Tacoma Historical Society is pleased to announce the appointment of Kim Davenport as the society’s director. She is the author of  “Tacoma’s Theater District,” part of Arcadia Publishing’s Images of America series, and has a second book, about Tacoma’s Lincoln District, in preparation; she has also written for Columbia, the magazine of the Washington State Historical Society. Davenport succeeds Julie LaRue, who has moved to Germany.

Davenport’s management experience includes serving as chief administrator of the Center for Urban Waters, University of Washington Tacoma. She currently teaches part-time at UWT. Regarding her new position with THS, Kim said she is eager to apply her skills and enthusiasm to the important mission of Tacoma Historical Society.

She hopes to build on the great work already being done by the staff, board, and volunteers to share stories from Tacoma’s history with a growing and increasingly diverse audience.

Society president Bill Baarsma declared, “Kim’s strong background in management and her extensive experience as an educator makes her the absolute right choice for us.”

Kim graduated magna cum laude with undergraduate degrees in music from the University of Washington. She holds a master of music degree from Northwestern University.

Kim has integrated her abiding interest in Tacoma history into her teaching. She commented: “I have incorporated my love of Tacoma’s history into my courses at UWT, most recently in the form of a new course titled ‘Music History of Tacoma,’ which engaged students with hands-on research projects utilizing primary source materials.”

Organized in 1990, Tacoma Historical Society operates a history museum, retail store and research center at 919 Pacific Avenue in the historic Provident Building.

The society’s current exhibit, “Showtime in Tacoma,” celebrates the city’s theater history. It is free and open for visitors Wednesdays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

THS meets at the University of Puget Sound on second Mondays at 7 p.m., featuring popular speakers and authors. The society publishes a newsletter, presents an annual Destiny Dinner, hosts Memorial Day and Veterans Day services, co-hosts neighborhood and cemetery tours, publishes books on local history and offers regular history programs at retirement centers.

New members and volunteers are always welcome. More information is available online at www.tacomahistory.org or by calling 253-472-3738.

– Tacoma Historical Society