The latest from custom book publisher Documentary Media

*Olmsted in Seattle* Award Finalist: September 2020 Olmsted in Seattle: Creating a Park System for a Mondern City is a finalist for the 2020 Washington State Book Awards outsanding books published by Washington authors in 2019! We are proud of this honor for Jennifer Ott’s beautiful book celebrating the visionary work of the Olmsted brothers and our city’s forward-thinking effort to create a city-wide park system. look inside the book *The Sound of Spokane* New Release: September 2020 Celebrating 75 years as a premier arts institution, The Sound of Spokane: A History of the Spokane Symphony is a beautiful tribute to the musicians and a community dedicated to building a top-notch symphony in an unlikely city. Spokane writer and historian Jim Kershner captures its turbulent and triumphant journey in a magnificent duet of visual and written history, singing with stories, contextual background, and images from The Spokesman-Review’s deep archive. look inside the book *Olmsted in Seattle* New Release: November 2019 The ambition for designing a beautiful and thoughtful landscape started early in Seattle’s history as city leaders and the community addressed the population boom following the 1897 Klondike Gold Rush. In Olmsted in Seattle: Creating a Park System for a Modern City, environmental historian Jennifer Ott traces the influence Olmstedian principles and the city’s park system have had on the development of public spaces, boulevards, neighborhoods, and the character of our city since the hiring of the renowned Olmsted Brothers landscape architecture firm in 1903. look inside the book *Transit* New Release: October 2019 Transit: The Story of Public Transportation in the Puget Sound Region's fascinating stories and images trace a wild roller-coaster ride that began with the first Street cars rumbling through the streets of Seattle in 1883. Author and historian Jim Kershner chronicles the journey from the 1880s to today and the scandals, triumphs, and momentous turning points along the way. It’s a story of the making and breaking of mayors, the rise of the automobile, and the region’s urban growth Tacoma to Everett. look inside the book *The Boot* New Release: October 2019 Presented by Southwest Youth & Family Services, The Boot: 1993 to 2018, is a compilation of over 25 years of Boot literary journal poetry. The poetry is the work of youth from occupied Duwamish and Suquamish territories (i.e. Seattle) and its working-class suburbs participating in Summer Young Writers’ Workshops in West Seattle. Their experience of writing and sharing poetry, of pushing back at labels commonly enveloping them as young people of color, and of claiming themselves as individuals, is reflected in their truly powerful and insightful words. look inside the book *Seattle Now & Then* New Release: December 2018 Our latest release, Seattle Now & Then by Paul Dorpat and Jean Sherrard, has received recognition in both the Pacific NW magazine in the Sunday Seattle Times and Alaska Airlines’ Beyond publication. Local journalist Clay Eals tells the story behind the “Now & Then” column, which Paul Dorpat began on January 17, 1982, and describes the new book as “inspiring all of us to both enjoy and champion the history of our city.” The book features the 100 best of Dorpat’s 1,800 columns, with beautiful historic and present-day images that any Seattleite will appreciate. look inside the book		*Listen to the Trees* New Release: August 2020 Listen to the Trees: A Poetic Snapshop of West Seattle, Then & Now is a delightful celebration of people and place. Texas-based poet and West Seattle enthusiast Sean Petrie captures the spirit and deep roots of the community with words tapped out on a 1928 Remington Portable typewriter. His poems, created on-the-spot with summer street fair goers, are paired up with a wonderful array of then-and-now images from the Southwest Historical Society. It's a read of pure pleasure! look inside the book *Time Flies* New Release: July 2020 Time Flies: The History of PacWest Racing is an inside account of PacWest’s eight-year run in the CART series. Team member and writer John Oreovicz documents the highs and the lows the team experienced, and spotlights the people who created a successful and close-knit organization navigating through the 1990s golden era of Indy car racing. look inside the book Remarkable Care, Innovative Leadership December 2019 Documentary Media is excited to be chosen to publish Remarkable Care, Innovative Leadership: 100 Years of Virginia Mason 1920–2020. We look forward to working with author Gary S. Kaplan M.D. to bring this chronicing of an institution integral in shaping regional healthcare to readers. Scheduled release date: early 2021. *The Sound of Spokane* November 2019 The Spokane Symphony 2020-2021 season brings with it a celebration of 75 years as a prominent and enduring music presence in the Northwest. Spokane Symphony is story if its musicians and conductors, enthusiasts and supporters, and its part in the shaping of the city of Spokane. Scheduled release date: June, 2020. *Seattle at 150* New Release: October 2019 The people, debate, conflict, and vision spread across the pages of Seattle at 150: Stories of the City through 150 Objects from the Seattle Municipal Archives by HistoryLink staff and editor Jennifer Ott. 150 vignettes feature a broad sampling of documents, maps, photographs, and ephemera from the city’s first 150 years in an