Seattle Fire Department Public Information Officer Records, 1915-1993

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Seattle (Wash.). Fire Dept.
Title
Seattle Fire Department Public Information Officer Records
Dates
1915-1993 (inclusive)
1964-1993 (bulk)
Quantity
4.4 cubic feet, (13 boxes)
Collection Number
2801-15
Summary
Records from the Seattle Fire Department's Public Information Office.
Repository
Seattle Municipal Archives
Seattle Municipal Archives
Office of the City Clerk
City of Seattle
PO Box 94728
98124-4728
Seattle, WA
Telephone: 2062337807
Fax: 2063869025
archives@seattle.gov
Access Restrictions

Records are open to the public.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for processing this record series was provided through a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.

Historical NoteReturn to Top

A Fire Department was established by City Charter in 1883. It provided for equipment purchases, but not for hiring of firefighters. Following the Great Fire of 1889, a professional fire department was created with five district fire stations and purchase of a fire boat. The first Fire Chief of the professional department was Gardner Kellogg who served 1890-1892 and 1895-1901. A Board of Fire Commissioners was established by the 1890 City Charter to prescribe rules and regulations for the Department. The Board's responsibilities included enforcing rules violations, and appointing the Fire Chief and all subordinate officers. The Board was abolished with passage of a new City Charter in 1896. The position of Fire Marshall was established in 1901 with responsibility for inspecting buildings to insure they were in compliance the ordinances related to building construction and fire protection. The Fire Marshall also inspects all fires and reports on the causes. The Department's mission is to curtail loss of life and property by fire through inspection and certification of building safety systems, public education, regulation of hazardous material storage, and fire suppression.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Records from the Public Information Officer documenting the activities of the Seattle Fire Department from the 1960s through the late 1980s. The collection includes press releases dating from the 1960s through the 1980s, graduation ceremony programs and planning records, fire station dedication and rededication records, as well as memos from various fire chiefs, citizen complaints and responses, and information on fire safety films. Of particular interest are records pertaining to the investigation and subsequent arrest of Paul Kenneth Keller for various arson fires in 1992-1993. This series also includes promotional activity between the SFD and the Seattle Sounders soccer team from the early 1980s, as well as records from the Seattle Fire Buff Society, the Forward Thrust campaign and a letter from the public relations division to Mrs. Gordon Vickery, the wife of Chief Vickery.

Three early 20th century photographs (ca. 1915) are also included in the collection, showcasing apparatus and firefighters. One photograph is identified as having been taken on Third Avenue and Pine Street, near the Fischer Building. Also of interest are photographs of training activities, women in the fire department, photographic portraits of Chiefs Frank Hanson, Jack Richards and Claude Harris, construction of stations 19, 29 and 36, and fire boat photographs and negatives, as well as night inspections of downtown alleyways and business from the 1960s.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Preferred Citation

[Item and date], Seattle Fire Department Public Information Officer Records, Record Series 2801-15 . Box [number], Folder [number]. Seattle Municipal Archives.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Separated Materials

Publications were removed and added to the Published Documents collection.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

