Interview and Project By Kyle Chapman; blog post written by Erika Wigren. The passenger pigeon no longer exists even though it was so numerous, possibly the most numerous we’ve ever had in our part of the world. So it’s very real, extinction is real no matter how many numbers we’re starting with. I think stories Read More…
Author: Erika L. Wigren
Erika Wigren earned her Masters of Library & Information Science from the iSchool, University of Washington. While studying for her MLIS, she worked as the Digital Projects Specialist for the UW Tacoma Library and as the James Leland Dirks Jr. Preservation Intern at UW Seattle.
“That’s What She Said”: New Display in TLB Highlights Voices & Experiences of Womxn
“When feminism does not explicitly oppose racism, and when anti-racism does not incorporate opposition to patriarchy, race and gender politics often end up being antagonistic to each other, and both interests lose.” – Kimberle Williams Crenshaw The UW Tacoma Library is excited to announce its new display, “That’s What She Said: Highlighting Marginalized Intersectional Experiences Read More…
In Recognition of Memorial Day: Five Stories from U.S. Veterans
Today, Monday May 27, we recognize American armed service members who have died. Originally known as Decoration Day, the holiday falls on the last Monday of every May. Following the end of the Civil War in 1865, tributes to fallen service members and the decorating of graves with flowers became the norm every Spring. But, Read More…
From the Tacoma Community History Project: A History of the Tacoma Smelter & Its Workers
Interview and Project By Angela Cookson; blog post written by Erika Wigren. In this project from the Tacoma Community History collection, UW Tacoma alumni Angela Cookson interviews Chuck O’Donahue and Curtis Dungey. Both O’Donahue and Dungey worked for the company ASARCO, who ran Tacoma’s copper smelter plant for almost 100 years. Chuck O’Donahue began working for Read More…
From UWT’s Oral History Collection: The Life and Work of Jenaro Castaeda
Interview and Project By Yris Lance; blog post written by Erika Wigren. “What makes me happy [is] helping people. That makes me happy. I have become used to working…I am still a migrant worker [and] I always will be a migrant worker. [However at present] I work in different fields, and my harvest is not Read More…
From UWT’s Oral History Collection: Interviews with Influential Women of the Puget Sound
Today, Friday March 8th, in recognition International Women’s Day the UW Tacoma Library would like to share some of the inspiring women from our region included in our oral history collection, the Tacoma Community History Project. You can read their full stories (including transcribed interviews) by following the links below. Ren Wilson, Ruth Nordstrom, Anne Read More…
From UWT’s Oral History Collection: Dr. Maxine Mimms and Building a Learning Community
Interview and Project By Robin Eisenbacher; blog post written by Erika Wigren. Educator, administrator, social worker, inspiration; throughout her lifetime, Dr. Maxine Williams has had many titles. In her interview with UW alumni Robin Eisenbacher she discusses over 60 years of work and achievements in the education field. Dr. Maxine Mimms was born in racially Read More…
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s Legacy: Interviews with Local Civil Rights Activists
Today, Monday Jan. 21st, we honor Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. King was a nonviolent, civil rights activist committed to equality and social justice. His work and legacy have inspired communities and individuals to campaign for equal rights, demand economic justice, and to enact social and political change. In recognition of Dr. King’s Read More…
From UW Tacoma Library’s Oral History Collection: Father Bill Bichsel and the Disarm Now Plowshares
Interview and Project By Lucas Dambergs; blog post written by Erika Wigren Born and raised in Tacoma, Father Bill Bichsel, best known by his nickname “Father Bix,” was a Jesuit priest and non-violent activist who committed his life to community service and anti-war efforts. With friends, Father Bichsel co-founded the Tacoma Catholic Worker, a community Read More…