We would like to thank you for the support and interest that you have continually provided to the Black Heritage Society (BHS) so that the mission-the acquisition, preservation and exhibition of materials relating to the history and culture of African Americans in the State of Washington can be achieved. Those individuals who are interested in becoming a active board or committee member may contact the board at theboard@blackheritagewa.org
The Exhibits Committee will explore innovative ideas that will increase our exhibits to include more exposure in the entire state. The Membership Committee will explore new ideas in acquiring new members, including implementing a system. The emphasis must be on the acquisition of new members that are sufficiently motivated to contribute time and creativity including but not limited to fundraising activities. Let me know of your ideas to increase membership and visibility.
Remember, we are not limited to collecting and preserving history. We can also be the writers of history.
BHSW is pleased to announce the officers for the 2014 - 2016 term. The election took place at the Annual Membership meeting, which was held on Saturday, June 14, 2014.
The new officers are as follows:
The Vice-President position is still open. Interested parties should contact Monette Hearn at: mhearnblackheritage@gmail.com.
The first meeting of the committee that was to become the Black Heritage Society of Washington state was held at the home of Esther and Donald Mumford on March 20, 1977. The general purpose was the mutual desire to preserve the history and art of Black people of Washington State. Discussion ensued concerning the geographic scope, fundraising, kinds of articles to collect, methods of collecting, protection of donations, location of a museum and informing the public of the efforts of this group.
To support the society’s purpose and to promote public awareness, the Black Heritage Society held the first exhibition entitled “A Preview of a Proposed Museum of Black History and Art” in September 1977. Events over the next decade included “Seattle’s Black Women Writers, “Roots, Stems and Roses Festival: A Celebration of Black Families in Yakima”, historic tours, An Annual Pioneer Awards Dinner, “100 Years in East Madison”, “Black Coal Miners in 19th Century Washington State” and milestone celebrations.
1980
The Constitution and By- Laws were instituted
The First Annual Meeting and Heritage Tea was held on June 1st at the Central Area Senior Center.
1981
The first Black Heritage Society Newsletter was published in May. The Black Heritage Society of Washington State name was formerly adopted during the June Annual Meeting
1982
The Black Heritage Society participated in the first centennial celebration relating to Black history in Washington State in April. The theme was “100 Years in East Madison based on the 1882 purchase of a twelve-acre tract of land by Seattle pioneer William Grose.
Membership cards were introduced in July. The Black Heritage Society began the quest to have the mini-park being constructed on 30th Avenue between East Denny and East Howell as a memorial for William Grose.
The organization was officially incorporated as the Black Heritage Society of Washington State, Inc.
General Membership Meeting features “Landmarks bearing names of Black People”
1983
The Black Heritage Society exhibited “Seattle’s Black Women Writers, 1900 – 1980" and “100 Years in East Madison."
Members sponsored the dedication of William Grose mini-park located on 30th between East Denny and East Howell Streets.
1984
The first Black Heritage Society exhibit at the Douglas Truth Library was “Lifting As We Climb” depicting work of Seattle women from 1889.
Annual Meeting and Heritage Tea celebrates “Black History in Tacoma”
General Membership Meeting celebrates “Toil and Struggle: 100 years of Men’s Work”
President Joe Warner builds exhibit case and donates it to the Douglas-Truth Library for the Black Heritage Society displays.
1985
General Membership Meeting features “Bremerton Celebrates Over 100 Years – A Story Untold”
1990’s
During the 1990 decade, Black Heritage Society members participated in various community events and exhibits:
In 1996, the African-American Heritage Foundation awarded The Black Heritage Society a grant for the preservation and archiving of the Society’s stored collection of valuable heritage memorabilia. The transfer of The Black Heritage Society’s collection of memorabilia and exhibit materials from its storage site to the Museum of History and Industry was completed.
Our Mission The Black Heritage Society of Washington State, Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to the acquisition, preservation and exhibition of materials relating to the history and culture of African-Americans in the State of Washington .
To fulfill its mission, the Society:
Colissimo La Poste colis service dedicated to delivering parcels to individuals and professionals. These packages can be delivered anywhere in mainland France, Monaco, Andorra, but also overseas and the rest of the world via the international Colissimo! We give you below all the practical information on Colissimo.
