For almost a century the University of Washington Press has been the region’s leading publisher of books dealing with the history and culture of the Pacific Northwest. We honor them this evening.
It began in 1915 when the University published Governors of Washington, Territorial and State by Guess Who? Edmond S. Meany. Five years later the first book appeared that actually bore the imprint of the University of Washington Press, a collection of poems edited by Frederick M. Padelford. In the decades that have followed, the Press has issued some 44 hundred books, with approximately seventy new titles appearing each year. The list always included a variety of books concerning our state and region, not historical offerings alone but works of artists including Native Americans and trans-Pacific neighbors.
Many members of the Guild are proud University of Washington Press authors, as are thirteen of the 27 recipients of the Guild’s award (to date), from the first one, Murray Morgan, to last year’s John Findlay. In 2005 when the Guild published its own book, More Voices, New Stories: King County, Washington’s First 150 years, edited by Mary Wright, the Press provided guidance and handled distribution.
We all know that the creation of books involves – in addition to the authors – a vast team of people with diverse skills including readers and adjudicators, copy editors, designers, proof readers, production crews, publicists, sales persons, and other staff members. How nice it would be to recognize each of them individually. Tonight we honor the Press as a whole by highlighting three outstanding members of the staff.
Pat Soden is a Washington native, raised in Yakima. He began his career at the Press forty years ago, working first in sales and rising through the ranks to become director of the Press in 1995, a formidable and diverse task. The Press expanded in various dimensions and made significant changes under his leadership until his retirement just one year ago. Pat’s emphasis was clear in his statement of the Press’s mission: “As the largest scholarly publisher in the Pacific Northwest, the …Press serves a piece of geography that extends from the Continental Divide to the Pacific Ocean and from northern California to Point Barrow, Alaska. Our primary mission has been to publish books that reflect the history and culture of this vast region. In the last decade we have made the strategic decision to look west and to emphasize this expansion of our region to include the countries surrounding the Pacific Rim, particularly those in Asia.”
If any single individual personifies that mission it is Julidta Tarver. Lita came to the Press as a UW student intern typist in 1966 and she has never quite left! In those days, much of the staff was involved in editing, and some duties were blurred. Lita became managing editor in the mid-seventies, and was the longtime acquisitions editor specializing in Pacific Northwest titles. Most of the Press publications dealing with our region passed through her hands in one way or another; she cannot even estimate the number. She was a copy editor par excellence and often represented the Press at conferences and exhibits. An early member of the Guild, Lita regularly attended Guild conferences and presided at the Press’ display of their books. One suspects she was also on the lookout for new titles. She retired in 2000 and again in 2007, but in 2013 she still has a strong hand representing the Press and other publishers at regional conferences.
In 2008 Lita’s position as senior acquisitions editor specializing in Pacific Northwest topics was assumed by Marianne Keddington-Lang, well respected for many years in regional historic activities including teaching, editing, and publishing. Marianne continues the tradition of the University of Washington Press in leading the publication of books that highlight the history and the culture of our region. One example is the guide to historic Washington hikes by our banquet chair, Judy Bentley.
Pat Soden will accept the award on behalf of the Press.