Bellingham Herald collection on Charles H. Fisher, circa 1913-2001

This is a collection of materials related to Charles Henry Fisher, former President of the Bellingham Normal College which subsequently became the Washington State College of Education and then Western Washington University. The majority of materials date from around 1931 through 1939 when Fisher resigned from the college.

The collection includes biographical information about President Fisher, including materials related to the 1968 dedication of the Fisher Memorial Fountain on Western’s campus. There is also biographical information about then-General Manager of the Bellingham Herald Frank Sefrit, including an obituary and tribute by Archie W. Shiels.

The collection also contains publications from the national branch of the Ku Klux Klan, as well as newspaper clippings related to local KKK activity. There is also correspondence and reference material on allegedly subversive activities and “radical” individuals and groups in the area.

The remainder of the collection comprises material related to the hearing and subsequent resignation of President Fisher, including statements and testimonies from various individuals, minutes from the hearing, and post-hearing press coverage.