Colissimo can be delivered from Monday to Saturday (excluding public holidays) from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
To be able to be shipped via the Colissimo service, the package must not exceed 150 cm after adding Length + width + height . However, it is possible to send the package up to 200 cm (via a price supplement).
The weight of the package cannot exceed 30 kg . Beyond that, it will be necessary to use a carrier authorizing the transport of larger packages.
The indicative deadline is 2 days (48 hours) for shipments to mainland France, Monaco and Andorra . And from 5 to 7 working days for Overseas. There is no indicative deadline for other destinations. It is good to know that La Poste compensates the sender in the event of delay in delivery (under conditions).
All Colissimos have a tracking number which allows them to trace their entire journey from the sender’s deposit to the recipient’s mailbox. To track your package, all you have to do is go to the website dedicated to Colissimo tracking. You also receive emails informing you of its next delivery (usually the day before delivery) or of the different stages of its journey if you are the sender.
Colissimo has insurance for the items shipped . Its amount is 23 € per kg . Senders can also opt for additional insurance which can go up to € 1,500 for the package.
If you were absent during the delivery of your Colissimo, the postman places a calling card in your letterbox . This applies to colissimo with signature but also for colissimo without signature which does not fit in the letterbox. This transit advice note shows the date and the nearest post office where you must collect your package on presentation of an identity document. Please note: Colissimo stays in this post office for 15 days (from the date written on the calling card), beyond this period, the package is returned to its sender.
To send a Colissimo, you simply have to go to the post office and frank it at the “Colissimo” rate. Your package will be weighed and therefore the price will be evaluated according to its weight ( see the table below ).
It is also possible to frank a Colissimo from home using the La Poste website. All you need to do is indicate the destination (valid for mainland France and the European Union only) and the characteristics of your package : its weight, whether it is large or standard, etc. Then, you are prompted to enter the sender’s address (yours) and the recipient’s address .
Then you have the choice between:
You can also choose whether the Colissimo must be delivered by hand (at an additional cost) or in the recipient’s letterbox (at no additional cost). But also, you can choose to notify or not the recipient of all the stages of the follow-up of the colissimo.
Finally, all you have to do is pay to print the shipping label at home or at a post office terminal.
You have the option of requesting or not a signature upon receipt of the package . Why ask for a signature? With a signature, the proof of delivery is indisputable. However, this means that you must be present at your home to receive the package. With a signature-free delivery , the package can be placed directly in your mailbox (if it is the right size). Colissimo is still recorded as being delivered in the database in the event of a dispute.
La Poste recommends choosing a Colissimo without signature for small parcels and / or low-value items and choosing a Colissimo with signature for large and / or high-value parcels .
It is possible to return items to the sender using Colissimo. This service is reserved for professionals in order to facilitate the return of products by customers . The principle is simple: the customer requests a return on the merchant site, prints and sticks the return label on the package. Then, as with online postage, he has the choice between:
If you have not received your package, the first thing to do is to report its loss on the La Poste website or at the nearest post office . If at the end of 2 months, you still have not received any news of your parcel, you can contact the Mediator of the Post office to be reimbursed for its value. And if you are still not getting satisfaction, you can appeal to a judge.
In fact, there is not a Colissimo but Colissimo! Discover the different services offered by this delivery method.
Delivery service reserved for professionals and more particularly for e-merchants. It allows the delivery of packages without signature directly to the letterbox (or to the nearest post office if the package is too large). It offers parcel tracking and integrated insurance in case of loss or damage during shipment.
Delivery service reserved for professionals . It allows the delivery of packages against signature of the recipient . In case of absence, a calling card is left in the letterbox. Like Colissimo Access, it offers parcel tracking and integrated insurance in the event of loss, theft or damage. It also has the following paid options:
an additional insurance Ad Valorem covering the parcel up to 1500 €
the " recommendation " which takes precedence over the integrated insurance and which covers the parcel up to a value of 200 € (beyond that, additional insurance must be taken)
the against-reimbursement for sending the package against payment of the recipient upon delivery
This service is more interesting for shipments of valuables thanks to its insurance and delivery against signature.
Delivery service reserved for professionals . Like the Colissimo Expert, it delivers a parcel against signature and offers tracking, integrated insurance against loss or damage as well as optional Ad Valorem insurance (up to € 1,500). But, it also allows you to make a return (ideal for product returns by customers).
