, artists, and their subjects. The 1935 Olympia High School yearbook notes that William P. Conser, pictured here, was involved with journalism as early as high school. He became a photographer for the Olympian and captured many events and people, including an historic series that documented…
June 1, 2025
State Patrol by Merle Junk – 5/25/25
Looking Back’s theme for 2025 features Thurston County area photographers, artists, and their subjects. Merle Junk, a product of the Olympia school system, turned to photography early in his life. He was prolific and well-respected. He captured images of legislators, local events, and places, often for promotional purposes. This image from 1950, possibly a promotional…
May 25, 2025