City of Ballard Records, 1890-1907

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Ballard (Wash.)
Title
City of Ballard Records
Dates
1890-1907 (inclusive)
Quantity
14.4 cubic ft., (9 boxes and 20 volumes)
Collection Number
9106
Summary
Records of the City of Ballard, 1890-1907, including City Council minutes, ordinances, administrative records, and warrants. Ballard was annexed to the City of Seattle in 1907.
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 Town of Ballard was incorporated in January 1890 and was governed by a five-member Board of Trustees appointed by a King County Superior Court Judge. Charles F. Treat was the first Chairman of the Board and was subsequently elected mayor in the Town's first municipal election in April 1890. Ballard achieved city of the third class status in December 1890.

Ballard entered into an agreement with the City of Seattle in 1902 whereby the latter supplied water from the Cedar River watershed. The agreement was extended in 1905. The water supply for Ballard was a central issue in the movement for annexation to Seattle. Annexation first became an issue at the time the first water supply agreement terminated. However, at a special election in December 1905, the citizens of Ballard defeated annexation by a 1033-549 vote.

At the regular municipal election in 1906, an "Annexation Ticket" appeared on the ballot and its nominee for mayor, H.E. Peck, was elected. The "Annexation Club" petitioned the City Council to call a special election and in April 1907 the population voted 998-876 in favor of annexation.

Besides the water supply issue, other concerns that led to the successful annexation movement were additional city services availability, taxation, local improvements, and the city debt. At the final meeting of the Ballard City Council on May 29, 1907, the City Treasurer reported the City's assets as $307, 568.91 and liabilities as $452,404.57.

Seattle City Council ordered City department heads to investigate the Ballard city departments and make recommendations to facilitate a smooth transition of responsibilities and activities. Reports from the Engineering, Water, Police, Health and Fire departments all suggested the maintenance of Ballard offices, equipment and staff with the former city to be referred to as the "Ballard District." Ballard became a separate ward of the City with one councilmember representing the newly-annexed area.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The City of Ballard Records, 1890-1907, include records that were maintained or filed with the Ballard City Clerk. These included City Council minutes, ordinances, resolutions, correspondence, petitions, specifications, bids and proposals for improvements and equipment, election materials, and reports of various City Officials. These records were transfered to the Seattle City Clerk upon annexation of Ballard.

Of particular interest is the 1890 Census, taken to verify Ballard's right to advance to a city of the third Class. This alphabetical listing provides only name and age, but includes 1636 names of residents during Ballard's first year of incorporation.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Preferred Citation

[Item and date], City of Ballard Records, Record Series 9106-[xx]. Box [number], Folder [number]. Seattle Municipal Archives.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The Ballard records are arranged in six series:

Series I: Council Minutes (9106-01)

Series II: Ordinances (9106-02)

Series III: City Clerk's Files (9106-03)

Series IV: Register of Warrants (9106-04)

Series V: Demands and Warrants (9106-05)

Series VI: Local Improvement District Files (9106-06)

Within each series, records are arranged chronologically or alphabetically by subject.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series I:  City Council Minutes, 1890-1907Return to Top

7 volumes

Proceedings of the Ballard City Council. Includes vote results by precinct of annual city elections.

Container(s) Description Dates
Volume
1
Minutes
1890-1893
2
Minutes
1893-1896
3
Minutes
1896-1899
4
Minutes
1899-1902
5
Minutes
1902-1906
6
Minutes
1906-1907
7
Minutes (drafts used to prepare the official Minutes)
1892-1896

Series II:  Ordinances, 1890-1907Return to Top

7 volumes
Container(s) Description Dates
Volume
1
Ordinances, 1-225
1890-1895
2
Ordinances, 226-383
1896-1900
3
Ordinances, 384-576
1900-1903
4
Ordinances, 577-753
1903-1904
5
Ordinances, 754-983
1904-1905
6
Ordinances, 984-1214
1905-1907
7
Ordinances, 1215-1260
1907

Series III:  City Clerk's Files, 1890-1907Return to Top

6.0 cubic ft.

Administrative records of Ballard filed with the City Clerk. Materials include audits, bids and proposals, financial statements, city officials' reports, contracts and bonds, political party nomination records, franchises, oaths of office, petitions, resolutions, specifications, and correspondence. Of particular interest are records relating to the city water system contracted from Seattle, local improvements, service franchises, election materials, activities of the West Coast Improvement Company, and a city census for 1890.

