This site explores the controversial history of the Communist Party in the Pacific Northwest from 1919 to 2002. The project is sponsored by the Harry Bridges Center for Labor Studies at the University of Washington and is part of the Civil Rights and Labor History Consortium
DIRECTOR: James Gregory
This project began when members of the Washington State Communist Party closed their Seattle headquarters and offered to donate collections of newspapers and other materials to the Harry Bridges Center for Labor Studies. Discussions about an oral history project followed and became part of the plan for History 498, a research course offered by Professor James Gregory during Winter Quarter, 2002.
Gordon Black, Stephanie Curwick, Brian Grijalva, Daeha Ko, Paul Landis, Jennifer Phipps, Shelley Pinckney, and Marian Spath were responsible for much of the initial content. Each contributed an essay to the eight-chapter narrative history and helped conduct oral history interviews.Brian Grijalva designed and built the initial version of the website. Stephanie Curwick and Marian Spath located and shot most of the photographs and helped with text editing. Gordon Black and Marian Spath created the timeline.
In 2008-2009 Daren Salter led the effort to expand the project. This involved new oral histories, new research reports, and several new sections. Steve Beda and Jessie Kindig helped with editing. Mark Jenkins contributed video oral histories of Albert Canwell and John Caughlin, and helped interview Abe Osheroff. He also allowed us to use materials from the performances of his play, All Powers Necessary and Convenient. Peter Leonard redesigned the website, which was modified again in 2019.
We are especially grateful to the women and men who have contributed their oral histories: Paul Bowen, Marc Brodine, Lilian Feist, Irene Hull, B.J. Mangaoang, Art Mink, Lonnie Nelson, Abe Osheroff, James West.
Everything on these web pages is protected by the copyright laws of the United States and the Universal Copyright Convention. Photos, drawings, documents, maps, timelines, reports, and articles are the property of the donors and authors and may not be reproduced except for classroom use as specified below. Introductory writings and other materials are the property of the Communism in Washington State History and Memory Project and may not be reproduced without the written permission of the director except as specified below. If any copyright owner objects to the use of any work appearing in these pages, notify us and we will promptly remove it.
Permissions: Teachers and students are granted permission to print materials from this site for classroom use provided that the Communism in Washington State History and Memory Project is properly credited. Otherwise, nothing on these sites may be reproduced without the written permission of the director. These are educational, non-commercial sites. All materials on these pages (including all texts, images, descriptions, etc.) are for the personal and educational use of scholars, students, and the public. Any commercial use or publication of them without authorization is strictly prohibited.
Citing these pages:
Anything quoted from this site must credit the specific project (e.g. "Communism in Washington State History and Memory Project") as well as the author, title, and web address. Here is the recommended citation form:
Author if available, article or page title, The Communism in Washington State History and Memory Project. Retrieved (date you retrieved the information) from http://depts.washington.edu/labhist/cpproject/ (add the complete URL for the specific page).
civilr@u.washington.edu
c/o Professor James Gregory
History Department
University of Washington
Seattle, WA 98195-3560