Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Seattle, WA 98195

Finding aid written in English.Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard).University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections0721Barnett, Powell S.Powell S. Barnett papers1967-19682 tape reels, 1 sound cassette, 6 folders, and 1 note cardCollection materials are in English.Papers of African American Washington resident and activist, including tape recording of interview

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.

Organized into 3 accessions.

Accession No. 0721-001, Powell S. Barnett papers, 1967Accession No. 0721-002, Powell S. Barnett oral history interview, 1968Accession No. 0721-003, Powell S. Barnett reminiscences, 1967

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.

Open to all users.

Request at UW

Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Barnett, Powell S.--ArchivesPersonal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)Labor HistoryLabor UnionsOral HistoriesSound RecordingsAfrican AmericansCivic Activism

Accession No. 0721-001: Powell S. Barnett papers, 19672 tape reels and 5 folders

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.

1/10721-001Reminiscence: Family Historyapproximately 1967

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

1/10721-001Reminiscence: Baseball Umpire's Associationapproximately 1967

Scope and Content: Royal Giants (baseball team) and organizing the Baseball Umpire's Association

1/10721-001Reminiscence: Mrs. Barnett family historyapproximately 1967

Scope and Content: Katherine "Dolly" Conna and her family

1/10721-001Reminiscence: Sidelightsapproximately 1967

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

1/10721-001Reminiscence: Jackson Street Community Councilapproximately 1967

Scope and Content: Formation of the Jackson Street Community Council

1/10721-001Reminiscence: Work in the Democratic Partyapproximately 1967

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

1/10721-001Reminiscence: Musician's Convention L.A.1933

Scope and Content: Process to amalgamate Black and White musician unions

1/20721-001Reminiscence: The Amalgamation of Local 403 and Local 76undated1/20721-001Reminiscence: The Great Seattle Fire of 18891937

Scope and Content: African American families living in Seattle at the time of the Great Fire

General Notes: Possibly Hazel Dixon's account?

1/20721-001Reminiscence: My impressions of the early days of Washington--especially Western Washington and part of King Countyapproximately 1889

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

1/20721-001Ephemera1955-1963

Scope and Content: Speech, Jackson Street Community Council newsletters, Northwest Baseball Umpire's Association directory

1/30721-001Powell S. Barnett interview19672 1/4" reels

Scope and Content: Interview with Richard Berner

1/40721-001Interview transcript - 1st draft19682 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

1/50721-001Clippings1955-1971Accession No. 0721-002: Powell S. Barnett oral history interview, 19681 sound cassette and 1 note card

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.

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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, 19671 folder

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.