illustration of a city’s psyche, physical and social landscape, and aspirations. The collection tells a story of the city’s ongoing quest to create an outstanding place for its citizenry. look inside the book *Seattle at150* New Release: October 2019 The people, debate, conflict, and vision spread across the pages of Seattle at 150: Stories of the City through 150 Objects from the Seattle Municipal Archives by HistoryLink staff and editor Jennifer Ott. 150 vignettes feature a broad sampling of documents, maps, photographs, and ephemera from the city’s first 150 years in an illustration of a city’s psyche, physical and social landscape, and aspirations. The collection tells a story of the city’s ongoing quest to create an outstanding place for its citizenry. look inside the book Baker Boyer New Release: October 2019 Baker Boyer: The Unlikely Story of Baker Boyer, Walla Walla, and the Region celebrates the Northwest’s oldest bank and its founding family’s six-generation commitment to the community of Walla Walla and Eastern Washington. Author and editor Thomas P. Skeen and documentary storyteller Kelly Black weave 150 years of stories, documents, and photographs into a captivating illustration of Baker Boyer and its relationship with the community. It is a story about working together to shape the region’s vibrant climate for families, businesses, education, early rail system, agriculture, philanthropy, arts, and a world-class wine industry. look inside the book *Lakeside* New Release: August 2019 Lakeside’s First Century, by Katherine Beck and the staff of HistoryLink, tells the story of a Pacific Northwest institution that evolved into a preeminent independent school whose impact–on students, its home city, even the world–is undeniable. The evolution of Lakeside isn’t one of chance; its progress has been shaped by purposeful change. In some respects unrecognizable from the school that Frank Moran founded in the fall of 1919 on the shores of Lake Washington, the Lakeside of today retains important threads from its earliest days. Student voices from the past echo those of recent graduates. They express a remarkable and enduring legacy. look inside the book
Waterway is finalist in Washington State Book Awards August 2018 We are pleased to announce that Waterway: The Story of Seattle’s Locks and Ship Canal, by David B. Williams and Jennifer Ott, is a nonfiction finalist in the Washington State Book Awards! These awards honor works of outstanding literary merit by Washington authors. Published last year to celebrate the centennial of Seattle’s locks and ship canal, Waterway is a collaboration between Documentary Media and HistoryLink that looks at the role of the locks in the city's growth and development over the past 100 years. Winners in each category will be announced at a reception on October 13 at the Central Library in downtown Seattle. Join us – it’s free and open to the public! look inside the book		Seattle turns 150 August 2018 In celebration of the 150^th anniversary of the incorporation of the City of Seattle, Documentary Media and HistoryLink will be working with the Seattle Municipal Archives to tell the history of the city. The book will feature 150 historical photographs or objects from the archives, each part of Seattle’s story over the past century and a half. Release date: Summer 2019
Pike Place's historic secrets June 2018 Local historian Paul Dorpat wrote about the Hotel Leland in a recent Now & Then column in Pacific NW magazine––a hotel that stood at the corner of Pike Street and Post Alley before Pike Place Market even existed. To accompany a 1904 photo of this hotel, Jean Sherrard captured a group posing with Rachel the pig in Pike Place. Look closely and you’ll spot Documentary Media's president, Petyr Beck, along with some HistoryLink staff members. Dorpat and Sherrard are the creative minds behind an upcoming Documentary Media title that features 100 quintessential “Now & Then” pairings.		Northwest Power Pool receives silver IPPY award April 2018 This year's Independent Publisher Book Awards (known as the IPPYs) were just announced, and we're excited that The Northwest Power Pool: A High-Voltage Story of Cooperation in the Utility Industry, by Jim Kershner, won silver in the regional non-fiction category for the West-Pacific. Congratulations to the book team on producing this award-winning title! look inside the book
Woodland wins silver Benjamin Franklin Award April 2018 We are pleased to report that Woodland: The Story of the Animals and People of Woodland Park Zoo, by John Bierlein and the staff of HistoryLink, recently received a silver Benjamin Franklin Award in the regional category. We were lucky enough to represent Documentary Media and HistoryLink down in Austin for the awards ceremony in early April. Congratulations to all those who contributed to Woodland. look inside the book		Olmsted in Seattle April 2018 Over 100 years ago, Seattle leaders hired the Olmsted Brothers landscape architecture firm to design the city's park and boulevard system. Today, as Seattle undergoes rapid growth and development, it's important to remember the Olmsted vision and illustrate the impact these parks and green spaces have on our city. Documentary Media and HistoryLink, with Friends of Seattle’s Olmsted Parks, are producing a book to raise awareness and cultivate appreciation for the Olmsted legacy in Seattle, written by Jennifer Ott, a local historian and expert on Seattle's parks. Release date: summer 2019.