2801-15:  Seattle Fire Department Public Information Officer Records, 1915-1993Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/1
Applicants
1969
1/2
Apparatus Display Memos
1988-1989
1/3
Arson
1992
1/4
Arson
1992
1/5
Arson
1992
1/6
Arson
1992
1/7
Arson
1993
1/8
Arson
1993
1/9
Arson - Newspaper Clippings
1993
1/10
Arson - Seattle Magazine Article
1993
2/1
Arson - North End
1987
2/2
Arson - Paul Kenneth Keller
1993
2/3
Arson - View Ridge
1987
2/4
Bic, Inc. - Windsurfers
1985
2/5
Centennial Ball Program
1989
2/6
Central Heights Annexation
1984-1985
2/7
City University - Fire Service Administration Specialty Bachelor of Science
1984
2/8
Commendation and Appreciation Letters from Fire Chief
1986-1989
2/9
Complaints
1985-1987
2/10
Complaints
1986
2/11
Complaints
1987
2/12
Computer-Aided Management of Emergency Operations (CAMEO) Materials
1987
2/13
Correspondence to Mrs. Gordon Vickery
1964
2/14
Environmental Coordinating Committee
1986
2/15
Environmental Coordinating Committee
1987
2/16
Environmental Coordinating Committee
1983-1987
3/1
Environmental Information Hotline
1985
3/2
Fire Department Inspection Questionnaire
1965
3/3
Fire Department Statistics
1988
3/4
Fire Safety Films/Photographs Correspondence
1964-1971
3/5
Fire Station #32 Dedication
1967
3/6
Fire Station #32 Dedication - Newspaper Clipping
1967
3/7
Fire Station #25 Dedication
1970
3/8
Fire Station Nos. 11 and 20 Dedication
1971
3/9
Fire Station Nos. 11 and 20 Dedication - Newspaper Clipping
1971
3/10
Fire Station #26 Dedication
1973
3/11
Fire Station #31 Dedication
1975
3/12
Fire Station #18 Dedication
1975
3/13
Fireboat Display Memos
1987-1989
3/14
Fireman's Appreciation Day - Kiwanis
1968
3/15
Forward Thrust
1967-1968
3/16
Forward Thrust - Newspaper Clippings
1967-1968
3/17
Frank Hanson Retirement Party
1973
4/1
General Correspondence
1965-1969
4/2
General Correspondence - Newspaper Clipping
1965-1969
4/3
General Correspondence
1970-1971
4/4
General Correspondence
1970-1971
4/5
General Correspondence
1970-1971
4/6
General Correspondence - Fire Chief
1985
4/7
General Correspondence - Fire Chief
1986
4/8
General Correspondence - Fire Chief
1987
4/9
General Correspondence - Fire Chief
1988
4/10
General Correspondence - Fire Chief
1988
5/1
General Correspondence - Fire Chief
1988-1989
5/2
Graduation Ceremonies - August 19
1967
5/3
Graduation Ceremonies - February 3
1968
5/4
Graduation Ceremonies - July 13
1968
5/5
Graduation - January 11
1969
5/6
Graduation - April 12
1969
5/7
Graduation - August 1
1969
5/8
Graduation - January 17
1970
5/9
Graduation - July 18
1970
5/10
Graduation, 18th Class - January 16
1971
5/11
Graduation, 20th Class - May 22
1971
5/12
Graduation, 22nd Class - June 21
1971
5/13
Graduation, 22st Class - August 28
1971
5/14
Graduation Ceremonies - January 8
1972
5/15
Graduation, 23rd Class - April 22
1972
5/16
Graduation, 24th Class - July 29
1972
5/17
Graduation, 25th Class - Novemeber 18
1972
5/18
Graduation, 26th Class - April 21
1973
5/19
Graduation, 27th Class - June 16
1973
6/1
Graduation, 28th Class - September 1
1973
6/2
Graduation, 28th Class - September 1 - Newspaper Clipping
1973
6/3
Graduation, 29th Class - January 19
1974
6/4
Graduation, 30th Class - April 27
1974
6/5
Graduation, 31st Class - October 25
1975
6/6
Graduation, 32nd Class - October 2
1976
6/7
Graduation, 33rd Class - September 10
1977
6/8
Graduation, 34th Class - May 6
1978
6/9
Graduation, 35th Class - December 9
1978
6/10
Graduation, 36th Class - April 5
1980
6/11
Graduation, 37th Class - October 18
1980
6/12
Graduation, 38th Class - February 28
1981
6/13
Graduation, 39th Class - June 30
1981
6/14
Graduation, 40th Class - October 26
1981
6/15
Graduation, 41st Class - September 17
1982
6/16
Graduation, 42nd Class - May 6
1983
6/17
Hazardous Materials Information
1988
6/18
Hazardous Materials Unit Information
1982
6/19
Hazardous Waste Subcommittee
1987
6/20
International Associationof Fire Chiefs (IAFC) Correspondence
1970
6/21
John E. Philbin Retirement Party
1974
6/22
Letter Recommending Steven Sanislo for Elemetary School Name
1966
6/23
Marine Fire Protection Pilot Project
1974-1980
7/1
Marine Firefighting Materials
1988
7/2
Medic II
1973
7/3
Medic II
1980
7/4
Medic One
1976
7/5
Medic One - The First Six Years
1976
7/6
Medic One - Good Samaritan Law
1975
7/7
Medic One Film - "Second Chance to Live"
1976
7/8
Memos from Assistant Fire Chief
-
7/9
National Articles
1965-1988
7/10
National Fire Protection Association - Magazine Clippings
1966
7/11
National Recruiting Brochures
1966
7/12
Northwest Burn Foundation
1986-1987
7/13
Northwest Burn Foundation
1987-1988
7/14
Northwest Burn Foundation - General Information
1987
7/15
Northwest Police and Fire Olympics
1985
7/16
Northwest Senior Center Event Invitation
1986
7/17
Orthopedic Hospital Auction
1984
7/18
Ozark Hotel Fire
1970
8/1
Pacific Medical Center
1983
8/2
Parade Permits
1984
8/3
Parametrix, Inc. Study - Piers 90-91 (Navy)
1983-1984
