The Southwest Historical Society will launch a new speaker series on March 20 called Southwest Stories. It will feature unique presentations by notable speakers on topics relating to the history of West Seattle, the Duwamish Peninsula and the Birthplace of Seattle.

FREE to the public, each presentation will take place on the third Sunday afternoon of the month. The venue will rotate among the five Seattle Public Library branches on our peninsula.

Here are the speakers names, topics and dates and venues:

Rob Ketcherside
2 p.m. Sunday, March 20, 2016: ROB KETCHERSIDE, urban historian, “L.A. on California Avenue: The Morgan Street Drive-In Market,” High Point Branch, 3411 SW Raymond St

Tom Collier
2 p.m. Sunday, April 17, 2016: TOM COLLIER, vibraphonist and West Seattle High Hall-of-Famer, “Across the Bridge: West Seattle Heritage in Jazz,” Delridge Branch, 5423 Delridge Way SW

Carol-Ann Thornton
SPECIAL TIME: 3 p.m. Sunday, May 15, 2016: CAROL-ANN THORNTON, counselor and advocate, “Culture Shock: The Awakening of Alki and West Seattle in 1962 and Beyond,” Southwest Branch, 9010 35th Ave SW

Ron Tjerandsen
2 p.m. Sunday, June 19, 2016: RON TJERANDSEN, architect and West Seattle native, “From the Shore to the Bluff: An Immigrant Family’s Story,” West Seattle Branch, 2306 42nd Ave SW

Peder Nelson
2 p.m. Sunday, July 17, 2016: PEDER NELSON, exhibit manager and historian, “A Centennial Salute: Boeing’s Roots in West Seattle,” South Park Branch, 8604 Eighth Ave S

Ken Workman
2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 21, 2016: KEN WORKMAN, Duwamish Tribal Council, “A Conversation with the Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandson of Chief Seattle,” Delridge Branch, 5423 Delridge Way SW