For Future Generations honored by the Washington Museum Association March 2018 We are excited to announce that the Museum of Flight was selected by the Washington Museum Association (WaMA) for their Award of Excellence in Publications for For Future Generations: A History of the Museum of Flight, by Howard Lovering. WaMA, which serves as a statewide advocate for museums, recognizes outstanding achievements in museum work, and they believe that For Future Generations reflects just that. Thank you to WaMA and congratulations to the Museum of Flight and the book team for this recognition! look inside the book		The story of regional transit December 2017 In collaboration with HistoryLink, Documentary Media is producing a history of regional transit by journalist and HistoryLink staff historian Jim Kershner. This book will chronicle early attempts at forming a transit system and the formation of a three-county Regional Transit Authority in the early 90s, to the adoption of the name “Sound Transit” in 1997 and the in-depth planning behind today’s Link light rail system. Scheduled release: early 2019.
Waterway named to Best Nonfiction of 2017 at Island Books December 2017 We are pleased to announce that Waterway (by David B. Williams and Jennifer Ott and co-produced with HistoryLink) earned a spot on the "Best of the Year 2017" nonfiction list at Island Books, on Mercer Island. In their review of Waterway, the staff of Island Books put it this way: “Whether you've lived around here your whole life or are just passing through, you'll want to own this book as a record of your time here.” Thank you to Island Books for the mention!		A history of Lakeside School November 2017 Documentary Media and HistoryLink are teaming up with writer Katherine Beck to produce an illustrated history of Lakeside School's first century as a Seattle institution. The story begins back in 1919 when Moran-Lakeside, a boys' school located along the idyllic shores of Lake Washington, opened its doors to fifteen students. After a move to north Seattle and countless other developments, Lakeside merged in 1971 with a girls’ school, St. Nicholas. Look for this book in the spring of 2019.
