Historical Note
The City of Southeast Seattle was incorporated on July 2, 1906 following
the merger of the districts of Hillman City, York, and Southeast Seattle. It
was apparently incorporated for the sole purpose of petitioning to be annexed
to the City of Seattle.
At the second meeting of the City Council, a petition was filed carrying
128 signatures calling for a vote on annexation. On August 17, 1906, the
electorate voted 221-8 to petition the Seattle City Council to annex Southeast
Seattle as the City's 12th Ward. In October, the Seattle City Attorney advised
the Southeast Seattle Council that it could not be annexed as a separate ward.
In the meantime, a citizen proposal to merge with the City of Columbia,
which supplied fire protection services to Southeast Seattle, received no
Council action. On December 5, 1906, the electorate voted 181-70 to annex
Brighton and to advance to City of the Second Class status.
A second petition to the Seattle City council asked that Southeast
Seattle be annexed as part of the second ward because of the "urgent necessity
for water, light and adequate transportation facilities." The Southeast Seattle
City Council opposed unconditional annexation, but the public supported
immediate annexation under almost any terms. Annexation finally came on January
7, 1907.
Content Description
The City of Southeast Seattle Records, 1906, include City Council
minutes and ordinances. Included with the volume of minutes are oaths of
office, a warrants register, published notices of elections, petitions, and
newspaper articles regarding annexation. The volume of ordinances also includes
Council Resolutions.
Arrangement
Records are arranged in two series:
Series I: City Council Minutes (9178-01)
Series II: Ordinances (9178-02)