About Us

The genesis of the Magnolia Historical Society began with the writers of Book I, Magnolia: Memories & Milestones, shown above. Contributors, front to back, left to right. 1st row: writer Joy Carpine (and Petey), writer Hal Will, writer John Hendron. 2nd row: writer Scott Smit; project manager/writer Monica Wooton; writer Patty Small, photographer Roy Scully. 3rd row: researcher Jonathon Wooton, writer Joan Santucci, writer Rob Hitchings, Shirley Will, Betty Ivie. 4th row: writer Gail Perterson-Martin, MCC members Cindy Howel and Rob Wilson. Back row: MCC member Steve Erickson, writer Nancy Worssam, local historian Dan Kerlee. Not Shown: peer editor Claudia Callan, writer Bob Kildall, designer Paul Langland, writer Rick Malsed, editor Whitney Mason, peer editor Mimi Sheridan, writer Sam Sutherland. Photo by Paul Dorpat.

A Short History of the Magnolia Historical Society

The Magnolia Historical Society had its beginnings when an eager but untested team of volunteer writers first came together to write a neighborhood history book. The Magnolia Community Club (now Magnolia Community Council) asked Monica Wooton, then chair of the Historical Committee, to write a new history of Magnolia. Previously, the MCC had commissioned Aleua Frare to produce a volume of homespun, anecdotal history, Magnolia: Yesterday and Today, for the U.S. Bicentennial Celebration of 1976.

In accepting the new assignment, Wooton decided to design a neighborhood history writing process for memoir and academically-researched history using volunteer writers, most unpublished. It incorporated a peer editor model, an educational "how to write history" packet, and broad outreach to the Magnolia community’s potential first-person narrators and research writers. The first call for volunteers began with Wooton passing out flyers for "The Magnolia Essay Project I" from an antique decorated card table at Summerfest in 1998.

A fearless group of thirteen writers quickly stepped up and the process began. The Magnolia Branch of the Seattle Public Library was the official headquarters and meeting place. With a City of Seattle Department of Neighborhood Matching Grant, this team began a yearlong journey together: reading, researching, writing, and rewriting. Together, they sought out and studied family scrapbooks, connected and interviewed the early movers and shakers of Magnolia, researched and raided every archive in the City of Seattle for anything “Magnolia." They also wrote down their own memories.

Paul Dorpat, columnist and local historian, and Charles Payton, then Heritage Lead/Community Museum Advisor at 4Culture/King County Cultural Resources, provided inspiration, resources, and cheerleading for the team and book. The writers became a true chorus of voices—compatriots consulting maps, finding archival photos, and peer editing each other’s work into what became a beautiful, coffee-table style book of neighborhood history and images. Published in 2000, Magnolia: Memories & Milestones won the Virginia Marie Folkins award for best history book in King County.

In 2001, most of the thirteen original writers reunited and founded the Magnolia Historical Society (MHS), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. And the rest, as they say, is history!

MHS developed a mission:

Initiate interest in Magnolia history, protecting it for future generations.

Inspire the Magnolia community to help us gather acquisitions for our photo and document archives at UW Special Collections.

Invest in community historical research and writing of Magnolia history that facilitates historic projects and events.

Encourage a more accurate “sense of place” through our work preserving the stories and images of Magnolia.

Writing history, sponsoring historical events, and collecting archival materials to be cataloged at University of Washington Special Collections has become a specialty of MHS. In its nearly 25 years of existence, MHS has produced the MHS News Quarterly, taught free memoir writing workshops, and researched history for other community organizations.

MHS was responsible for a local history column in the Queen Anne & Magnolia News, contributed to guidelines for the Fort Lawton Historic District, helped with the 125th Anniversary Celebration of the West Point Light, and participated in planning the 50th Anniversary of Discovery Park. MHS also created the Magnolia Historic Person of the Year Award, highlighting individuals who have made significant contributions to neighborhood history or preservation, and commissioned a public sculpture for Magnolia Village by artist John Leglar.

In 2005, MHS began work on Book II, a sequel to Magnolia: Memories & Milestones, focused on the 1920s-1940s. The work of thirty-two volunteers resulted in the 2007 award-nominated Magnolia: Making More Memories. When the call went out for Book III in 2018, the focus was on the fabulous 1950s and turbulent 1960s. Over 60 Magnolians took on that writing challenge, culminating in Magnolia: Midcentury Memories, published in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Each book depended wholly on volunteer writers and peer editors, steady project management, "how to write history" packets, the Department of Neighborhood matching grants, the Magnolia Branch of the Seattle Public Library, a talented book designer, and a great grant manager and bookkeeper. Knowledgeable librarians and archivists, local historians, and fellow local history groups supported MHS in this process. Each book team brought its own brand of infectious excitement and unique voices as they wrote “their” Magnolia book. Yes, the rewriting was a never-ending process—as were the frequent celebrations and the notable book launches. All the history was academically-researched, all the writers were Magnolians, all the memoirs first-person narratives.