An upcoming history of Mason County Public Utility District 3 November 2017 Documentary Media and writer Joni Sensel, a historian of Northwest-based companies, have begun work on a history of Mason County PUD 3. Rural districts in Washington State have been able to form Public Utility Districts since 1930. PUDs provide services like electricity and water at cost, without profit. Mason County formed PUD 3 in 1934. This illustrated history is due out in December of 2018. Northwest Power Pool book release September 2017 We are looking forward to an upcoming book release event in Portland, Oregon, for The Northwest Power Pool: A High-Voltage Story of Cooperation in the Utility Industry. On December 6 at the Portland Airport Sheraton Hotel, utilities leaders from around the region will gather to celebrate the publication of this book, which tells the story of the Northwest Power Pool and its member utilties. look inside the book Documentary Media teams up with University of Washington Press April 2017 Documentary Media is partnering with the University of Washington Press to distribute several of our regional titles, including our HistoryLink books: Waterway: The Story of Seattle's Locks and Ship Canal, due out this June, and Woodland: The Story of the Animals and People of Woodland Park Zoo, released last month. For Future Generations wins Silver in Independent Publisher Book Awards! April 2017 We are pleased to announce that Documentary Media's For Future Generations: A History of the Museum of Flight won Silver in the Transportation category of the 2017 Independent Publisher Book Awards. We are proud of the book team and the Museum of Flight! more info and a look inside the book The Best of Seattle Now & Then April 2017 For over three decades Paul Dorpat has captured intimate glimpses of Seattle’s history by pairing historical photos with more recent ones from the same viewpoint and exploring the contrast. Dorpat and his partner in crime, Jean Sherrard, are bringing together the best of those three decades of Seattle Now & Then in a beautiful hardbound book. Documentary Media is proud to be working with them on this fascinating collection. A History of Kenworth March 2017 Documentary Media is teaming up with Kenworth Truck Company and writer Doug Siefkes to create a new illustrated history of Kenworth. It was almost 20 years ago that we produced the first history of the company, and a lot has happened since then! Scheduled release: spring 2018. more info and a look inside Woodland: The Story of the Animals and People of Woodland Park Zoo January 2016 In partnership with HistoryLink and the University of Washington Press, Documentary Media is in the process of producing a history of Seattle's Woodland Park Zoo. Author John Bierlein offers a fond look at the zoo's animals and the people who care for them. This lavishly-illustrated book traces the zoo's story, from its nineteenth-century origins to its role as a place of civic pride and a pioneer in zoo design. Released in April, 2017. more info and a look inside Mr. John: The Autobiography of John N. Nordstrom with Dave Boling May 2015 Titled after his nickname, Mr. John is the autobiography of John N. Nordstrom, from life growing up in the Nordstrom family to his pivotal role as the grandfather of the Seattle Seahawks. One of the biggest moments of his life was presenting the George Halas trophy to current Seahawks owner Paul Allen after the Hawks won the NFC Championship in 2014, on their way to the franchise's first Super Bowl victory. Private release: November, 2015. History of the Green Music Center in Sonoma County February 2015 In For the Love of Music: Donald and Maureen Green Music Center, author Jean Wasp tells the story of how Sonoma State University's Green Music Center was first realized, how it came to be, and what it took to be open for its inaugural season in 2012. The up-and-down journey to realize the cultural arts destination at a small college in northern California is the story "of how to renew one's vision and keep it alive in the most challenging times." Released in September, 2015. One Hook at a Time: A History of the Deep Sea Fishermen's Union of the Pacific December 2014 The Deep Sea Fishermen's Union of the Pacific is the oldest known fishing union representing crewmen in the United States. As told by former commercial fisherman Jeff Kahrs, the DSFU's story is one of perseverance - through the cold, labor disputes, and lean seasons - and love of the profession. "We keep coming back season after season. Why? Because once it's in your blood, it's hard to get it out." more info and a look inside The History of Global Diving April 2014 Documentary Media has released In Deep: The Story of Global Diving & Salvage. Author Joe Gustav chronicles the history of this iconic Pacific Northwest company as it grew from a small, Seattle-based diving crew to a global marine company with multiple business lines. From historic wrecks and rescues, to high-technology saturation diving, Global’s story is captivating. more info and a look inside A History of Shipping in the Aleutian Islands December 2013 Author James Mackovjak traces the history of shipping to one of the most remote and difficult to reach parts of the US. An important hub of the region's massive fishing industry, the chain of Alaska's Aleutian Islands are supplied and serviced by small, versitile ships, that often sustain a relentless schedule through 60-knot winds and 40-foot swells. This book follows the history of this unique maritime cargo operations from the 19th century to the present. *UPDATE: Aleutian Freighter* wins a Silver