Files are arranged alphabetically by subject and/or record type.
Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/1
Affidavits
1892-1907
1/2
Annexation, Petition of Remonstrance
1890-1907
1/3
Annexation, Resolutions and Reports
1907
1/4
Applications, B-G
1894-1906
1/5
Applications, H-O
1890-1907
1/6
Applications, P-W
1899-1906
1/7
Appointments
1891-1902
1/8
Artesian Well, Drilling
1895-1899
1/9
Audit, City Records
1890-1901
1/10
Bids and Proposals, Artesian Well
1893-1905
1/11
Bids and Proposals, Bonds
1893-1905
1/12
Bids and Proposals, Building Construction
1890-1907
1/13
Bids and Proposals, City Wharf
1892
1/14
Bids and Proposals, Equipment
1890-1906
1/15
Bids and Proposals, Equipment
1891-1906
1/16
Bids and Proposals, Printing
1893-1907
1/17
Bids and Proposals, Property Purchase and Sales
1899-1906
1/18
Bids and Proposals, Services
1897-1905
1/19
Bids and Proposals, Sewer System
1893-1903
1/20
Bids and Proposals, Street Improvements
1898-1905
1/21
Bids and Proposals, Street Improvements
1900-1907
1/22
Bids and Proposals, Water Works
1890-1906
1/23
Bills and Receipts
1890-1892
1/24
Bills and Receipts
1893-1895
1/25
Bills and Receipts
1896-1897
1/26
Bills and Receipts
1898-1899
1/27
Bills and Receipts
1900-1902
1/28
Bills and Receipts
1903-1905
1/29
Bills and Receipts
1906-1907
1/30
Bills and Receipts
1890-1907
1/31
Bonds, Local Improvement Districts
1895-1899
1/32
Census
1890
1/33
Cigarette Licenses, Applications
1891-1905
1/34
City Attorney, Reports
1893-1906
1/35
City Clerk, Correspondence
1893-1906
2/1
City Clerk, Monthly Statement of Receipts
1895-1899
2/2
City Clerk, Quarterly Financial Statements
1890-1894
2/3
City Clerk, Quarterly Financial Statements
1895-1899
2/4
City Clerk, Quarterly Financial Statements
1900-1903
2/5
City Clerk, Quarterly Financial Statements
1904-1907
2/6
City Council, Committee Appointments
1904-1906
2/7
City Council, Committee Recommendations
1890-1907
2/8
City Council, Committee Reports
1891-1906
2/9
City Engineer, Reports
1890-1907
2/10
City Hall Construction
1893-1899
2/11
City Marshall, Reports
1890-1906
2/12
Claims
1895-1907
2/13
Contracts and Bonds, Artesian Well
1894-1904
2/14
Contracts and Bonds, City Wharf
1892
2/15
Contracts and Bonds, Construction
1892-1903
2/16
Contracts and Bonds, Equipment
1890-1904
2/17
Contracts and Bonds, Fire Station
1902
2/18
Contracts and Bonds, Printing
1891-1907
2/19
Contracts and Bonds, Services
1890-1905
2/20
Contracts and Bonds, Sewer System
1899-1907
2/21
Contracts and Bonds, Street Improvements
1893-1901
2/22
Correspondence, A
1891-1906
2/23
Correspondence, B
1891-1906
2/24
Correspondence, B
1891-1906
2/25
Correspondence, C
1891-1906
2/26
Correspondence, D
1890-1905
2/27
Correspondence, E
1890-1906
2/28
Correspondence, F
1890-1907
2/29
Correspondence, G
1890-1906
2/30
Correspondence, H
1890-1906
2/31
Correspondence, J
1890-1906
2/32
Correspondence, K
1890-1906
2/33
Correspondence, L
1890-1907
2/34
Correspondence, M
1890-1906
2/35
Correspondence, N
1890-1906
2/36
Correspondence, O
1890-1905
2/37
Correspondence, P
1890-1906
2/38
Correspondence, R
1890-1907
2/39
Correspondence, S
1890-1907
3/1
Correspondence, T
1890-1907
3/2
Correspondence, V
1890-1905
3/3
Correspondence, W
1890-1905
3/4
County Auditor, Reports
1890-1907
3/5
Debt Management
1890-1906
3/6
Delinquent Taxes
1895-1905
3/7
Delinquent Taxes, Land Sales Certificates
