University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections0507 (Accession No. 0507-006)Century 21 Exposition (1962 : Seattle, Wash.)Century 21 Exposition collection1956-19633.02 cubic feet (9 boxes, 1 oversize folder, and 1 vertical file)Collection materials are in
English.Planning records, press releases,
ephemera, and memorabilia from the 1962 World's fair held in Seattle,
WAIn 1962, Seattle hosted the Century 21 Exposition, also known as the
Seattle World's Fair. The event, which focused on the possibilities of the
future, drew in almost 10 million visitors and earned the city of Seattle
world-wide recognition. Introduced by City Councilman Al Rochester in 1955,
planning for fair spanned the years of 1956-1961 and eventually led to an
extravagant opening ceremony on April 21st, 1962. The event continued until
October 21st and became a lasting legacy in the history of Seattle.
Organized into 8 series.
- Series 1: Planning and Committee Materials - General Century 21
- Series 2: Press Releases
- Series 3: Newspapers and Magazines
- Series 4: Planning Materials -
Exhibition/Pavilion-Specific
- Series 5: Ephemera - General Century 21 Materials
- Series 6: Ephemera - Exhibition/Pavilion-Specific Material
- Series 7: Commemorative Objects
- Series 8: Musical Recordings
Correspondence, minutes, reports, ephemera, newsclippings, press
releases, and objects originating from the Century 21 Exposition.
No restrictions on access. No access copies currently available for
media. Reproducations may be requested for a fee. Contact Special Collections
for details.
Request at
UW
Copyrights retained by creator. Contact University of Washington
Libraries Special Collections for details.
This collection was created from donations from multiple donors
between 1961 and 2025.
This accession was formed when several other accessions were merged
including: 0507-001, 0507-002, 0507-003, 0507-004, 0507-005, 5662-001,
5948-001, and subject/reference files.
Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)Century 21 Exposition (1962 : Seattle, Wash.)Century 21 Exposition (1962 : Seattle, Wash.). National Science Planning BoardWashington (State). World Fair Commission (1955-1962)Business correspondenceEphemeraEphemeraExhibition catalogsMinutes (Records)Records (Documents)Exhibitions--Washington (State)--Seattle--20th centuryExhibitions--Washington (State)Exhibitions--Washington (State)--SeattleMenus--Washington (State)--SeattleScience--United States--ExhibitionsSpace Needle (Seattle, Wash.)Advertising and MarketingCity PlanningSeattle
Series 1, Planning and Committee Materials - General
Century 21Mainly consisting of fact sheets, meeting minutes, reports, and
correspondence
1/1Timeline19611/2Laws, Bylaws and Articles of Incorporation1957-19581/3Officers19581/4Legal Records1958-19591/5Fact Sheet Proposal from Barry Upson to
Dingwall19591/6Development Plan19591/7Financial Statements and Expenditures1958-19621/8Status Reports (No. 1-15)19601/9Status Reports (No. 16-30)19611/10Status Reports (No. 31-45)19611/11Status Reports (No. 46-60)19611/12Status Reports (No. 61-75)1961-19621/13Status Reports (No. 76-90)19621/14Misc. Boards and Committees (A-C) 1958-19591/15Misc. Boards and Committees (O-P)1958-19591/16Misc. Boards and Committees (S)1958-19591/17Misc. Boards and Committee Minutes (T-U)1958-19592/1Beautification Committee19602/2Community Plans Exhibit Committee1960-19612/3Civic Center Advisory Commission1956-19602/4Design Standards Advisory Board19572/5Design Standards Advisory Board1957-19582/6Executive Committee1958-19592/7Joint Executive Committee1957-19582/8Lodging Services19602/9National Science Planning Board1958-19602/10Philatelic Activities Committee19623/1Steering Committee1959-19623/2Board of Trustees1958-19603/3World Fair Commission1958Series 2, Press Releases3/4"New Digest" Press Release1958-19593/5"News" Press Release19613/6"News" Press Release1962Series 3, Newspapers and magazines 3/7Pacific Northwest Publications1957-19633/8Pacific Northwest Publications1957-19633/9Non-Pacific Northwest Publications1959-19623/10Non-Pacific Northwest Publications1962-19636/1-2Non-Pacific Northwest Publications1959-1962Includes 2
Life Magazines with Century 21 Exposition cover
stories, donated by Randy Hodgins, 2025.6/3Century 21 Countdown1959-19626/4World's Fair Calendar of EventsApril 19626/5World's Fair Calendar of EventsMay 19626/6World's Fair Calendar of EventsJune 19626/7World's Fair Calendar of EventsJuly 19626/8World's Fair Calendar of EventsAugust 19626/9World's Fair Calendar of EventsSeptember 19626/10World's Fair Calendar of EventsOctober 19626/11This Week at the FairApril 19626/12This Week at the FairMay 19626/13This Week at the FairJune 19626/14This Week at the FairJuly 19626/15This Week at the FairAugust 19626/16This Week at the FairSeptember-October
1962 Series 4, Planning Materials -
