Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Powell S. Barnett papers, 1967-1968
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Barnett, Powell S.
- Title
- Powell S. Barnett papers
- Dates
- 1967-1968 (inclusive)19671968
- Quantity
- 2 tape reels, 1 sound cassette, 6 folders, and 1 note card
- Collection Number
- 0721
- Summary
- Papers of African American Washington resident and activist, including tape recording of interview
- Repository
-
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu - Access Restrictions
Open to all users.
- Languages
- English
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Powell S. Barnett, musician, baseball player, and community leader, was born in Brazil, Indiana, on August 2, 1883, and moved to Roslyn, Washington, in 1889. His father, an ex-slave, was one of many Black miners recruited to work in the coal mines of Washington state. As a teenager Powell also worked in the Roslyn coal mines and played in the "colored" band. Barnett came to Seattle in 1906, and was very muchi nterested in improving race relations and civic unity, Powell Barnett became a leader in the community. He organized the Leschi Improvement Council and became its first president in 1967. A firm believer in racial integration, he was instrumental in uniting Blacks and whites in the YMCA and the USO. He was a sousaphone player and the first Black person to become a member of the once all-white Musicians Union, Local 76. He was a star baseball player and organized a semi-pro baseball Umpires Association in Seattle, serving as executive secretary from 1944 until 1961 and securing affiliation with the National Association of Umpires. In 1969, the 4.4-acre park on Martin Luther King Jr. Way between East Jefferson and East Alder Streets was named for Powell Barnett. Powell Barnett died on March 16, 1971, having lived most of his life in the Leschi Community. He is buried at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Reminiscences, ephemera, clippings, and tape recording of interviews on May 31, 1967 between Mr. Barnett and Richard C. Berner with transcription, on March 1, 1968 with Larry Gossett, and notes transcribed from an interview on January 21, 1967.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
Organized into 3 accessions.
- Accession No. 0721-001, Powell S. Barnett papers, 1967
- Accession No. 0721-002, Powell S. Barnett oral history interview, 1968
- Accession No. 0721-003, Powell S. Barnett reminiscences, 1967
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Accession No. 0721-001: Powell S. Barnett papers, 1967Return to Top
Scope and Content: Reminiscences, ephemera, clippings, and tape recording of interview on May 31, 1967 between Mr. Barnett and Richard C. Berner with transcription. Reminiscences deal with family and with organizations in which he was active, many of which he helped create. The letter in the folder with the tapes indicates the areas discussed.
Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.
Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.
Acquisition Info: Donated by Mr. Barnett, 5/31/1967.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | Accession | ||
| 1/1 | 0721-001 | Reminiscence: Family History
Scope and Content: Family history of father being born into slavery and moving to
Indiana and then Roslyn, Washington, childhood mischief, and living with his
grandmother; list of children and grandchildren
|
approximately 1967 |
| 1/1 | 0721-001 | Reminiscence: Baseball Umpire's Association
Scope and Content: Royal Giants (baseball team) and organizing the Baseball
Umpire's Association
|
approximately 1967 |
| 1/1 | 0721-001 | Reminiscence: Mrs. Barnett family history
Scope and Content: Katherine "Dolly" Conna and her family
|
approximately 1967 |
| 1/1 | 0721-001 | Reminiscence: Sidelights
Scope and Content: Yukon River gold mining scam, a local minister named W.D.
Carter, Marcus Garvey, African American settlement in Seattle in the post-World
War II era
|
approximately 1967 |
| 1/1 | 0721-001 | Reminiscence: Jackson Street Community
Council
Scope and Content: Formation of the Jackson Street Community Council
|
approximately 1967 |
| 1/1 | 0721-001 | Reminiscence: Work in the Democratic Party
Scope and Content: African American participation in the Democratic Party, Nick
Carter's involvement in the Democratic Club, Jack Johnson and the King County
Democratic Club, Joe Jackson, Seattle Urban League, John Prim, 33rd District
Democratic Club, Isaiah Edwards, Thelma Dewitty
|
approximately 1967 |
| 1/1 | 0721-001 | Reminiscence: Musician's Convention L.A.
Scope and Content: Process to amalgamate Black and White musician unions
|
1933 |
| 1/2 | 0721-001 | Reminiscence: The Amalgamation of Local 403 and Local
76 |
undated |
| 1/2 | 0721-001 | Reminiscence: The Great Seattle Fire of 1889
Scope and Content: African American families living in Seattle at the time of the
Great Fire
General Notes: Possibly Hazel Dixon's account?
|
1937 |
| 1/2 | 0721-001 | Reminiscence: My impressions of the early days of
Washington--especially Western Washington and part of King County
Scope and Content: Labor in coal mines in Roslyn, Washington, Northwestern
Improvement Company, James Shepperson, the Masonic Lodge, United Mine Workers,
Volunteers of America, musicians union, list of community leaders
General Notes: Written by Powell Barnett's son
|
approximately 1889 |
| 1/2 | 0721-001 | Ephemera
Scope and Content: Speech, Jackson Street Community Council newsletters, Northwest
Baseball Umpire's Association directory
|
1955-1963 |
| 1/3 | 0721-001 | Powell S. Barnett interview 2 1/4" reels
Scope and Content: Interview with Richard Berner
|
1967 |
| 1/4 | 0721-001 | Interview transcript - 1st draft 2 copies
Scope and Content: Topics discussed: family history, father's migration to Roslyn
coal mines as a strikebreaker, Knights of Labor and establishment of unions at
the coal mine, forming a brass band, James Shepperson, working in the coal
mines, Nick Carter, Jonny Spindle, Isaac Salley, United Mine Workers, moving to
Seattle, Katherine Conna, General Engineering Construction Company, Building
Laborer's Union, Zion Church, Civic Unity Committee, Musician's Unions and
amalgamation, American Federation of Musicians, Unemployment Citizens League,
working as a precinct committeeman for the Democratic party, Jackson Street
Community Council, Leschi Improvement Council, generational differences
|
1968 |
| 1/5 | 0721-001 | Clippings |
1955-1971 |
Accession No. 0721-002: Powell S. Barnett oral history interview, 1968Return to Top
Scope and Content: Tape recorded interview of Mr. Barnett by Larry Gossett on March 1, 1968 as part of the Afro American History Project. Topics discussed include: Black membership in the Democratic Party, Leschi Improvement Council, Longshoreman Union strike, musician’s union, race relations in Roslyn, Washington, the first Black Baptist Church, community groups, the Marcus Garvey Movement, the Black Power Movement, civil rights progress, Yukon River Mining Company, W.D. Carter. Transcript of interview and Gossett’s notes in folder.
Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.
Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.
Acquisition Info: Donated by Mr. Barnett.
Accession No. 0721-003: Powell S. Barnett reminiscences, 1967Return to Top
Scope and Content: Notes transcribed from an interview with Powell S. Barnett on January 21, 1967. Topics covered include: personal history, moving to Roslyn, Washington, living with the Myers family, working in the Roslyn coal mines, social life in Roslyn, Brown family, Gleeves family, moving to Seattle, African American businesses and employment opportunities, A.M. Gottestein, Unemployed Citizens League, Y.M.C.A., International Service Union, founding of the Urban League, law enforcement, Grand Elks Lodge, social activities, discrimination and race relations in Seattle, Grand Jury duty; annotated photocopies of Accession 0721-001 reminiscences.
Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.
Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.
Acquisition Info: Donated by Urban League, 4/1/1984.
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)
Personal Names
- Barnett, Powell S.--Archives
