Women Of The West: Ayra Hackett

KJZZ, NPR member station for Phoenix

Arizona has a long history of women leaders and history makers, but many of their stories aren’t as well-known as they should be.

Peterson talks with Katherine Davis-Young, about Mrs. Ayra Hackett who founded the Black community newspaper, The Arizona Gleam, in her living room in 1929.

How Newspapers Covered Arizona’s Statehood In 1912

KJZZ, NPR member station for Phoenix

This year marks Arizona’s 109th as a state. Peterson talks with Mark Brodie about how newspaper’s covered statehood in 1912.

Time Travel Through Historic Newspapers

Fly Paper Workshop

Want to know what was happening where you live a hundred years ago? Are you interested in researching a character for your historical fiction project? Or memoir? Or do you just want to look at old headlines to gain fresh perspectives on news and events of today? Historic newspapers can transport you to another time.

Come along as we explore. We’ll look at engaging headlines, editorials, political cartoons and more using journalism as a lens to reflect on the human experience. Next, I’ll share search tips so you can discover old newspapers available online to uncover family history, community history or other research. Finally, I'll make sure you have tips and tricks to continue the exploration on your own.

If you missed this workshop, the next one is coming up on February 11th, 2021!

Can The Eagles’ “Take It Easy” Save Winslow, Arizona?

Phoenix New Times, cover story, Sept. 20, 2016

Winslow, Arizona took one lyrical mention in the song “Take It Easy” written by Jackson Browne and Glenn Frey and turned it into a cottage industry. First came the Standin’ On The Corner Park, then the Standin’ On The Corner Festival, an annual two-day live music celebration. Would it be enough to save the town?

This story was a finalist for the 2017 Association of Alternative Newsmedia (AAN) Awards in the Arts Feature category.

Arizona Memory Project Preserves Navajo Times’ Beginnings

KJZZ: The Show

The Navajo Times newspaper is publishing news in the midst of a crisis for its people, as the Navajo Nation has seen some of the highest infection rates of COVID-19 in the country.

The earliest years of the newspaper are being digitized. KJZZ spoke with the paper's CEO and publisher, Tom Arviso, Jr. and the State Library's Sativa Peterson.

The Slow Escape

Originally released in 1998, now featured on the Criterion Channel as part of the Joanie4Jackie collection curated by Miranda July. "A young radio DJ contemplates the disappearance of twenty-three-year-old Pamela Ferguson, last seen leaving her job as a waitress at the Entré Restaurant in Winslow, Arizona."

Take a Chance On Me

Modern Loss

Two days after my mom’s funeral, her friend told me she had a surprise for me.

Baptizing the Dead

Phoenix New Times

My ideas about the afterlife have always been mixed up.

I Pulled a Scroll Out of My Vagina With Artist Carolee Schneemann

Bust Magazine

A well-known performance artist was looking for women to participate in a project. “Sounds like something we should do,” said my friend Lilah.

This personal essay describes my memories leading up to my participation in an iconic feminist work. The footage, shot in a vast cave, resulted in Carolee Schneemann’s, Interior Scroll – The Cave.

Arizona Memory Project To Digitize Newspapers From The State’s Early Years

KJZZ: The Show

At a time when community newspapers seem to be disappearing, the oldest ones can be like a time capsule from days gone by.

Peterson talks with KJZZ’s Lauren Gilger about early newspapers from Phoenix’s African American community.

Amy Silverman’s ‘Raising Phoenix:’ Yesterday’s News

KJZZ: The Show

The Show spoke with Silverman about her column, "Yesterday's News," which takes us to a chilly warehouse near the state Capitol where her friend, Sativa Peterson, works as the newspaper librarian for the state of Arizona.

Paper Chase: Newspaper Librarian Sativa Peterson Keeps the Past in the Basement

Phoenix New Times

A conversation with Robrt Pela and Sativa Peterson about the State of Arizona Research Library's newspaper collection.

Sativa Peterson: Preserving Arizona’s printed past

Arizona Capitol Times

Sativa Peterson talks about historical newspapers with the Arizona Capitol Times.

5 Nights, 5 Steaks

5 Nights, 5 Steaks opens with the question, “So has your own life been a success?” Over the course of the film, a steak dinner is eaten with a Marxist Professor, a Railroad Engineer, a Rancher, a struggling Filmmaker, and a retired Bartender. (2001) 30 min.

The Handbook of What To Do

A small-town survival guide for young girls, the film combines intimate narration with video largely shot in extreme close-up. The result is an imaginative medley of moments of tender beauty and irreverent advice. (1999) Excerpt 2 min.