Walt Crowley
Encyclopedia
Walter Charles Crowley was a Washington political celebrity. He first became a public figure in Seattle
through his involvement with the social and political movements of the 1960s, especially the underground press
. He later became more widely known as a local television personality and for his pioneering work as a local historian, including co-creating the Web site HistoryLink.org, which he considered to be his crowning achievement.
, the only child of engineer and inventor Walter A. Crowley and Violet King (now Kilvinger), Walt lived in Royal Oak, Michigan
, Flint, Michigan
, the Washington, D.C.
area and Connecticut
until 1961, when his father was hired by Boeing
and moved to Seattle.
Crowley graduated from Seattle's Nathan Hale High School
, winning state honors as an artist, and briefly worked at Boeing as an illustrator. Entering the University of Washington
, he became active in local socialist, antiwar, and civil rights campaigns. In 1967, he joined Paul Dorpat's underground newspaper Helix
as a cartoonist, writer, and editor. In 1968 he ran for the Washington State House of Representatives on the Peace & Freedom Party ticket.
Crowley's service as mediator between the Seattle officials, local leaders, and the community's street people
led to a youth hostel and social service agency called the U District Center; Crowley directed it from 1970 until 1972. He later worked for the Seattle Model Cities Program
and then for the city itself in various planning and outreach roles.
He returned to private industry in 1977 and ran unsuccessfully for the Seattle City Council
. He had a variety of civic involvements afterwards, including serving as president of the venerable civic organization Allied Arts
.
In 1980, Crowley formed Crowley Associates, which publishes guides to Seattle and provides services for many local political campaigns. He was a columnist and commentator in many local venues, most notably a seven-year run in a "Point-Counterpoint" format with conservative John Carlson on KIRO
television.
Crowley wrote several histories of local civic institutions, from the elite Rainier Club
to the blue-collar Blue Moon Tavern
. He led the campaign to save the Blue Moon from demolition, ran the task force that drafted new laws to restore historic Downtown theaters, and served on numerous other civic projects.
historical encyclopedia for the 2001 sesquicentennial of the Denny Party
. His wife Marie McCaffrey suggested publishing the encyclopedia on the Internet.
They and Paul Dorpat incorporated History Ink on November 10, 1997, with seed money from Priscilla "Patsy" Collins, by birth a member of Seattle's wealthy and prominent Bullitt family. The prototype of HistoryLink.org debuted on May 1, 1998, and attracted additional funding for a formal launch in 1999. In 2003 HistoryLink.org expanded its content to cover Washington state
history. Meanwhile, History Ink continues, focusing on the production of history books.
Crowley and HistoryLink.org have won many awards, including
In 2005, Crowley was diagnosed with laryngeal cancer and fought it with characteristic stubbornness; the night before his larynx
was removed, he held a "Famous Last (Natural) Words" party.
Crowley was much beloved as an activist, writer but especially conversationalist, whose wit, passion and sense of fair play touched many he encountered.
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
through his involvement with the social and political movements of the 1960s, especially the underground press
Underground press
The underground press were the independently published and distributed underground papers associated with the counterculture of the late 1960s and early 1970s in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and other western nations....
. He later became more widely known as a local television personality and for his pioneering work as a local historian, including co-creating the Web site HistoryLink.org, which he considered to be his crowning achievement.
Life
Born in Ferndale, MichiganFerndale, Michigan
Ferndale is adjacent to the cities of Detroit to the south, Oak Park to the west, Hazel Park to the east, Pleasant Ridge to the north, Royal Oak Township to the southwest, and Royal Oak to the north....
, the only child of engineer and inventor Walter A. Crowley and Violet King (now Kilvinger), Walt lived in Royal Oak, Michigan
Royal Oak, Michigan
Royal Oak is a city in Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a suburb of Detroit. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 57,236. It should not be confused with Royal Oak Charter Township, a separate community located nearby....
, Flint, Michigan
Flint, Michigan
Flint is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and is located along the Flint River, northwest of Detroit. The U.S. Census Bureau reports the 2010 population to be placed at 102,434, making Flint the seventh largest city in Michigan. It is the county seat of Genesee County which lies in the...
, the Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
area and Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
until 1961, when his father was hired by Boeing
Boeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
and moved to Seattle.
Crowley graduated from Seattle's Nathan Hale High School
Nathan Hale High School
Nathan Hale High School is a public high school in Seattle, Washington. Nathan Hale is part of the Coalition of Essential Schools.-Early years:...
, winning state honors as an artist, and briefly worked at Boeing as an illustrator. Entering the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
, he became active in local socialist, antiwar, and civil rights campaigns. In 1967, he joined Paul Dorpat's underground newspaper Helix
Helix (newspaper)
The Helix was the first underground newspaper in Seattle, Washington, founded and edited by Paul Dorpat; among its writers were Tom Robbins, later known as a novelist, and Walt Crowley, who served as a cartoonist, writer, and editor....
as a cartoonist, writer, and editor. In 1968 he ran for the Washington State House of Representatives on the Peace & Freedom Party ticket.
