Overview of the Collection
Historical NoteThe Office of Urban Conservation was created in 1975 as part of the Department of Community Development (DCD). It was founded in an era of citizen protests against a proposed urban renewal program that would have demolished Pioneer Square and Pike Place Market. The office’s mandate was to coordinate Seattle’s historic preservation programs and administer the city’s landmark boards and historic districts. When DCD was abolished in 1992, the historic preservation program was moved to the Department of Neighborhoods. The Landmarks Preservation Board was established in 1973 with the mission of preserving structures of historical importance. Its eleven members are appointed by the Mayor and approved by the City Council. The Board must include two architects, two historians, one member of the City Planning Commission, one structural engineer, and one person each representing the fields of finance and real estate management. The other three members have no required occupation or affiliation, although all Board appointees are expected to have an interest in historic preservation. Content DescriptionMinutes, correspondence, memos, and other materials related to the Landmarks Preservation Board. Series are described more fully below. Use of the Collection
Restrictions on Access :
Records are open to the public. Preferred Citation :[Item and date], [Title of collection], Record Series 5754-A[X]. Box [number], Folder [number]. Seattle Municipal Archives. Administrative Information
Arrangement :
The Landmarks Preservation Board Records are arranged into 4 series: 5754-A1: Landmarks Preservation Board Minutes, 1973-1990 5754-A2: Landmarks Preservation Board Subject Files, 1942-1999 5754-A3: Special Tax Valuation Files, 1985-1992 5754-A4: Anhalt Apartment Photographs, 1977 5754-A5: Denied Landmark Applications, 1891-1997 Detailed Description of the CollectionThe following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection. 1.0 cubic foot ( 3 boxes)
Minutes and agendas documenting meetings of the Landmarks Preservation Board. The minutes report on issues discussed, tasks assigned, and actions taken, and include lists of board members and Office of Urban Conservation staff present. Board business primarily concerned consideration of applications for approval of architectural modifications to city landmarks, as well as landmark nominations and designations.
3.6 cubic feet ( 9 boxes)
Correspondence, memos, clippings, and other materials relating to the work of the Landmarks Preservation Board. A significant portion of the collection deals with appointments to the Board and its procedures and guidelines. Other topics covered include Latona, Seward, and Stevens Schools; the proposed Seattle Commons project; historic ships, and terra cotta in Seattle.
2.4 cubic feet ( 6 boxes)
Materials relating to special tax valuation agreements for rehabilitated historic properties. Files contain agreements as well as backup material. Photos are often included, many times showing before and after shots of the rehabilitated property.
0.2 cubic foot ( 1 box)
Photographs taken for the book Apartments by Anhalt by Larry Kreisman of the Office of Urban Conservation. Fred Anhalt constructed distinctive apartment buildings in Seattle in the 1920s and 1930s, often in the Tudor Revival style. Series contains both negatives and prints. Not all negatives have corresponding prints, and vice versa.
7.2 cubic feet ( 18 boxes)
Records document the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board's decisions to deny a building, object, or structure historic landmark status. Series includes nomination forms, news clippings, correspondence, reports, Board agendas, photographs of nominated properties, and additional background information related to the nominated properties. Some properties documented in the collection include Franklin High School, the Music Box Theatre, the Newhalem buildings owned by Seattle City Light, and the Olympic Hotel. The Blue Moon Tavern files contain many interesting items of note including letters of support from authors Tom Robbins and Calvin Trillin and an audio cassette containing a KRAB radio station interview with Blue Moon regulars. Some properties represented in the records were granted landmark status but lost their designation due to fire damage, property neglect, loss of insurance or lease. These properties include the Jolly Rodger Roadhouse, Kelleher House, the San Mateo Ferry and the Temple de Hirsch Sinai. The files are arranged alphabetically by property name.
SubjectsThis collection is indexed under the following headings in the online catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.
Finding aid prepared by Julie
Kerssen
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