Washington State Library: A History of Knowledge and Resilience
The story of the Washington State Library is one of ambition, survival, and adaptation. From its origins as a territorial collection shipped across the globe to its role as a modern digital resource, the library has served as a cornerstone of intellectual life in the Pacific Northwest for over 170 years.
The Territorial Beginnings
The foundation of the library dates back to March 2, 1853, when President Millard Fillmore signed the Organic Act, which officially created the Washington Territory. This legislation included a $5,000 appropriation specifically for a territorial library. Territorial Governor Issac Stevens utilized these funds to acquire 2,130 volumes from New York City.
The journey of these books was an epic maritime voyage. Departing New York on May 21, 1853, aboard the ship Invincible, the collection traveled around South America and Cape Horn to San Francisco. From there, the books were transferred to the Tarquinia, finally arriving in Olympia on October 23, 1853. While the books arrived shortly before Governor Stevens took office, the library did not open for public use until 1855, following an amendment to the territorial library law passed by the legislature.
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Transition to Statehood and Growth
By the time Washington achieved statehood on November 11, 1889, the Territorial Library had grown to 10,448 volumes. On March 27, 1890, the new state legislature passed a bill formally creating the state library. To manage its growing collection, the library adopted the Dewey Decimal Classification system—a proprietary system of library classification—in 1898 and implemented a card index in 1901.
For several decades, the library was housed in the Joel M. Pritchard Building on the State Capitol campus in Olympia. During the 1990s, the library reached its peak size, housing 547,000 books, periodicals, and documents.
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Crisis, Downsizing, and Digital Evolution
The turn of the millennium brought significant challenges. The 2001 Nisqually earthquake damaged the Pritchard Building, forcing an evacuation. In December 2001, the library moved to a temporary location in Tumwater. During this transition, the general collection was downsized by 260,000 books, which were donated to local libraries.
The library faced existential threats in 2002. The state government initially proposed closing the facility to save $9 million annually. It was saved on July 1, 2002, by eliminating the state library commission and merging operations with the Office of the Secretary of State. A second attempt to eliminate the library in December 2002 was thwarted through staff downsizing and further reorganization under the Secretary of State. In response to these shifts, the library expanded its digital collections, providing scanned access to historical state books and newspapers.
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Modern Infrastructure and Recent Closures
To address the needs of the state's records, the legislature approved a $108 million project in 2019 to build a joint library and archives facility in Tumwater. This project was funded by a $2 fee on recorded documents. The move was prompted by the fact that the Washington State Archives building, constructed in 1962, had become too small for the state's records.
Despite these infrastructure plans, funding cuts led to a significant loss for the community. On July 1, 2025, both the state library and the Washington Talking Book and Braille Library were closed to the public.
Key Facts
- Established: March 2, 1853, via the Organic Act.
- Initial Collection: 2,130 volumes shipped from New York City.
- Peak Size: 547,000 items in the 1990s.
- Organization: Adopted Dewey Decimal Classification in 1898.
- Major Setback: Evacuated from the Pritchard Building after the 2001 Nisqually earthquake.
- Recent Status: Closed to the public on July 1, 2025.
| Year | Event | Impact/Detail |
|---|---|---|
| 1853 | Organic Act Signed | Established Territorial Library with $5,000 funding. |
| 1855 | Public Opening | Library opened to the public after legislative amendment. |
| 1890 | State Library Created | Formally established by the new state legislature. |
| 1958 | Pritchard Building | Library moved to the State Capitol campus. |
| 2002 | Administrative Merger | Merged with Office of the Secretary of State to avoid closure. |
| 2019 | Funding Approved | $108 million approved for new Tumwater facility. |
| 2025 | Public Closure | Closed due to state government funding cuts. |
Frequently Asked Questions
How did the first books arrive in Washington?
The first 2,130 volumes were shipped from New York City in 1853. They traveled aboard the Invincible around Cape Horn and South America to San Francisco, then were transferred to the Tarquinia for the final leg to Olympia.
Why was the library moved from the Pritchard Building?
The library was evacuated in 2001 after the Nisqually earthquake caused damage to the building.
How was the library saved from closure in 2002?
The library survived by eliminating the state library commission and merging its operations with the Office of the Secretary of State, as well as downsizing staff.
What is the purpose of the $2 fee on recorded documents?
The fee was approved by the state legislature in 2019 to fund a $108 million joint facility for the library and archives in Tumwater.
What happened to the library in 2025?
Due to state government funding cuts, both the state library and the Washington Talking Book and Braille Library were closed to the public on July 1, 2025.