Women Firefighters Project Records, 1976-1977

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Seattle (Wash.). Public Safety Civil Service Commission
Title
Women Firefighters Project Records
Dates
1976-1977 (inclusive)
Quantity
.2 cubic foot, (1 box)
Collection Number
6802-01
Summary
Materials relating to the formation and implementation of a Pre-Recruit Firefighter Program for women, 1976-1977.
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 encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Historical NoteReturn to Top

The Civil Service Commission was established in 1896 to oversee the Civil Service Department, which administered the City's personnel system, including the fire and police forces, laborers, inspectors, and clerical, electrical, and library workers. The commissioners classified city services and employees, coordinated and administered physical, medical, and competence examinations, dealt with appointments, promotions, and removals, and conducted investigations in the event of an employee appeal. In 1979, the City's personnel system was reorganized with the creation of a Personnel Department independent of the Commission. The Commission was reorganized with jurisdiction to hear employee appeals relating to demotions, terminations, suspensions, certain lay-offs, and violations of personnel rules.

In 1979, a three-member Public Safety Civil Service Commission was created to deal with personnel issues in the police and fire departments. The Commission's duties include classifying positions in each department, preparing and giving examinations to prospective employees, hearing appeals, and making rules for appointments and discharges.

In 1975, Seattle Mayor Wes Uhlman and the City Council ordered the Seattle Fire Department to begin hiring women as firefighters. Seattle Personnel/Civil Service, the Fire Department, and the International Association of Firefighters began recruiting women and minorities for firefighting work. However, of 45 women who applied, only nine were able to pass the physical examination, and none of the seven who entered the recruit class completed the program. Physical ability and mechanical ability were cited as "deficiencies" that made completion of the training difficult for women recruits. Personnel and Civil Service created a Pre-Recruit Firefighter Program which would involve both physical training and mechanical education; the program, beginning in January 1977, was intended to prepare women recruits for further training as firefighters.

The Fire Department administered the program, while Personnel and Civil Service provided support. Dr. T. Lee Doolittle of the University of Washington prepared a physical training program; training took place at YMCA facilities and was supervised by YMCA staff. Covered in the mechanical section of the program were plumbing, electricity, and lumber, as well as hoses, ropes and knots, and ladders. Two of the three women enrolled in the initial pre-recruit training program resigned; the remaining recruit, Bonnie Beers, completed the program in 1977. Beers went on to complete recruit training and became Seattle's first woman firefighter; she became a lieutenant in 1981 and a Battalion Chief in 1996.

Throughout 1977 and 1978, recruitment of women continued and the pre-recruit program was further refined and developed.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Correspondence, memoranda, reports, and news articles relating to the recruitment, training, and physical testing of prospective women firefighters. Includes reports of Dr. T. Lee Doolittle, a consultant from the University of Washington, concerning the effectiveness of a strength development program for women pre-recruits. Some training materials and schedules are included in the records. Also included are some materials relating to the Minority Pre-Recruit Firefighter Program.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Preferred Citation

[Item and date], Women Firefighters Project, Record Series 6802-01. Box [number], Folder [number]. Seattle Municipal Archives.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Related Materials

See also the Office of Women's Rights Women Firefighters Project Records (Record Series 8402-02).

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

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

Women Firefighters Project (PSCSC), 1976-1977Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/1
Correspondence and Status Reports
1976-1977
1/2
Dr. T. Lee Doolittle Report
1977
1/3
"Women Are Fire Fighters, Too" (Article from Fire Command, February 1976)
1976

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Geographical Names

  • Seattle (Wash.).

Occupations

  • Fire fighters--Physical training--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Women fire fighters--Washington (State)--Seattle

Other Creators

  • Personal Names
    • Doolittle, Dr. T. Lee (creator)
    Corporate Names
    • Seattle (Wash.). Fire Dept. (creator)
    • Seattle (Wash.). Civil Service Commission (creator)
    • Seattle (Wash.). Civil Service Dept. (creator)