September 16, 2024

Zeitgeist: Seattle in the 20s

By  Kat Lewis and Karalee Harris

UW Libraries’ newest exhibit in Special Collections, Zeitgeist: Seattle in the 20s, is all about the air and social consciousness of Seattle in the ‘20s-–both the 1920s and today! We are excited to spotlight the depths of our historical collections that speak to “the spirit of the age” 100 years ago and to shine a light on how UW Libraries is stewarding the artifacts of our current history including newly acquired contemporary publications.

Despite numerous notable differences, such as political ideologies that resulted in segregation and discrimination, the Seattle of the 1920s and the Seattle of today navigate their shared societal unrest similarly through a tenacious focus on activism and the arts.

The twenties roared into Seattle through a burgeoning jazz scene, flapper culture, and the rise of consumerism. Theaters, art galleries and the literature scene flourished along with the success of the Boeing Aircraft Company, contributing to Seattle’s reputation as a hub of innovation. At the same time, the 18th Amendment’s enactment in 1920 ushered in the Prohibition Era, making production and distribution of alcohol illegal and facilitating a wild black market in Seattle. Speakeasies proliferated throughout the city despite efforts to enforce Prohibition laws.

“Zeitgeist” is a German term that translates to “spirit of the age” or “spirit of the time.” It refers to the prevailing cultural, intellectual, and moral climate or mood of a particular period, especially as it is reflected in the ideas, beliefs, and attitudes. Essentially, it encapsulates the collective consciousness and mood of a society at a specific point in history.

The concept of zeitgeist suggests that certain ideas, values, and trends are characteristic of a particular era and shape the way people think and behave.

The “Roaring Twenties” in the United States is often described as a period characterized by a zeitgeist of optimism, social change, and economic prosperity, as reflected in the rise of jazz music, the popularity of flapper culture, and the booming stock market. But how much of this is just hindsight? 

These questions and events are explored in the exhibit through primary historical documents and pieces of modern history. For example, the Nippon Kan Theater, a former local Japanese Theater located in the International District, photograph, moving image and ephemera collection showcases a unique and often overlooked perspective on the cultural identity of Seattle in the 1920s.

 

The images above show performers and the building of the Nippon Kan Theatre, located at 622-628 Washington Street in Seattle, Washington, constructed in 1909. Sometimes referred to as Nippon Kan Hall, it would endure as a community focal point of Seattle’s Nihonmachi (“Japantown”) for over thirty years. Performances held at the Nippon Kan were both Western and traditional Japanese music, dance, and theater.

Visitors to the exhibit are encouraged to contribute to community vision boards online or in-person which, by the end of the exhibit, will visually reflect the zeitgeist of Seattle today.

Additionally, you can see a selection of digitized materials from the exhibit and find the entire object list through the digital exhibit, exploring the zeitgeist of Entertainment, Fashion, Culture and Place.

University of Washington Libraries’ Special Collections collects, preserves and makes accessible the Libraries most rare and unique holdings, including rare books, manuscripts, papers, records, photographs, moving images, ephemera, architectural drawings and more. Students, faculty and the community come to Special Collections from all over the world for primary sources that are integral to their research.

If you have questions or want to make an appointment to see a particular exhibit item up close, we encourage you to make a reading room appointment in  Special Collections or email us at speccoll@uw.edu.

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