As you look at this image you will see the trunk my great grandfather built for my grandfather for his trip from Norway to the United States. Everything he owned was in this trunk. Grandpa was a carpenter. The hand planer belonged to him. He built the wooden puzzle box and working replica of a spinning wheel lamp. The sewing machine belonged to Grandma but Grandpa John often used it to sew protective sleeves for his wood working tools. When my mom was nine years old he helped her sew the pink striped elephant that she named Rosemary. The straight razor and strop were his. The note on the right was one of the poems he wrote to Grandma Olga. The diary was where he kept track of the hours he worked. The thermos was his. The document on the left is his immigration paper he received when he entered Ellis Island for the better life he believed was awaiting him in America. The photograph in the puzzle box is of his sister and his family who I believe he never saw again after leaving Norway. Finally the pipe was not his but I have a fond memory of the smell of pipe smoke mixed with the fragrance of Grandma's perfume that permeated the little red house
they lived in.

Retired educators and philanthropists Ed and Betty Morrow share stories of their Saint Bernard Alex and his impact on the students of the Everett School District in the early seventies. 

100 year old Vivian shares an amusing story about the Chinese laundromat in the old Diller Hotel. 

Dick and Phyllis share stories of their lives together and all their adventures.

A few words with Bernice at her 99th Birthday Celebration.

Awarded at the 14TH ANNUAL BLACK AND WHITE SPIDER AWARDS

LOS ANGELES October 12, 2019 - professional photographer Kari Townsend of U.S.A. was presented with the 14th Annual Black and White Spider Awards Honorable Mention in the category of Fashion at a prestigious Nomination & Winners PhotoShow streamed Saturday, October 12, 2019.

The live online gala was attended by industry leaders and the photography community from around the globe who logged on to watch the climax of the world's premier event for black and white photography. 14th Annual Jury members included captains of the industry from Musee de l'Elysee, Lausanne; The Guardian, London; Contrasto Galleria, Milan; Travel/Discovery Channel, New York; Harper's Bazaar, UK; Portuguese Center of Photography, Porto; Aeroplastics Contemporary, Brussels; Silvan Faessler Fine Art, Zurich; ADK Creative One Inc., Tokyo; Galerie Hubert Winter, Vienna; Conny Dietzschold Galleries, Sydney; and Pereira O'Dell in New York who honored Spider Fellows with 758 coveted title awards and 909 nominees in 32 categories.

"I have been a juror of many photography contests throughout my professional career, this is my first time at Black & White Spider Awards, and I am stunned. The amazing quality of the images in the competition made it very difficult to select the winners. I would like to reinforce the relevance and impact of Black & White Spider Awards as a mobilizing agent in promoting the production and dissemination of excellent photography at an international level." Said juror Bernardino Castro, Director at Portuguese Center of Photography (CPF), Porto. Raquel Duarte, Senior Art Producer at Pereira O'Dell, New York added, "Amateur photographers were as impressive as the professional group. I was emerged and consumed in the quality of the imagery."

"It's an incredible achievement to be selected among the best from the 6,418 entries we received this year" said Basil O'Brien, the awards Creative Director. "(Name)'s "(Title of Photograph)," an exceptional image entered in the (Category) category, represents black and white photography at its finest, and we're pleased to present (her/him) with the title of (Award Title)."

BLACK AND WHITE SPIDER AWARDS is the leading international award honoring excellence in black and white photography. This celebrated event shines a spotlight on the best professional and amateur photographers worldwide and honors the finest images with the highest achievements in black and white photography. www.thespiderawards.com