Once again, MHS is getting back to its historical writing origins. Magnolia: More Memories & Milestones, an online, ongoing collection, continues the nearly quarter-century tradition of written history by Magnolians. As Books I-III are now Kindle editions, this new publication serves as the place where Magnolians can bring their local history to life. Peer editors and "how to write history" materials are still part of the process. We would love your memorabilia, photos, memories, and story ideas. We look forward to Magnolians making MORE Memories & Milestones. And, to the next 25 years of the Magnolia Historical Society!

Magnolia Historical Society Board of Directors

Dee St. George
President & Treasurer

Dee, a Magnolia resident for 45 years, joined MHS in 2006 as Grant Bookkeeper for Book II. Her joy to share Magnolia history has kept her involved with MHS as Co-President, Treasurer, and Newsletter editor. She was named Historical Person of the Year in 2020.

Claudia (Kettles) Lovgren
At Large

Claudia moved to Magnolia with her family from Lansing, MI in 1957. Her written story of her first neighborhood is in Book III. She is a graduate of Cornish College of the Arts in Interior Design. As a member of the Queen Anne High School Alumni Association, she is the editor of the KUAY newsletter.

Amy Plantenberg
At Large

Amy, a native of Seattle, has lived in Magnolia for over 10 years. After a 20-year career as sales and marketing director, she left the industry to spend more time with family and pursue new opportunities of community and social justice work. In addition to running a small business, she served on Magnolia Co-op Preschool board and is a Trustee for the Magnolia Community Council.

Monica Wooton
Consultant

Monica, a lifelong Magnolian, pioneered the writing process and served as project manager, editor, peer editor, writer and photographer for the award-
winning/nominated Magnolia books. A founding member of MHS and named Historical Person of the Year in 2018, she is excited to be writing for Book IV!

Norma Goldstein, PhD.
At Large

Norma, a Magnolia resident since 1993, is a former college dean and writer/editor of variouspublications. An educator since the age of 20, she currently trains college and tribal boards oftrustees across the country. A graduate of Connecticut College, Wesleyan University, and URI,she and husband Allen frequently explore and sail Puget Sound.

Tab Melton
At Large

Tab has lived and worked in Magnolia since the early 2000s. He has over four decades of
writing and editing experience, spanning from community and daily journalism to, corporate communications, public relations, and advertising. He has owned and operated Tabco Corporate Communications since 1994. You might also find him selling produce at the Interbay QFC or peddling custom clocks through Fun Times Too.

Sherrie Quinton
At Large

Sherrie is a Magnolia native, a graduate of Queen Anne High School and UW. She
has a varied portfolio of skills and interests, including ballet, baking, urban farming, costume
construction, genealogy and writing. She edited the churches chapter in Book III.

Melissa Islam
At Large

Melissa, a Magnolia resident since 2019, became curious about its history. She devoured
all three Magnolia books, then joined MHS to ensure that more stories come to light in Book IV (including its natural history). She is a botanist, educator, and editor.

Mike Musselwhite
At Large

Mike is a longtime community leader, from his early days living in Navy housing in Magnolia to his impactful career in education. His athletic involvement in football and baseball reflects his commitment to teamwork and sportsmanship. As a mentor to new school principals, an MHS board member, and Book III contributor, he continues to preserve the legacy of his community.

Greg Shaw
At Large

Greg, a Magnolia native, attended Magnolia Elementary, Catherine Blaine and Queen
Anne High schools. Some might know him for the Atlantic Giant Pumpkins he grows in his front yard. He wrote two chapters in Magnolia Book lll. His passions are photography, gardening, and writing.

About Us

Magnolia Historical Society Board of Directors

Dee St. George President & Treasurer

Dee, a Magnolia resident for 45 years, joined MHS in 2006 as Grant Bookkeeper for Book II. Her joy to share Magnolia history has kept her involved with MHS as Co-President, Treasurer, and Newsletter editor. She was named Historical Person of the Year in 2020.

Claudia (Kettles) Lovgren At Large

Amy Plantenberg At Large

Monica Wooton Consultant

Norma Goldstein, PhD. At Large

Tab Melton At Large

Sherrie Quinton At Large

Sherrie is a Magnolia native, a graduate of Queen Anne High School and UW. She has a varied portfolio of skills and interests, including ballet, baking, urban farming, costume construction, genealogy and writing. She edited the churches chapter in Book III.

Melissa Islam At Large

Melissa, a Magnolia resident since 2019, became curious about its history. She devoured all three Magnolia books, then joined MHS to ensure that more stories come to light in Book IV (including its natural history). She is a botanist, educator, and editor.

Mike Musselwhite At Large

Greg Shaw At Large

Greg, a Magnolia native, attended Magnolia Elementary, Catherine Blaine and Queen Anne High schools. Some might know him for the Atlantic Giant Pumpkins he grows in his front yard. He wrote two chapters in Magnolia Book lll. His passions are photography, gardening, and writing.

​Magnolia Historical Society