Category: Lectures

UWFA Lecture: Judy Bentley “Walking Washington’s History”
Monday, April 11, 1pm, 2022

Judy Bentley “Walking Washington’s History” Part One

Judy Bentley “Walking Washington’s History” Part Two

Our speaker today is historian and hiker Judy Bentley.  She has teamed up with veteran guidebook author Craig Romano to describe hikes for adventurers of all abilities along trails on the coast, over mountains, through national forests, across plateaus, and on the banks of the Columbia River in the second edition of Hiking Washington’s History.

For thousands of years people have traveled across Washington’s spectacular terrain, establishing footpaths and roads to reach hunting grounds and coal mines high in the mountains, fishing sites and trade emporiums on the rivers, forests of old growth, and homesteads and towns on prairies. These traditional routes have been preserved in national parks, restored by cities and towns, salvaged from old railroad tracks, and opened to hikers by Indigenous communities.  Her talk today about her book will offer a look at some of our state’s most fascinating historical trails.

The new second edition of Hiking Washington’s History is available at independent bookstores such as University Bookstore, the Elliott Bay Book Company, Island Books, Brick and Mortar Books, and online at Amazon..

UWFA Lecture: Dagmar Shannon, “Antarctica”
Wednesday March 9, 1 pm, 2022

Dagmar Shannon, “Antarctica” Wednesday March 9, 1 pm

Ultimate Antarctica and Patagonia

“Come travel and discover Antarctica with me. I am Dagmar Shannon, former UWFA President and co- Program chair with Nancy Kenagy. Born in Germany, I came to Seattle as an exchange student and later married the son of my host family. Even though I have been in the US for 50 years you might still hear a slight accent.

My husband Bill and I are avid travelers and on March 9th I’d like to share with you what I learned during our trip to Antarctica about the geography, the history and nature as it displays itself on the inhospitable ice and frigid water. It is a continent of great wonder and beauty and a place of superlatives. I will talk about some of our experiences, impressions and show you the pictures I took and part of a video the cruise line took of our trip via drone.

Is the ice really blue? Yes it is! Are the icebergs really huge? Yes they are! Are penguins really cute? Yes they are!

I look forward to seeing you on Zoom and talking about one of my favorite places on earth.”

UWFA Lecture: “Thom Lee, Korean Five Elements” Wednesday, February 9, 2022

Thom Lee  “Korean Five Elements” Wednesday, February 9, 2022

Several years ago, Thom Lee took a trip to South Korea to celebrate his mother’s 80th birthday.  This presentation will examine the trip in a thematic way using the traditional Five Element theory that pervades the country and culture.  The Elements are water, wood, fire, earth, and metal.  Please join us next Wednesday for this interesting lecture.

Thom Lee is a Washington native.  He was born in Everett, and spent most of his childhood and early teens in the state.  He has explored many disciplines including art, history, anthropology, philosophy, botany, culinary arts, and vocal music.  He holds a MFA from the Ohio State University, but has degrees and credentials from Binghamton University, University of Washington, and Ewha University in Seoul Korea.  He currently teaches ceramics, design and drawing at Everett Community College, but also lectures in Global Ethnobotany, Sustainable Nutrition, and Humanities classes. Classical Asian Five-Element Theory is a major interest of Thom’s, and his presentation will examine a recent trip to Korea through the lens of this philosophy.

Welcome to the UWFA Lecture Series

UWFA Scholarship Lecture November 10, 2021: Dr. Thomas Pruitt: “The Art and Photography of Calvin R. Smith”

“Canvas and Camera: The Art and Photography of Calvin Rae Smith”

Please join is for a lecture by Dr. Thomas Pratt, who will discuss collecting and restoring the work of his great-grandfather, Calvin Rae Smith, a New York City artist who painted in the Pacific Northwest and was a co-originator of an early single reflex lens used in cameras.

Who’s Watching You? – Do you ever have the feeling that you are being watched when you walk in downtown Seattle? You are probably right. Hundreds of eyes peer out from buildings in the city observing your every step. Neither human nor electronic, these ever-present watchers belong to dozens of carved and molded animals gazing out from Seattle buildings. Based on his book, Seattle Walks, this 1.5 mile virtual walk through Seattle’s central business district will reveal a menagerie of beasts fabled, fantastic, and fierce, including lions, eagles, ducks, and walruses, in addition to likely sightings of live birds and other animals in our city. Please join us, no binoculars needed.

UW Lecture, April 12, 2021: David B. Williams “Who is Watching You”

Welcome to the UWFA Lecture Series

UW Lecture, October 20, 2021: Antoinette Wills: “Henry Suzallo, A Novel Approach”

Welcome to our lecture with UW Historian Antoinette Wills, who will talk about Henry Suzzallo, a Novel Approach

Most of us have had occasion to visit Suzzallo Library, perhaps the most recognizable building on the University of Washington campus.  It is named for Henry Suzzallo, President of the University from 1915-1926.  How much do you know about Henry Suzzallo? UW Historian Antoinette Wills will tell us about her current project, a book about Suzzallo, Henry Suzzallo, a Novel Approach, and his vision for our University.  Enjoy the lecture!

