Independent Historian

Frances J. Ross Carr has been a resident of Seattle, Washington for over fifty years.  She was born in Ingalls, Arkansas (Mt. Olive) and raised in South Los Angeles, California (Watts).  She attended 102nd Street Elementary and graduated from David Starr Jordan High School in 1955.

Following high school graduation she joined the Women’s Army Corps (WAC) and later attended Seattle University and married the late Luther James Carr, Jr. She graduated from The University of Washington in 1975 with a BA in Communications.

Carr served as the Executive Assistant to former City of Seattle Mayor, Norman B. Rice.  She retired in January 2010 as Director of Diversity Affairs for The Washington State Department of Social and Health Services.

Key words for Carr are Equality, Equity, Fairness, Social Justice, Education, Faith, Respect, Diversity and Community Capacity Building.

She has served on numerous boards such as United Way of King County, Camp Fire Girls and Boys, Nonprofit Assistance Center, Leadership Tomorrow, Friends of Educational Opportunity, U.W. Office Of Minority Affairs, Downtown Seattle Association, ACT (A Contemporary Theatre) and was one of the founding directors of Sound Savings & Loan Association, the first S&L in the country primarily owned and operated by women, YWCA People of Color Executive Committee and AAA Washington (automobile club).  She is an alumna member of The Links Inc, Greater Seattle Chapter.

Carr is a member of F.A.M.E. (First African Methodist Episcopal) Church where she serves on the Steward Board and coordinates The Educational Enhancement Outreach Program for youth in the community needing support in core academic studies. 

She is the mother of three adult children and four adorable granddaughters who are the “apples of her eyes.”

Fitzgerald Redd Beaver (Fitz) (1922–1992)

“Image Ownership:CTC96” Fitzgerald Redd Beaver was a mid-and late 20th century media entrepreneur in the Pacific Northwest. He was the founder and publisher of The Facts, one of the two major black newspapers in Seattle, Washington since the 1960s. Building on a long tradition of … Read MoreFitzgerald Redd Beaver (Fitz) (1922–1992)

William Henry Calhoun (1890–1967)

“Image Courtesy of The Black Heritage Society of Washington” Dr. William Henry Calhoun, a prominent early 20th century Seattle, Washington physician, was born on December 29, 1890 in Jackson, Tennessee.  Little is known about his parents or his childhood. Calhoun attended Meharry Medical School located … Read MoreWilliam Henry Calhoun (1890–1967)