Former Colissimo service allowing delivery to the desired location: at home, at the post office of your choice (necessarily the one closest to your home), to a merchant in the partner network or to a locker. This service no longer exists because these delivery wishes are now included for all Colissimo.
This delivery service only works for shipments to overseas . This is the most economical shipping method for shipping in the French overseas departments and territories. This is why the indicative delivery time is 18 to 27 days (depending on the destination). The package is delivered without signature directly to the letter box (or to the nearest post office if the package is too large). It has integrated Colissimo insurance, i.e. € 23 per kg. However, parcel tracking is not available for this service (you just get a proof of deposit).
Colissimo International is a service reserved for parcel shipments up to 30 kg for countries of the European Union (+ Switzerland) and up to 20 kg for other destinations. The delivery time is guaranteed between 3 and 8 working days for 37 destinations (mainly in Europe, Asia and North America). The parcel is delivered against the signature of the recipient . This service offers parcel tracking and integrated insurance in the event of loss, theft or damage. It also offers the following options:
the “Declared value” service which compensates up to € 5,000 for a lost package
The amount of the “Declared value” service varies according to the country of destination. Moreover, it is not offered to all destinations. This option is activated only in post office.
The latest innovation from La Poste, the Colissimo Pass service allows individuals to receive unlimited Colissimo for € 39 per year. To do this, you just need to order on a partner site to obtain delivery and return costs of 0 € for all your orders! You are also entitled to all Colissimo services (monitoring, email notifications, etc.).
PO box with foam inlay
PO box with foam inlay
La Poste offers Colissimo “Ready-to-send” packaging , formerly called “Prêt-à-poster” (PAP). They are available in different sizes:
size M: for sending objects up to 3 kg
size L: for sending objects weighing up to 5 kg
size XL: for sending objects weighing up to 7 kg
size B: for sending a bottle with a maximum weight of 2 kg
But, you will find on our site packaging for parcels just as effective and with a better quality / price ratio . And the diversity of packaging is greater! Here is an overview of our range of special Colissimo shipping packaging :
This small cardboard box is the ultimate versatile packaging! It will allow you to ship all types of objects : jewelry box, game box, cell phone case … Please note that we also offer shipping boxes provided for a possible return as well as post office boxes with foam wedges which are ideal for transporting very fragile objects such as a smartphone.
· The shipping case
The shipping case has flaps that hold its contents in place so that it does not move while in transit. It is therefore particularly suitable for books, CDs and DVDs . There are several sizes allowing you to send books in A5, A4 or A3 format… but also special CD and DVD sizes.
· VAD pocket
The VAD pouch is specially designed to ship clothes confidentially . Indeed, the pockets are opaque so no one can see the contents. They’re also waterproof , which protects your clothes from rain and dust, and tear-proof so no one can open them until you notice.
· The cardboard envelope
The cardboard envelope is perfect for sending comics, calendars or even important documents by post. It prevents these documents from getting cornered thanks to its solid corrugated cardboard walls . It can have a side opening or a classic opening (on the smaller side) depending on the model.
The bubble envelope is the ideal packaging for shipping fragile items of small or medium size without risk of breakage . Thanks to its interior bubble mat, objects are absorbed from the blows and shocks encountered during the journey. And its kraft paper outer wall is tear-proof ! Your package can only arrive in good condition! There are several models of bubble envelopes which are distinguished by the color (brown or white) but also by the diameter of the bubbles (10 mm or 18 mm). Moreover, envelopes with an 18 mm bubble film are as protective as cardboard boxes .
Bubble envelope Megabulle 18 mm
Bubble envelope with 18 mm diameter bubbles
Depending on the destination and the weight of the package, Colissimo prices will not be the same. Here is a summary table of prices per kg for Colissimo shipments from mainland France to France and Overseas .
Shipment type Colissimo France Colissimo Overseas
Weight To mainland France
(including Corsica), Monaco and Andorra To Guadeloupe,
Martinique, Mayotte,
Réunion, Guyana,
St-Pierre-et-Miquelon,
Saint-Martin, Saint-Barthélémy To
French Polynesia, New Caledonia,
Wallis and Futuna
and the French Southern
and Antarctic Lands
Up to 250 g 4,95 € 9,45 € 11,40 €
Up to 500 g 6,25 € 9,45 € 11,40 €
Up to 750 g 7,10 € 14,35 € 17,10 €
Up to 1 kg 7,80 € 14,35 € 17,10 €
Up to 2 kg 8,80 € 19,50 € 30,10 €
Up to 5 kg 13,35 € 29,35 € 50,50 €
Up to 10 kg 19,50 € 47,10 € 98,50 €
Up to 30 kg 27,80 € 105 € 250 €
And here is the table showing the prices per kilo of Colissimo from France to international destinations .
