This history was taken from the book compiled by George C. Turk, PSD,
and published in 1990.

   	In 1901, the Board of Directors voted to expand the Knights of
Columbus to California and James J. Gorman, National Organizer was sent
there. On January 19, 1902, San Francisco Council 615 was instituted,
followed a week later by Los Angeles Council 621. While traveling
between the two new councils to insure their growth, Mr. Gorman also
traveled to Portland, Oregon, and Seattle and Spokane in Washington.
   	The first council in the State of Washington was Seattle Council 676,
instituted on June 22, 1902. A week later, Spokane Council 683 followed.
John F. Sullivan from Spokane Council served as Territorial Deputy
during the forming years (1902-04). It took until May 3, 1904, before
Washington had sufficient membership to qualify as a State Council.
   	The First Annual Meeting of the Washington State Council of the
Knights of Columbus was held in Seattle, Washington on May 3, 1904, with
Mr. Gorman in the chair. Each of the seven councils (Seattle 676,
Spokane 683, Walla Walla 766, Everett 763, Tacoma 809, and Bellingham
829) had two delegates present. After acceptance of the delegates'
credentials, James J. Gorman's name was placed in nomination for
Washington's first state deputy. A unanimous ballot was cast for Mr.
Gorman. The balance of Washington's first slate of state officers were
soon voted on. They were: State Secretary, E.J. Manion (Tacoma); State
Treasurer, J.J. King (Spokane); State Advocate, J.J. Noethe
(Bellingham); and State Warden, Thomas J. Ennis (Walla Walla). Father
Saindan of Everett was later appointed as State Chaplain.
   	During the First World War, we find 1,071 Knights from the State of
Washington served their country. The membership in 1918 was 4184 -- this
represented 25.6 percent of all Knights in the state.