Identity elements
Reference code
Name and location of repository
Level of description
Title
Capitol Observer
Date(s)
- 1939 - 1983 (Publication)
Extent
3 boxes
Missing: 01/1940-03/1940, 11/1946-10/1947, 01/1948-05/1948, 01/1949-11/1949, 05/1950-11/1955, 11/1956-03/1957, 10/1958-11/1959, 07/1962, Fall 1982-Summer 1983.
Holdings: Begins with Capitol Capers (1939-1940) continuing with the Washington Observer (1940-1941) and concluding with the Capitol Observer (1941-1950, 1955-1983).
Content and structure elements
Scope and content
This quarterly magazine “dedicated to safety in the Northwest” began March 30, 1939, under the name of Capitol Capers, which was a monthly newspaper published for Washington State workers that focused on governmental news and lifestyle stories in and around Olympia, Washington. Capitol Capers then briefly became the Washington Observer newspaper between Oct. 31, 1940 through May 20, 1941 before transitioning to the Capitol Observer that year. The Capitol Observer changed its primary focus from state government news to issues about general safety in the Spring 1958 issue and converted to a magazine format in the summer of that same year.