Shipment type International Colissimo
Weight European Union
and Switzerland Eastern European countries
(excluding EU, Switzerland and Russia),
Norway, Maghreb Other destinations Postal sectors
Up to 500 g 12,30 € 16,65 € 24,35 € 8,75 €
Up to 1 kg 15,20 € 19,90 € 27,10 € 10,30 €
Up to 2 kg 17,20 € 21,75 € 37,30 € 11,30 €
Up to 5 kg 22 € 27,95 € 54,55 € 15,85 €
Up to 10 kg 36,30 € 46,25 € 103,10 € 22 €
Up to 20 kg 60,30 € 72,15 € 164,60 € 30,30 €
Up to 30 kg 60,30 € - - -
Finally, be aware that there are alternatives to the Colissimo rate : you can very well entrust your packages to another carrier such as Chronopost or Mondial Relay. Each one has its own particularity: Chronopost allows express delivery of a parcel at home ( find out more about Colissimo Chronopost franking ) while Mondial Relay provides inexpensive delivery to a relay point ( find out more about the shipping service of Mondial Relay ).
The Black Heritage Society Board meets every 2nd Saturday of the month, except during July and August, from 11:00am - 1:00pm at the Central Area Senior Center.
Board meetings are open to the General Membership. Although only members of the Board of Directors can vote at these meetings, the General Membership is encouraged to participate in open discussions.
General Membership meetings are held in October, January and May. They are open to the public, and are announced in the Newsletter. All members are welcome to attend.
ROOTS Voices is an audio/visual project that records the stories and history of African Americans who are life-long residents or re-located individuals driven by pushes and pulls of the Great Migration to the Northwest. The project was developed in 2013 as a collaboration between the Black Heritage Society and the NW ROOTS Committee.
The stories are collected once a year, on one afternoon at the annual ROOTS Family Picnic by teen video-graphers who are the listeners that record the memories of storytellers. The Black Heritage Society is the recipient of the digital stories that are archived for public access as a resource linked to their collections.
There will be an upcoming storytelling event at the Roots Family Picnic!
42nd Annual ROOTS Family Picnic
Sunday, August 31, 2014, 11am – 5pm
Sam Smith Park, 23rd Ave & South Massachusetts St, Seattle, WA 98144 (on the I-90 lid)
For more information, contact: rootsvoices@gmail.com
BHS Impressions: a digital history project
The Black Heritage Society of Washington State,Inc. is seeking stories and memories from individuals of African descent who attended high school in the 1950’s.
If you would like to participate in the digital exhibit or be selected for a digital interview that will be included in the Black Heritage Society archives, click here. For more information, or to volunteer for this project contact, bhsimpressions@mail.com.
Collections Committee
Outreach Committee
Education Committee
Exhibits Committee
Program Planning
The term of membership year is from July 1 through June 30 of the following year. BHS offers the opportunity to become apart of a “New Era” of documenting history and celebrating our culture.
The Black Heritage Society offers members:
A an experienced board with dedication to the mission of the society,
A quarterly newsletter (January, April, July, October) highlighting the goals and progress of the society
Thought provoking topics and community awareness during quarterly meetings in January, May and October. Annual Meeting in May. This first-class affair pays tribute to groups or individuals whose occupational or voluntary contributions have enhanced the heritage of African Americans in Washington State.
Volunteer opportunities for speaking, presenting and exhibiting during events throughout the year. An invitation to participate in or facilitate topics impacting the society and Black communities of Washington State.Special recognition in printed advertisement and special events
A standing invitation to donate your family history and candidacy for our oral history collection
The honor of being a part of a unique history of collecting, and preserving more Black memorabilia than any other historical Black organization in Washington State.
Levels of Membership
Enrollment as a member of the Society is available in the following individual categories:
Level Amount
Youth $5 (under 18 years)
Individual $15
Friendship $25
Supporting $50
Sustaining $100 *
Organization $200 *
Life $500 *