Crowley's service as mediator between the Seattle officials, local leaders, and the community's street people
Homelessness
Homelessness describes the condition of people without a regular dwelling. People who are homeless are unable or unwilling to acquire and maintain regular, safe, and adequate housing, or lack "fixed, regular, and adequate night-time residence." The legal definition of "homeless" varies from country...
led to a youth hostel and social service agency called the U District Center; Crowley directed it from 1970 until 1972. He later worked for the Seattle Model Cities Program
Model Cities Program
The Model Cities Program was an element of United States President Lyndon Johnson's Great Society and War on Poverty. The ambitious federal urban aid program ultimately fell short of its goals....
and then for the city itself in various planning and outreach roles.
He returned to private industry in 1977 and ran unsuccessfully for the Seattle City Council
Seattle City Council
The Seattle City Council is committed to ensuring that Seattle, Washington, is safe, livable and sustainable. Nine Councilmembers are elected to four-year terms in nonpartisan elections and represent the entire city, elected by all Seattle voters....
. He had a variety of civic involvements afterwards, including serving as president of the venerable civic organization Allied Arts
Allied Arts of Seattle
Allied Arts of Seattle is a non-profit organization in Seattle, Washington, USA. The organization advocates for public funding of the arts, better urban planning and architecture, and other civic improvements...
.
KIRO-TV
KIRO-TV, virtual channel 7, is the CBS affiliate television station in Seattle, Washington. It broadcasts on digital channel 39. The station's offices and broadcasting center are located near Seattle Center in Belltown, and its transmitter is located on Queen Anne Hill...
television.
Crowley wrote several histories of local civic institutions, from the elite Rainier Club
Rainier Club
The Rainier Club is a private club in Seattle, Washington; Priscilla Long of HistoryLink.org calls it "Seattle's preeminent private club." Its clubhouse building, completed in 1904, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was founded in 1888 in what was then the Washington Territory...
to the blue-collar Blue Moon Tavern
Blue Moon Tavern
The Blue Moon is a tavern located on the west edge of the University District, Seattle, Washington, that has been visited by many counterculture icons over the years. It opened in April 1934, soon after the repeal of Prohibition in December 1933, as the first and oldest still-extant tavern in the...
. He led the campaign to save the Blue Moon from demolition, ran the task force that drafted new laws to restore historic Downtown theaters, and served on numerous other civic projects.
HistoryLink.org
In 1997, Crowley discussed preparing a Seattle-King CountyKing County, Washington
King County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. The population in the 2010 census was 1,931,249. King is the most populous county in Washington, and the 14th most populous in the United States....
historical encyclopedia for the 2001 sesquicentennial of the Denny Party
Denny Party
The Denny Party is a group of white pioneers credited with founding Seattle, Washington because they settled at Alki Point on November 13, 1851.A wagon party headed by Arthur A. Denny left Cherry Grove, Illinois on April 10, 1851...
. His wife Marie McCaffrey suggested publishing the encyclopedia on the Internet.
They and Paul Dorpat incorporated History Ink on November 10, 1997, with seed money from Priscilla "Patsy" Collins, by birth a member of Seattle's wealthy and prominent Bullitt family. The prototype of HistoryLink.org debuted on May 1, 1998, and attracted additional funding for a formal launch in 1999. In 2003 HistoryLink.org expanded its content to cover Washington state
Washington State
Washington State may refer to:* Washington , often referred to as "Washington state" to differentiate it from Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States* Washington State University, a land-grant college in that state- See also :...
history. Meanwhile, History Ink continues, focusing on the production of history books.
Crowley and HistoryLink.org have won many awards, including
- The Pacific Northwest Historians Guild's 2007 History Award
- The Washington State Historic Preservation Office's award for media in 2001
- The Association of King County Historical Organizations
- Award for best long-term project (2000)
- Award for best book (2005) (Alan Stein's history of the Fairmont Olympic HotelFairmont Olympic Hotel (Seattle)The Fairmont Olympic Hotel, originally Olympic Hotel, is a historic hotel in downtown Seattle, Washington, occupying the city block between 4th and 5th Avenue and between University and Seneca Streets. It was built in 1924; in 1979, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.It was...
)
Personal life
Walt Crowley married graphic designer and business associate Marie McCaffrey in 1982.In 2005, Crowley was diagnosed with laryngeal cancer and fought it with characteristic stubbornness; the night before his larynx
Larynx
The larynx , commonly called the voice box, is an organ in the neck of amphibians, reptiles and mammals involved in breathing, sound production, and protecting the trachea against food aspiration. It manipulates pitch and volume...
was removed, he held a "Famous Last (Natural) Words" party.
Crowley was much beloved as an activist, writer but especially conversationalist, whose wit, passion and sense of fair play touched many he encountered.
Collaborations
- With Heather MacIntosh: The Story of Union Station in Seattle (Seattle: Sound Transit/History Ink, 1999)
- With Kit Oldham: Moving Washington: A Timeline of the Washington State Department of Transportation, 1905-2004 (Seattle: HistoryLink/University of Washington Press, 2005)
- With Robert Courland: The Fairmont: The First Century of a San Francisco Landmark (HistoryLink for Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, 2006)
External links
- HistoryLink.org
- Cancer Claims Radio Host's Voice, National Public Radio, February 6, 2007, Crowley interviewed just before his larynx was removed.
- Crowley interview, KUOW, July 29, 2005