UWFA Lecture: Enjoying Birds All Year in the Pacific Northwest

Birds and birding in the PNW throughout the year” is part of the UWFA Lecture Series. Today we present our very own UWFA members, Vicki King and Donna Hahn. They are inviting you to join them on two virtual birding walks on March 10 at 1 PM.  One walk took place during the winter; the other one took place during spring migration.  We saw more than 30 commonly-seen birds in our region at close range and talked a bit about their biology and behavior during these walks.  It runs just under 50 minutes.  We hope you’ll enjoy the recording of this presentation.
See the presentation (on DropBox)

Welcome to the UWFA Lecture Series

Wednesday, February 10

1 – 2:30

Please join us this coming Wednesday, February 10, at 1 p.m. via Zoom as our own UWFA President Christine Newcomb gives a lecture entitled “Porcelain: Art and Objects of Desire”, based on visiting porcelain manufacturers in Germany.  Christine’s talk will encourage you to bring out and put to everyday use those pieces you might have tucked away in your cupboards.

The Scholarship Awards Dinner and Lecture was held on November 9th at the UW Club where a scholarship of $4,000.- was given to three enterprising undergraduate seniors of the University of Washington. Each student expressed heartfelt thanks for this help in meeting the high cost of education.

Mahdi Ramadan, a neurobiology major, was inspired by firsthand experience with cerebral palsy. He is intent on a career developing concrete applications to support brain functioning and is well on his way after an internship at the Allen Institute for Brain Science.

Madeline Dai received the Barbara Garlid Scholarship. She is studying psychology and plans to attend graduate school in order to become a licensed psychologist to help people better help themselves. She is interested in family cohesion and resilience in the face of hardship through mental health problems.

Christopher Perry was awarded the Melba Schmitz Scholarship for students in the social sciences. He is poised to receive a BA in psychology with a minor in bioethics and is planning to pursue a PhD in psychology. His areas of interest include substance abuse treatment and creating equitable conditions for minority students.

Tom Hammond‘s riveting talk ‘Glaciers of the North Cascades” capped the evening off. Tom is president of the North Cascades Conservation Council and is the field scientist for the North Cascades Glacier Climate Project. His slide show of the glaciers of Washington State, photographed over a 33 year period, needs little comment; it is a visual demonstration of the effects of recent warming trends.

As members of the Scholarship Committee, we have come away from the selection process with the staunch belief in the good of the UWFA Scholarship. We greatly appreciate its founders and donors and would like to honor their endeavor to help the next generation. By the same token, we are struck by the hard work and dedication of the applicants. Not only are they studying hard and doing well academically while working part-time, but they are also going beyond themselves to provide service to the community through projects as varied as Middle East peace camps and analyzing micro-aggression against women and minorities in the STEM classroom. These are deserving people that make us feel hopeful.

Joan Burton, Anni Fuller, Esther Neeser

Our historian took the time to put together some interesting facts about the relationship between University of Washington Club and the UW Faculty Auxiliary. 1916 was an important date for our organization.

100 YEARS UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON CLUB AND UW FACULTY AUXILIARY

      (through the years the names of the UWFA and the UW Club have taken on new names)

• The Faculty Women’s Club was formed in the spring of 1908 and consisted of both Women Faculty and Faculty Wives.
• In the next year, 1909, Seattle hosted its first World’s Fair in June through October… the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition. Definitely a magnificent occasion! The UW campus was covered with new buildings (many temporary) and marvelous exhibitions and activities. (Photos are available online).
• From the website of the current UW Club, we learn that, following the closing of the Exposition in October of 1909, 40 faculty men purchased the so-called Hoo-Hoo House that had been constructed for the Fair for an organization of lumbermen. (See photos at the UW Club).

This then became the home of Faculty Men’s Club…. just one year after the formation of the Faculty Women’s Club!

Briefly jumping forward….. just as the current Faculty Auxiliary celebrated its Centennial Anniversary in 2008, so did the current UW Club celebrate theirs in 2009!  And returning to the chronology….

• In the year 1916, please note 100 years ago, the two groups making up the Faculty Women’s Club became separate organizations: the Faculty Women’s Association and the Faculty Wives’ Club. (The latter was renamed University of Washington Faculty Auxiliary in 1976.)
• It was also in 1916 that both ladies’ groups were granted access to the men’s Hoo-Hoo House for their meetings, study groups and cultural events.
• Eleven years later, in 1927, when an addition was added to the Men’s Club building, the Faculty Wives provided a financial contribution toward the Club’s furnishings, as did the Clubs of the Faculty Women and Faculty Men. (This renovation included, however, a small door on one side of the building, leading through the narrow hall-like access to the lower level dining room, through which all women were obliged to enter and exit the building!  It took a while, but this situation did become rectified!
• In 1952 the Men’s Club (H-H H) was demolished and replaced with “what this marvelous building is now”! Once again, a considerable donation was provided by the Faculty Wives toward this lovely modern construction. The Club was given a new name: Faculty Center.
• Until completion of the new and much larger facility in 1960, the Faculty Wives had continued many of their activities in the Student Union Building (SUB, later the Husky Union Building).
• Also during the years 1957 through 1967, all three Faculty Clubs joined for the annual Christmas Dinners, first at the SUB and later at the new Faculty Center. Since the completion of the new Club building, the UWFA has continued to hold a great many of its events and activities…. lectures, movies, business meetings, scholarship awards events and receptions in this wonderful facility, which in 2004 was renamed once again, now as the UW Club.
• In 2016 the UW Faculty Auxiliary proudly takes note of, and honors the 100 years of the close association and interactions of our two very special University of Washington organizations.

Carol Hol         UW Faculty Auxiliary Historian          April 11, 2016

Carol Hol is now working on a comprehensive history of the UWFA and hopefully, we will  post excerpts of it as they come along.