1890-1892
3/8
Elections, Affidavits of Publication
1893-1906
3/9
Elections, Annexation of Territory
1890-1891
3/10
Elections, Candidate Nominations
1890
3/11
Elections, Certificates
1895-1906
3/12
Elections, Certificates of Votes Cast
1890-1894
3/13
Elections, Citizens' Anti-Gambling Ticket
1904
3/14
Elections, Citizens' Independent Party
1895
3/15
Elections, Citizens' Party
1890-1905
3/16
Elections, Citizens' Union Party
1894
3/17
Elections, Contesting of Returns
1894
3/18
Elections, Democratic Party
1890-1903
3/19
Elections, Independent Citizens' Party
1898
3/20
Elections, Non-Political Citizens' Ticket
1896
3/21
Elections, Notices
1890-1905
3/22
Elections, Official Oaths
1890-1899
3/23
Elections, People's Party
1891-1892
3/24
Elections, Republican Party
1892-1906
3/25
Elections, Socialist Party
1904-1906
3/26
Elections, Voter Registration
1891-1906
3/27
Equalization, Board of
1890-1905
3/28
Finance Committee, Reports
1890-1902
3/29
Fire Department
1890-1906
3/30
Franchises
1892-1902
3/31
Franchises
1902-1907
3/32
Franchises, Correspondence
1890-1907
3/33
Health Officer, Reports
1894-1907
3/34
Insurance Policies
1898-1907
3/35
Insurance Policies
1898-1907
3/36
Insurance Policies
1898-1907
3/37
King County Treasurer, Tax Receipts
1894-1896
3/38
King County Treasurer, Tax Receipts
1897-1900
3/39
King County Treasurer, Tax Receipts
1901-1903
3/40
King County Treasurer, Tax Receipts
1904-1907
3/41
Leases
1890-1906
3/42
Legal Actions
1890-1898
3/43
Liquor Licenses, Petitions/Bonds
1890-1894
3/44
Liquor Licenses, Petitions/Bonds
1897-1902
3/45
Liquor Licenses, Petitions/Bonds
1903-1904
4/1
Liquor Licenses, Petitions/Bonds
1905-1907
4/2
Mayor, Communications/Vetoes to Council
1890-1906
4/3
Minutes, Board of Trustees
1890
4/4
Oaths of Office, A
1894-1906
4/5
Oaths of Office, B
1893-1906
4/6
Oaths of Office, C-D
1893-1906
4/7
Oaths of Office, E-H
1890-1906
4/8
Oaths of Office, I-L
1893-1906
4/9
Oaths of Office, M-P
1890-1906
4/10
Oaths of Office, R-W
1893-1907
4/11
Official Bonds, B
1899-1904
4/12
Official Bonds, C-G
1892-1905
4/13
Official Bonds, H-L
1890-1907
4/14
Official Bonds, M-P
1890-1906
4/15
Official Bonds, R-W
1891-1907
4/16
Payroll, City Engineer
1895-1896
4/17
Petitions, Annexation
1903-1907
4/18
Petitions, Assessment Readjustments
1893-1907
4/19
Petitions, Ballard General Hospital
1907
4/20
Petitions, City Limits Altered
1902
4/21
Petitions, Creation of Wards
1895
4/22
Petitions, Fire Hydrants
1892-1906
4/23
Petitions, Fire and Police
1890-1907
4/24
Petitions, General
1891-1906
4/25
Petitions, Leases
1901-1904
4/26
Petitions, Light and Power Issues
1891-1902
4/27
Petitions, Liquor and Saloons
1904-1907
4/28
Petitions, Livestock
1892-1906
4/29
Petitions, Permits to Use City Parks/Council Chamber
1895-1906
4/30
Petitions, Protests/Demonstrations
1891-1907
4/31
Petitions, Public Boat Landing
1904-1907
4/32
Petitions, Public Nuisances
1897-1906
4/33
Petitions, Sewer System
1903-1907
4/34
Petitions, Slaughterhouse
1898-1905
4/35
Petitions, Street Improvements
1893-1901
4/36
Petitions, Street Improvements
1902-1903
4/37
Petitions, Street Improvements
1904-1905
5/1
Petitions, Street Improvements
1906-1907
5/2
Petitions, Street Improvements
1890-1907
5/3
Petitions, Street Lighting
1897-1907
5/4
Petitions, Street Vacations and Condemnations
1900-1907
5/5
Petitions, Street Vendors
1890-1904
5/6