Medal for Best Regional Non-Fiction in the 2014 Independent Publisher Book Awards** more info and a look inside		The story of SEIU 775 October 2017 Documentary Media and HistoryLink are co-producing a history of Service Employees International Union 775, a union representing over 45,000 long-term care workers in Washington State and Montana. Historians Fred Poyner IV and Jim Kershner tell the story of SEIU 775’s roots, from healthcare reform to the fight for a $15/hour minimum wage. This story of organizing, workers’ rights, and the struggle for the rights of caregivers is scheduled for release in the fall of 2018. Waterway: The Story of Seattle's Locks and Ship Canal June 2017 In honor of the centennial of the Ballard Locks and Lake Washington Ship Canal, we are excited to announce the launch of Waterway, our latest collaboration with HistoryLink. Learn more about the book in this Seattle Times article by Waterway co-authors Jennifer Ott and David B. Williams. Then join the authors for a book launch at MOHAI on Wednesday, July 12 at 7 p.m., or attend a free book reading at the Seattle Public Library’s Central Branch on July 23 at 3 p.m. There are many ways this month to celebrate Waterway and 100 years of Seattle's locks. look inside the book Seattle Sounders FC and the RAVE Foundation April 2017 Documentary Media is partnering with Seattle Sounders FC and the RAVE Foundation to celebrate over 40 years of Sounders soccer in Seattle. The book commemorates the relationship between the community and professional soccer in Seattle, from the groundbreaking Sounders of the 1970s in the North American Soccer League to their current position as a Major League Soccer powerhouse. The Story of Knight Construction April 2017 In an upcoming book on Knight Construction and Supply, author Barry Provorse tells the history of this family-owned Pacific Northwest company founded back in 1968. Scheduled release date: summer 2018. Chateau Ste. Michelle: The First Fifty Years (1967-2017) March 2017 In this collaboration between Documentary Media and HistoryLink, author Peter Blecha recounts the first five decades of Washington winery Chateau Ste. Michelle, taking us all the way back to the autumn grape harvest of 1967, which produced some rather auspicious wine. more info and a look inside A History of the Northwest Power Pool March 2016 In collaboration with HistoryLink, Documentary Media is currently producing the story of the Northwest Power Pool, an organization of the region's major electrical utilities that began during World War II. As author Jim Kershner recounts, the Power Pool became famous for delivering huge amounts of reliable electricity to regional industries. Following the war, this utilities collective decided to continue, as they saw the countless advantages of working together. A History of the Northwest Power Pool will be released September, 2017. Documentary Media joins forces with HistoryLink.org September 2015 Documentary Media is proud to partner with HistoryLink.org, our region's premiere online resource for community history. The first and largest online historical encyclopedia of its kind, HistoryLink focuses on Washington State history, providing original works prepared by historians, writers, and other experts. We look forward to collaborating with HistoryLink on upcoming projects. For Future Generations: A History of the Museum of Flight August 2015 Author Howard Lovering chronicles an adventure in museum building that resulted in one of the finest flight museums in the world: the Musuem of Flight, a favorite Seattle institution whose story is central to regional history. With over 400 illustrations, including beautiful archival photographs, this book celebrates the museum's past fifty years and stands as a symbol of appreciation to its thousands of members, volunteers, and annual visitors. Released in January, 2017. more info and a look inside *Tradition and Change on Seattle's First Hill: Propriety, Profanity, Pills, and Preservation* December 2014 With an introduction by Paul Dorpat and essays written by local experts, the book focuses on the growth and change of First Hill's residential, social, community, religious, and institutional identity over the last century. Tradition and Change was released in commemoration of Historic Seattle's 40th anniversary. more info and a look inside Inspired: The Churches of Seattle July 2014 Author Rick Grant teams up with award-winning architectural photographer Lara Swimmer to capture the design, architecture, and history of Seattle's innovative sacred spaces. This full-color, hardcover coffee table book is available now. *UPDATE: Inspired: Churches of Seattle* won two book awards in 2014: Gold in the 2014 Illumination Book Awards Silver in the 2014 Benjamin Franklin Awards Get your copy now at Seattle area bookstores or at the Inspired website. more info and a look inside Drawing on Our History: Fishing Vessels of the Pacific Northwest & Alaska** July 2014 Author James Cole has spent 50 years designing, building, and repairing fishing vessels in the Seattle area. As a naval architect, he specializes in research-based paintings and drawings of fishing vessels at work. Drawing on our History: Fishing Vessels of the Pacific Northwest & Alaska describes the evolution of fishing vessel design that is unique to the Pacific Northwest, from native fishing canoes to the modern fishing fleets of Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. Available now on Amazon and at bookstores. *UPDATE: Drawing on Our History* won a Silver Medal in the 2014 Independent Publisher Book Awards** more info and a look inside