Fort Steilacoom Museum in Lakewood is honored to focus on the history of women in the early creation of Washington Territory through a series of three videos found on our YouTube channel.
The three videos illuminate the lives and activities of women who lived in Puget Sound in the 1840s, 1850s and 1860s. We hope the videos will be of particular value to living history re-enactors and anyone else interested in the details of Washington Territory history.
These are the three videos:
“In Her Shoes: Tracing the Footsteps of Pierce County Women in the mid-1800s.” Historian Claire Keller-Scholz talks about girls and women who lived on the Puget Sound in the 1840s, 1850s and 1860s. Among the people you’ll hear about: Catherine Tumalt, daughter of a mother from the Chinook Tribe and Iroquois Tribe father who came to work for the English Hudson’s Bay Company in Puget Sound. It’s her picture that accompanies this post.
“Women’s Work in Washington Territory.” Tacoma Historical Society’s Curator, Elizabeth Korsmo, talks about the day-to-day lives of women in the 1850’s to 1860’s. Korsmo talks about the typical employment during the time, as well as more unusual figures such as Kate Melville, Pierce County’s first female deputy sheriff.
“Airing Your Dirty Laundry.” Historical interpreter Peggy Barchi shares detailed information about the daily grind that army laundresses endured and the skills it took to be one. You could earn 50 cents to a dollar a month for every soldier, but it was hard work hauling water as well as clothing.
Several women were employed as laundresses at Fort Steilacoom, the first official U.S. presence in Puget Sound. Fort Steilacoom, established in 1849 and closed in 1868, played a significant role in the settling of Washington Territory.
Another video, not part of the series but still valuable, is about the wives of August Kautz, the military officer who supervised construction of our buildings in 1857 and 1858. He married a member of the Nisqually Tribe, and their descendants still live in this area. You can watch that video here.
Our association acknowledges the complex history of the Fort and its role in the colonization of the area. We are actively working to incorporate the diverse perspectives and experiences of all individuals and communities who interacted with the Fort.
https://historicfortsteilacoom.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Catherine-Tumalt.png425443fortsteilacoomhttps://historicfortsteilacoom.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/FtSteilacoom_340x156.pngfortsteilacoom2023-04-22 22:14:172023-04-25 02:18:15Celebrating women’s history in Washington Territory
This will be our first living history swap meet since the pandemic. Mark your calendars for Saturday, March 25, 2023. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Fort Steilacoom will host a multi-vendor sale of living history supplies. The event is free to shoppers and open to all eras of living history.
We welcome both new and used items related to reenactment: clothing, accessories, camping equipment, cookware, craft supplies, antiques, reference material, etc. Vendor fees support four 165-year-old buildings that depend on donations for maintenance.
https://historicfortsteilacoom.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/fort-steilacoom-swap-meet-call-for-vendors.jpg788940fortsteilacoomhttps://historicfortsteilacoom.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/FtSteilacoom_340x156.pngfortsteilacoom2023-02-24 17:30:192023-02-24 17:31:16Seeking vendors: Swap Meet for reenactors and other people who love history is Saturday, March 25, 2023
Like a lot of organizations, Fort Steilacoom was affected by the pandemic. We lost some volunteers, and we were not open to meet people to replace those volunteers.
In order to continue our programs as before the pandemic – and even better – we’re recruiting for the following:
We’re looking for a tour volunteer coordinator. We offer tours on the first Sunday of the month. We need someone to email volunteers to remind them they’ve signed up, and thank them afterward. This role requires no knowledge of history.
We’re looking for a history story editor. Every year, we assemble six to eight stories about Pacific Northwest history for the newsletter we showed you above. We need someone to chase down leads and help writers decide when they should submit their stories and photos. You don’t have to edit the stories.
Think of the roles above as air traffic controllers: One for volunteers, one for stories, one for authors (or other Pacific Northwest speakers). With no aircraft or airports involved! No TSA! You just get to help tell the story of Pacific Northwest history.
https://historicfortsteilacoom.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/bugler.jpg15362048fortsteilacoomhttps://historicfortsteilacoom.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/FtSteilacoom_340x156.pngfortsteilacoom2023-01-24 17:31:472023-02-24 17:37:55We’re looking for volunteers! Engage Puget Sound history in a fun way
Celebrating women’s history in Washington Territory
/in News/by fortsteilacoomSeeking vendors: Swap Meet for reenactors and other people who love history is Saturday, March 25, 2023
/in News/by fortsteilacoomWe’re looking for volunteers! Engage Puget Sound history in a fun way
/in News/by fortsteilacoomLike a lot of organizations, Fort Steilacoom was affected by the pandemic. We lost some volunteers, and we were not open to meet people to replace those volunteers.
In order to continue our programs as before the pandemic – and even better – we’re recruiting for the following:
We’re looking for a tour volunteer coordinator. We offer tours on the first Sunday of the month. We need someone to email volunteers to remind them they’ve signed up, and thank them afterward. This role requires no knowledge of history.
We’re looking for a history story editor. Every year, we assemble six to eight stories about Pacific Northwest history for the newsletter we showed you above. We need someone to chase down leads and help writers decide when they should submit their stories and photos. You don’t have to edit the stories.
We’re looking for a monthly talks coordinator. In past years, we’ve welcomed guest speakers. You can see examples in this YouTube video about the wives of the officer who supervised construction of our buildings. . Or you can see another example in this video that talks about a little-known subject, Slavery in Washington Territory. Are you curious about topics? Do you like books about Pacific Northwest history? We’d love to talk to you.
Think of the roles above as air traffic controllers: One for volunteers, one for stories, one for authors (or other Pacific Northwest speakers). With no aircraft or airports involved! No TSA! You just get to help tell the story of Pacific Northwest history.
Interested? Email us.