Exhibition/Pavilion-Specific4/1Exhibition Fact Sheets1961-19624/2Foreign exhibitors packet19614/3China Club19624/4Fine Art Exhibit1962"Masterpieces of Art" and "Art Since 1950" catalogs
Donated by Randy Hodgins, 2025
4/5Korean General Consulate19624/6Library 21 (American Library Association)1960-19614/7Library 21 (American Library Association)1961-1962Series 5, Ephemera - General Century 21
Materials4/8Century 21 Exposition Announcement19614/9Opening Day Program19624/10Official Guidebook19624/11Special Events Schedule19624/12Postcards19624/13Trade Dollars19624/14Maps19624/15Tickets19624/16Stamps19624/17Programs1962Includes official souvenir program, preview program, Gala, Gem
and Mineral Show, Flower Show, and Rhododendron Show programs
Official souvenir program donated by Randy Hodgins, 2025
4/18Slides19624/18Slide 1: Water Ski Show in Stadium19624/18Slide 2: World's Fair Space Needle and
flags19624/18Slide 3: U.S. Science Pavilion19624/18Slide 4: Final Ceremony19624/18Slide 5: Friendship 719624/18Slide 6: World's Largest Cake19624/18Slide 7: The Last Supper Wax Museum19624/18Slide 8: "Canadian Tattoo"19624/18Slide 9: Lacy Spires U.S. Science Pavilion19624/18Slide 10: Century "21" Lacy Spires at
night19624/18Slide 11: Night Time on Gayway19624/18Slide 12: "Canadian Tattoo"19624/18Slide 13: Night Shot from top of Food
Circus19624/18Slide 14: Night Shot Space Needle19624/18Slide 15: Fountain at Night19624/18Slide 16: Skyride and Space Needle19624/18Slide 17: "World's Fair" Fountain 19624/18Slide 18: International Fountain19624/18Slide 19: Century "21" monorail19624/18Slide 20: Space Needle at night19624/18Slide 21: Alweg Monorail and Space Needle19624/18Slide 22: International Fountain19624/18Slide 23: U.S. Science Pavilion Night Time19624/18Slide 24: Cessna "Chopper" and Space Needle
19625/1General Century 21 Ephemera1962Series 6, Ephemera - Exhibition/Pavilion-Specific
Materials5/2Bulova Time Center19625/3Carnation Milk19625/4Christian Witness19625/5Dentistry through the Ages (Colorado Dental
Association)19625/6The Heinz Company19625/7Library 21 (American Library Association)19625/8Man Against Cancer (American Cancer Society)19625/9Man's Life in the Space Age19625/10National Aeronatic and Space Administration
(NASA)19625/11National Bank of Commerce (NBC)19625/12Operation Smile19625/13Pan American Airways19625/14Sermons from Science (Christ for the World)19625/15United States Science Exhibit19625/16Alaska19625/17Brazil19625/18Britain19625/19Canada19625/20China19625/21Denmark19625/22France19625/23Germany19625/24India19625/25Japan19625/26Mexico19625/27Sweden19625/28United States Travel19625/29Collector's Clubs Exhibits19625/30Fashion and Culture Exhibits19625/31Industry Exhibits19625/32Religious Exhibits19625/33Technology Exhibits1962Series 7, Commemorative ObjectsOversize FolderPoster by E. Carpenter19627Beer Mug19627Cup and Saucer19627Salt Shaker19627Small decorative plate with gold Space Needle
motif1962Donated by I. Robbin, 1991
7Small decorative plate depicting fairgrounds
features1962Donated by I. Robbin, 1991
7Blue/pink cotton skirt with Century 21 Exposition
landmarks print7Handsewn button-up smock of fabric with Space Needle
pattern1962Donated by Vivian Blum, 2018
7Giant pink novelty pencil 1962Donated by Vivian Blum, 2018
7Giant green novelty pencil 1962Donated by Vivian Blum, 2018
7Small Ceramic Dish19627Rain Poncho19627Gold Medal19627Lapel Pin19627Snowglobe19628Decanter19627Blue metal cocktail tray1962Donated by Randy Hodgins, 2025
7Ceramic 3D embossed plate1962Donated by Randy Hodgins, 2025
8Space Needle-shaped Cigarette Snuffer with magnetic
base1962Donated by Richard K. Chapman, August 2024.
9Banner1962Donated by Camden Hall, 2019
OSVF0198Placemats1962Donated by Marcella "Marcy" Frances Goral Jackson, 2019
5/1Business-sized envelopes1962Donated by Marcella "Marcy" Frances Goral Jackson, 2019
5/1Coasters19626/177
It Happened at the World's Fair promotional
posters1963Donated by Randy Hodgins, 2025
Oversize FolderPennant1962Series 8, Musical
RecordingsDonated by Randy Hodgins, 2025
5/34The Fabulous Sounds of the Pacific Northwestundated7" vinyl record
5/34"Meet Me in Seattle (at the Fair)" by Joy and the
Boys19627" vinyl record
5/34Paul Whiteman conducts "Rhapsody 21" Sondra Bianca,
pianist19627" vinyl record
5/34"Invitation to the Fair" by Joe JumaundatedNovelty vinyl record/oversized postcard
5/34"Cafe in the Sky" performed by Kelly GatesundatedNovelty vinyl record/oversized postcard
5/34"World's Fair Seattle" performed by Billy
EarlesundatedNovelty vinyl record/oversized postcard
5/34"Gayway Twist" performed by the FranticsundatedNovelty vinyl record/oversized postcard
5/34"Come and See Seattle" performed by Frank Sugia Trio and
NaomiundatedNovelty vinyl record/oversized postcard
5/34"Summer of '62" performed by Ronnie Draper and teh
FordomaticsundatedNovelty vinyl record/oversized postcard
5/34Attilio Mineo conducts Man in Space with
Sounds1962Compact Disc
LP1Jackie Sounders/Official Seattle World's Fair
Band19621 12" vinyl record