About the organization

The Queen Anne Historical Society (QAHS) is an independent, volunteer-run non-profit organization dedicated to documenting and preserving the history of the Queen Anne neighborhood in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 1971 by the History Committee of the Queen Anne Community Council, it is among the oldest historic preservation organizations in Seattle.  

We maintain an archive of historic photos and documents, organize unique tours and lectures, lobby to nominate historic sites for landmark designation, and write and publish articles about Queen Anne history.

 

Board of Trustees 2023-2024

Officers

  • Michael Herschensohn, President

  • Leanne Goulding, Vice President

  • Maureen Elenga, Secretary

  • Mary Chapman Cole, Treasurer

Trustees 2023-2024

(Active members do not show a departure date)

Rene Alkoff (2019-2023)

Born and raised in the Bronx, Rene graduated from the same high school in Westchester County, N.Y. as President Michael Herschensohn. She earned a Bachelors Degree in Journalism & History at Penn State and a Masters Degree in Broadcast Journalism at University of Southern California. A member of the Writers Guild of America/West, Rene has worked as a writer/producer in television production — mostly news, documentaries, on-air promotion, and live broadcasts in New York, Los Angeles, Massachusetts and Toronto. She tutored literacy in Seattle public schools. She has lived on Queen Anne since 2004, and especially appreciates the Society for getting the Treat House at One West Highland Drive designated as a landmark — “Forever preserving my awesome views of the Space Needle and Elliott Bay!”

Monica Brown (2023 - present)

Monica’s interests run deep in urban design, historic preservation, and art. She received a bachelors degree from the University of Washington in Economic Geography and a masters in Civil Engineering with an emphasis in Transportation Planning. In 2020, she received certification in Museum Studies from the University of Washington. She worked on projects for the Bellevue Arts Museum and the Museum of Northwest Art. In addition, she is on the executive board of the Seattle Art Museum Supporters group. She looks forward to embarking in a new direction as Archivist of the Queen Anne Historical Society.

Maureen Elenga (2017-present)

Maureen is an architectural historian and 20-year resident of Queen Anne. She is the author of Seattle Architecture: a Walking Guide to Downtown. In 2020, she published The Bridges of Seattle, about these iconic structures that help define our city. Maureen joined the Board in 2017, has served on the Archives and Preservation committees, served as the 2022-2023 Board President, and is now Secretary.

Georgi Krom (Stepped down 2023)

Georgi has lived on Queen Anne since 1975. Originally from Spokane, Georgi attended the University of the Pacific in California, the Institute of European Studies in Vienna, and the Burnley School of Art in Seattle. She worked for almost 30 years as a graphic designer for Seattle Children’s and other medical companies. Now retired, she would like to volunteer for historical preservation. She worked on the tour of the Queen Anne Park neighborhood in 2015.

Paige Pauli (2021-present)

Paige grew up in Magnolia, attended Seattle Country Day School here in Queen Anne as a child, and moved to Queen Anne in 2008 after graduating from college. She and her husband, Trevor, have rehabilitated two historic homes in Queen Anne and are passionate about saving old structures. She works as a software designer and is a mother to two young future preservationists.

Mary Chapman Cole (2022-present)

Mary Chapman Cole grew up on Queen Anne, the 3rd generation female in her family to earn a degree from the UW. Her family has lived in Seattle since 1890. Mary currently works for an investment advisory firm; previously she worked for the Queen Anne Chamber of Commerce (2010-2012) and served on the board of the Queen Anne Community Council (2010-2016). She also lived in Italy and France for 7 years. Mary enjoys genealogy, gardens, and local history. She proudly serves as our Treasurer.

Leanne Goulding (2019-present)

Leanne began her tenure as a Board member in 2019, serving as the Treasurer. She has lived on and loved Queen Anne since 1981. Leanne’s passion for architecture is landscape-centric, being a landscape designer, as Terra Design, for 30 years. She served on the Board of The Association of Professional Designers for 10 years. Leanne received a Bachelors Degree in Biochemistry from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and an Associate’s in Landscape Design from Edmonds Community College. She is delighted to be an active member of Queen Anne Historical Society.

Leanne Olson (2010-2023)

Leanne brings 30+ years of corporate finance and accounting experience and has been a city-wide historic preservation advocate for more than 10 years. An active QAHS member for over 30 years, historic preservation is her passion. She is most proud of the role she played in helping to save the former Seventh Church of Christ, Scientist — a unique 1926 Byzantine Revival design by noted Seattle architect Harlan Thomas. Leanne received Historic Seattle’s Beth Chave Award in 2018.

Marsha Savery (2022-present)

Marsha’s Queen Anne roots go way back. Her grandfather was in the first graduating class of Queen Anne High School in 1909. Since then, she and three sisters, her mom and two aunts, and eight cousins have all graduated from Queen Anne. Her grandmother moved from West Seattle to Kinnear Place in 1930. Marsha has lived on the hill for most of her life. Her professional career includes Marketing Director and Vice President of Marketing for Eddie Bauer, Nordstrom, and Seattle Aquarium. Marsha received a Bachelor of Science Degree from Western Washington University in visual communications and photography.

Sue Billings (2009-present)

Sue was born in Seattle in 1942 at Doctor’s Hospital, now long gone. She grew up in the Montlake neighborhood when it was an incredible place for kids to run and play in the swamp, the Arboretum, and at the docks on Lake Union. She graduated from Garfield High and got her teaching degree from Western WA in Bellingham in 1964 (teaching, nursing, and sales — “what many women did back then!”). After a 5th year at UW in 1965, Sue taught for 27+ years and intermittently stayed home with her two children. One of Sue’s most enjoyable moments was training for two years to become a docent at SAM where she worked at the old location (the only one) on Capitol Hill. Sue and her husband Roger were active in U.S.S.R. (see article). Roger later led the group for some years, taming developers when Queen Anne seemed more cohesive. Sue has really enjoyed her years with QAHS, being Treasurer for several years and now still on the Board helping our President when needed. Sue has traveled to Europe several times. She went to college in Mexico City in 1966 and took with her what she learned about their artists and archaeology sites. Sue would never move off Queen Anne Hill, she just adores it, as so many of us do.

Michael Herschensohn (2010-present)

With over 40 years of non profit management experience, Michael served as Executive Director of the Seattle Children’s Museum (1988-1995), MOHAI (1995-1998), and Northwest Folklife (1998-2008). He led the city’s Centennial Celebration of the 1909 Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition. As president of QAHS from 2010 to 2021, he initiated a regular program of grant-supported activities that ended the depletion of our treasury. With Board support and encouragement, he has implemented numerous programs. Writing about local history, especially Queen Anne’s historic buildings and sites, is a never-ending source of inspiration for Michael. He is stoked by our efforts to preserve neighborhood’s the historic character. He stepped up as our president for 2023-24.

Mark P. Walters (2020-present)

Mark lives with his wife, Beaven, and their four children in a historic home in West Queen Anne. They maintain active membership with Saint Anne Parish, and their children have attended or currently attend Saint Anne School. Mark studied biology at WSU and received his JD from the University of Idaho. A registered patent attorney, he practices law in downtown Seattle, focused on intellectual property litigation. He has argued appellate cases throughout the US, and at the United States Supreme Court.