Dingwall, Ewen C., 1913-1996

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Managing director of the Century 21 Exposition (Seattle World's Fair) in 1962.

Ewen Dingwall was born in 1916 and graduated from the University of Washington in 1939. He spent his early career working for "good government" groups such as the Seattle Municipal League and the Washington Research Council, and was assistant to Seattle Mayor William Devin. When the state legislature created the Century 21 Exposition, Inc. in 1957, state and city leaders picked Dingwall to head the project. He was appointed Vice-President and Executive Director of the Seattle Civic Center Advisory Board. The 1962 Seattle World's Fair was dubbed "America's Space Age World's Fair," and though it was small compared to world's fairs of the past, was quite successful--unlike many world's fairs, it made a profit. It also provided a substantial boost to the local economy that extended beyond 1962. Dingwall left Seattle in 1964 to work as a consultant for a number of other expositions, but returned in the 70's and was temporary director of the Pacific Science Center for most of 1977. In 1982, when the Seattle Center went nearly $1 million into debt, the City Council fired the Seattle Center director and replaced him with Dingwall. Dingwall improved the Center's financial situation, but encountered criticism for hiring Disney to make plans to turn the Seattle Center into a sort of theme park. He resigned in 1988.

From the description of Ewen C. Dingwall papers 1957-1992. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 39366614

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn John H. Hauberg Papers, 1949-1998, 1949-1991 University of Washington Libraries Special Collections
referencedIn San Antonio Fair, Inc. (San Antonio, Tex.). San Antonio Fair, Inc. records, 1963-1995 (bulk 1964-1968). University of Texas at San Antonio, John Peace Library (JPL)
referencedIn Hauberg, John H. (John Henry), 1916-2002. John H. Hauberg papers, 1923-2001 (bulk 1949-1991). University of Washington. Libraries
creatorOf Dingwall, Ewen C., 1913-1996. Ewen C. Dingwall papers 1957-1992. University of Washington. Libraries
creatorOf Life on the Homefront oral history collection, 1984-1985 Museum of History and Industry
Role Title Holding Repository
Place Name Admin Code Country
Washington (State)--Seattle
Subject
Civic leaders
Exhibitions
Science
Science and civilization
Technology
Technology and civilization
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1913-02-11

Death 1996-10-25

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