Petitions, Streetcar Service
1901-1906
5/7
Petitions, Water Main Extensions
1897-1903
5/8
Petitions, Water Main Extensions
1904-1907
5/9
Petitions, Water Main Extensions
1890-1907
5/10
Police/Justice Court
1892-1897
5/11
Police Justice, Reports
1891-1907
5/12
Property Ownership
1892-1903
5/13
Public Library
1893-1906
5/14
Reorganization, Advancement to Third Class City Status
1890
5/15
Requests for Construction
1895-1907
5/16
Requests, General
1890-1907
5/17
Resignations, B-W
1890-1907
5/18
Resolutions
1892-1907
5/19
Salt Water Main
1902-1903
5/20
Scandinavian American Bank, Deposits
1899-1904
5/21
Seattle and Montana Railway Company
1890-1906
5/22
Seattle Electric Company
1900-1907
5/23
Ship Canal, Correspondence and Condemnations
1898-1906
5/24
Specifications, Construction
1890-1906
5/25
Specifications, Equipment
1899-1906
5/26
Specifications, General Improvements
1890-1907
5/27
Specifications, Local Improvement Districts
1903-1907
5/28
Specifications, Local Improvement Districts
1906
5/29
Specifications, Local Improvement Districts
1906
5/30
Specifications, Local Improvement Districts
1906
6/1
Specifications, Street Improvements
1898-1901
6/2
Sunset Telephone and Telegraph Company
1899-1907
6/3
Superior Court Cases
1890-1904
6/4
Taxes, Collector's Statements and Levies
1892-1904
6/5
Treasurer's Receipts
1899-1906
6/6
Treasurer's Reports
1890-1897
6/7
Treasurer's Reports
1898-1900
6/8
Treasurer's Reports
1901-1904
6/9
Treasurer's Reports
1905
6/10
Treasurer's Reports
1906-1907
6/11
Water and Light, Superintendent's Reports
1896-1901
6/12
Water and Light, Superintendent's Reports
1902-1907
6/13
Water Supply, Agreements and Correspondence
1902-1906
6/14
Water System, Bids and Proposals
1895-1904
6/15
Water System, Contracts and Bonds
1895-1897
6/16
Water System, Contracts and Bonds
1902-1906
6/17
Water System, Correspondence and Reports
1894-1906
6/18
Water System, Specifications
1895
6/19
Water System, Specifications
1895-1906
6/20
Water System, Specifications
1902-1906
6/21
West Street and North End Electric Railway Company
1890-1897

Series IV:  Register of Warrants, 1890-1907Return to Top

5 volumes

Numerical register of warrants issued by the City of Ballard. Includes warrant number, date, to whom issued, amount, and reason for issue.

Container(s) Description Dates
Volume
1
Register of Warrants
1890-1896
2
Register of Warrants
1896-1901
3
Register of Warrants
1901-1905
4
Register of Warrants
1904-1907
5
Register of Warrants
1905-1907

Series V:  Demands and Warrants, 1890-1898Return to Top

1 volume
Container(s) Description Dates
Volume
1
Demands and Warrants
1890-1898

Series VI:  Local Improvement District Files, 1891-1907Return to Top

2.4 cubic ft.
Container(s) Description Dates
Box
1
LIDs, A-W and 1-16
1891-1907
2
LIDs, 17-114
1891-1907
3
LIDs, 115-162
1891-1907

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Annexation (Municipal government)--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • City councils--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Civic improvement--Washington (State)--Seattle

Geographical Names

  • Ballard (Wash.)--Politics and government
  • Ballard (Wash.)--Census, 1890
  • Seattle (Wash.)--Politics and government

Form or Genre Terms

  • Minutes
  • Ordinances

Other Creators

  • Corporate Names
    • Ballard (Wash.). City Council (creator)