A story teller…

Esther Hall Mumford, born in Louisiana, January 20, 1941, fell in love with the history of African Americans and dedicated her life to telling their story. Growing up hearing the stories of her grandmother and witnessing first hand segregation, Esther held those truths deeply. After attending the University of Baton Rouge for one year, she moved to Seattle to attend the University of Washington in 1961. With her new found Seattle Public Library card, she devoured everything she could. She joined the Civil Rights Action Group, the Congress of Racial Equality, and engaged in non-violent action. Graduating with a BA in Political Science, Esther began working as an oral history interviewer for the Aral-Aural History Program of Washington State in 1975. This project sparked her fever to research, write, and discover hidden treasures about the African American communities of Washington State. Esther’s love of history inspired her and friends to start the Black Heritage Society of Washington State in 1977. In 1980, she published her first book, Black Victorians 1852-1901, with Ananse Press, her own company. Ms. Mumford served her community throughout her life; she served as a member of Seattle’s Landmark Board, the Episcopal Women’s History Project, Board of the Pacific Northwest Historians’ Guild, Northwest African American Museum Program Committee, and the Wing Luke Immersion Committee.