Art,

Yes it started in 1953 (I wasn't around here then, but Don Firth and Bob Nelson were), but died out after a few years due to the red scare (folk music organizations were considered suspicious or subversive by the authorities). In 1966 a different organization, the Seattle Folklore Society, was founded, but they have since turned into a booking agency for out-of-town singer songwriters. So Bob, Don, and I revived the PNWFS about a year ago to promote more traditional folkmusic by local musicians.

Cheers, S. in Seattle