Those with an interest in Washington state history researched and presented by professional journalists should be reading HistoryLink.org.
It’s no coincidence that key sponsors of the organization’s Sept. 12 fundraising show in downtown Seattle — titled HistoryLunch 2023: The Tremendous Tale of Timber — include Brian Carter Cellars in Woodinville/Vancouver, Naches-based Sagemoor Estates and Metis in Walla Walla.
HistoryLink.org bills itself as “the free online encyclopedia of Washington state history,” and while the group’s efforts are regularly spotlighted within The Seattle Times newsletters, its team of journalists and archivists generate much more content than gets linked to by the state’s largest for-profit news organization.
In recent years, a growing number of historical figures in the Washington wine industry have had their fascinating stories shared via HistoryLink.org. Many are deep dives beyond 3,000 words.
“I have been involved with History Link for several years,” Carter said. “As a longtime member of the industry, I believe in preserving the history.”
Under the Wine category, there are 40 features and 20 “timeline entries.” Winemaker biographies span Joy Andersen to Wade Wolfe. Articles also include a number of the state’s top growers, leaders and influencers — including Great Northwest Wine co-founder Andy Perdue.
HistoryLink.org launches site in 1997
Since the not-for-profit 501(c)(3) was launched in 1997, HistoryLink.org has published more than 8,000 “original, fully sourced articles.” The late Seattle philanthropist Patsy Bullitt Collins contributed funding for its beginning, which focused on Seattle and King County. Six years later, a donation by the Paul G. Allen Virtual Education Foundation extended HistoryLink.org’s efforts statewide.
In 2022, Washington wine industry leaders who provided substantial financial support to HistoryLink.org included members of the Ackley family, John Bookwalter, Bob Betz, Marty Taucher, Shelley Tomberg, Greg Lill, Gary McLean and Chris Peterson.
HistoryLink.org co-founders Marie McCaffrey, her late husband Walt Crowley and Paul Dorpat have been backed by a roster that’s grown to more than 70 contributors. Among those are sportswriter Glenn Drosendahl, sports historian David Eskenazi and Spokane journalist/author Jim Kershner, a longtime reporter/columnist for the Spokesman-Review.
Thanks to Kershner’s dedication and thoughtfulness, he’s interviewed and shared the stories of a number of Washington wine luminaries just a few months prior to their passing. Among the most recent examples are Jerry Bookwalter and Allen Shoup. Kershner conducted his interview with Bookwalter on Nov. 9, 2022.
HistoryLunch2023, with its focus on the state’s human-forest relationship during the past two centuries, will be presented at Four Seasons Hotel Seattle on Union Street. A general admission ticket is $200.
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