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Anyone know how to search Seattle Archives online??
Posted: 13 Apr 2010, 01:19
by just_me
So this is my first time here and I thought it would be a good place to ask my question.
I have been online doing searches about boxing archives in Seattle Washington.
My great-great Grandfather was a first generation Icelandic born american. He was a figherfighter in Seattle and later became a lightweight boxer. My uncle has news papers with articles and even comic strips about my great great Grandfather. My uncle has gone crazy and dissapeared (I know too much info) so I want to find anything I can. His name was Harry Hallson or Hall, and had other alias that I cant remember. He went by "THE FIGHTING FIREFIGHTER". He was known for knocking out people with one punch

, a local man did comic strips about him. This was (I bileave) In the 1920's, mabey a little earlier or later. He was only between 25-30 when he passed away. He was hit by a train and there are two storys on why he got hit by a train. Some people say he got hit in the head too many times and walked in front of it. The story my family thinks is true (prpbably because it sounds cool, I guess) is that the mob paid him to throw a fight that he did not, so they threw him in front of the train. :(
If anyone knows how I would go about finding this info perferably online (but anywhere) I would greatly appreciate it.
PLEASE HELP ME STOP PULLING MY HAIR OUT!!!
Just the great-great Grandaughter of a Seattle fighting boxer.

Re: Anyone know how to search Seattle Archives online??
Posted: 03 Jul 2014, 13:34
by erik graskeggur
Hey cousin! Sorry it took me so long to find this, hope it is still of interest to you.
Harry Hall was born Holly (or Hollur) Hallsson, in Duluth, MN., I believe, 1900. The family moved to Seattle (Ballard) in 1903. Holly served a short stint in the Marine Corps, signing up just weeks before Germany signed the Armistice of Compiègne, he doesn't appear to have shipped out, was discharged in April 1919 (don't know for sure why - possibly just the downsizing following end of combat?). What family lore I have access to (he was my great-grandfather) says that he began his boxing career in the Corps. There may be some info to be found through the USMC, if you can find the right archive/office to contact.
He changed his name to Harry Hall when he began boxing professionally.
The Seattle Times may have archives online that would help find more, and it may be worth a call to NARA (Nat'l Archives and Records Admin.) to see if they have a lead on local boxing assoc. or club records. If such things still exist they are probably only on paper, in a box in someone's attic I'm afraid.
I'd love to see those comics!
Re: Anyone know how to search Seattle Archives online??
Posted: 03 Jul 2014, 18:49
by Matt
If you are a Seattle resident, your Seattle public library card will provide you with access to an archive of the Seattle Times. We have pretty thorough results in the BoxRec database for the Puget Sound post World War I, as fellow NW editor Ric and myself have researched the area pretty well.
Re: Anyone know how to search Seattle Archives online??
Posted: 06 Sep 2017, 17:06
by codyhagen
Henry Hall is my great great grandfather. As a boxer he shortened his name from hallsson to Hall. Many in the family have dropped an S from the last name also go by Halson IDK when this began to happen. He was married to my great great grandma whom's maiden name was FOX and her family where the owners of fox jewelers in Seattle. He has boxing names like Pug Murphy. Some of his sons went on to keep the name hall while others kept the name hallson. My grandma Rosemary married and her last name is now gettman. Our family has a lineage tree floating around somewhere last that I know me and my sister where the last ones added on it some time ago under Hagen. I am trying to find where the family tree has gone or at least attempt to rebuild one. But, last we knew after my great aunt had passed away the tree may be floating somewhere between the cousins in the family. My grandma has a picture of our family with alexander graham bell (inventor of the telephone, founder of bell telecommunication which is now ATandT) I am in some way linked with him as well, so you maybe as well. Unfortunately my grandma is not doing to well anymore and her time may be coming to a close. Me and my mom are trying to link all the stories that our family has and make it electronically accessible by all in the family. I am trying to obtain these records as I am 25 and think it is very important to keep our lineage going for years to come.
Re: Anyone know how to search Seattle Archives online??
Posted: 06 Sep 2017, 19:11
by Ric
Based upon this thread,
here's what BoxRec has so far on him.