8/4
Phone Book Collection
1983
8/5
PIO Quarterly Planning Program Memos
1985-1987
8/6
Poison Control Center
1985-1986
8/7
Polk Directory
1984
8/8
Post-Mortem Protocol
1982-1983
8/9
Press Releases
1964
8/10
Press Releases - Newspaper Clipping - Roosevelt High Students Rescue Child
1964
8/11
Press Releases
1965
8/12
Press Releases - Radio and T.V. Spots
1965-1966
8/13
Press Releases
1966
8/14
Press Releases
1967
8/15
Press Releases
1967
8/16
Press Releases
1968
8/17
Press Releases - Newspaper Clipping - Todd Shipyard Fire
1968
8/18
Press Releases
1969-1970
9/1
Press Releases
1970
9/2
Press Releases
1971
9/3
Press Releases
1971-1973
9/4
Press Releases
1974-1976
9/5
Press Releases
1977-1980
9/6
Press Releases
1981-1987
9/7
Project Seattle Outreach to Sudan
1985-1986
9/8
Raffle Request for Medic One
1983
9/9
Rainier Tower Sculpture
1983
9/10
Raquetball Tournament
1981-1984
9/11
Recruitment Materials
1964-1980
9/12
RIX Air Compressor
1965
10/1
Salvation Army - Emergency Disaster Service
1987
10/2
Savings Bonds
1982
10/3
Scout Show Pole Slide Tickets
1983-1984
10/4
Seattle Fire Buff Society
1984-1988
10/5
Seattle Fire Buff Society Handbook
1982
10/6
Seattle Fire Buff Society Handbook
1982
10/7
Seattle Housing Authority - Senior Housing
1983
10/8
Seattle Sounders - Fire Department Trading Cards
1980-1983
10/9
Seattle Sounders - Fire Department Trading Cards - Newspaper Clippings
1980-1983
10/10
Seattle University Students' Study - Organizational Behavior
1983
10/11
Senior Citizen Assistance
1983
10/12
Sign Amnesty Day
1982-1987
10/13
Small Business Administration Federal Disaster Assistance
1983
10/14
Stuart Bradley Company - Complaints re: "Fire and Home Safety Manuals"
1985
10/15
Suggestion Award Board
1984
10/16
Support-A-Child Auction
1983-1986
10/17
Toyota Pickup Program
1983
10/18
Washington Burn Fund
1984
10/19
Washington Burn Fund - Newspaper Clipping
1984
10/20
Water Department - Conservation Plan
1984
10/21
Waterfront Park Proposal
1984
10/22
Western Fire Journal - Seattle Fire Department Article
1982-1983
11/1
Prints - Air Room
1965
11/2
Prints - Apparatus Assembly - Kentworth Motor Truck Company
1967
11/3
Prints and Slides - Apparatus
1965-1986
11/4
Prints - Apparatus #322 - American La France Elevated Platform
1969-1970
11/5
Prints and Slides - Fire Boat
1965-1985
11/6
Prints - Correspondence with Photos from Venice, Italy
1987
11/7
Prints - Equipment
1968-1972
11/8
Prints and Slides - Firefighter Personnel
1965-1985
11/9
Prints and Slides - Firefighters at Work
1965-1983
11/10
Print - Fire Station #26 Dedication [Box 3]
1973
11/11
Prints - Fire Station #18 Dedication [Box 3]
1975
11/12
Prints - Fire Station Rededications, Nos. 6, 25, 31, 36 and 41
1965-1987
11/13
Print - Graduation, 37th Class [Box 6]
1980
11/14
Prints and Contact Sheets - Miscellaneous
1965-1989
11/15
Prints - Night Inspections - Identified
1968
11/16
Prints - [Night Inspections - Unidentified]
1965
11/17
Print - Northwest Burn Foundation [Box 7]
1986
11/18
Prints - Station #18
1971
11/19
Station #19 - Survey and Site Location
1969-1970
11/20
Prints - Station #19 Site Location
1969
11/21
Prints - Station #25 Water Leaks
1970
11/22
Prints - Station #25 Door Accident
1980
11/23
Prints - Station #29 Under Construction
1970
11/24
Prints - Station #36
1970-1972
11/25
Prints - Station #40 Interior
1965
11/26
Prints - Training
1964-1970
12/1
Negatives - Apparatus
1965-1986
12/2
Negatives - Equipment
1980
12/3
Negatives - Firefighters at Work
1965-1985
12/4
Negatives - Firefighter Personnel
1980
12/5
Negatives - Fire Station Rededications, Nos. 2, 8, 9, 13, 14, 17, 28, 37, 38 and 39
1970-1989
12/6
Negatives - Miscellaneous
1965-1989
12/7
Negatives - Night Inspections - Identified
1967-1969
12/8
Negatives - Seattle Sounders - Fire Department [Box 9]
1980
12/9
Negatives - Station #19 Work Progress, Site Location
1970-1971
12/10
Negatives - Station #36 Work Progress
1970-1972
12/11
Negatives - Training
1968-1983
13/1
Command Car Lesson Plan
1970
13/2
Prints - Command Car Lesson Plan
1970
13/3
Emergency Breathing Air - NOAA Facility Operating Instructions
1984
13/4
Prints - Emergency Breathing Air - NOAA Facility Operating Instructions
1984
13/5
Ladder Nozzle, Elk 750 RC Instructions
1968
13/6
Prints - Ladder Nozzle, Elk 750 RC Instructions
1968
13/7
Mobile Air Station Operating Instructions
1980
13/8
Prints - Mobile Air Station Operating Instructions
1980
13/9
Recording - 4815 S. Graham Street
1989
13/10
Station 10 Air Room Operating Instructions
1980
13/11
Prints - Station 10 Air Room Operating Instructions
1980

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Arson--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Fire chiefs--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Fire engines--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Fire fighters--Washington (State)--Seattle

Corporate Names

  • Seattle (Wash.). Fire Dept.

Geographical Names

  • Seattle (Wash.).