Seattle Municipal Archives
PO Box 94728
600 Fourth Avenue, Floor 3
Seattle, WA 98124-4728
Phone: 206/233-7807
Email: archives@seattle.gov
http://www.seattle.gov/cityarchives

Guide to the Seattle Engineering Department Annual Reports, 1899-1989


1802-G2





Finding aid prepared by Anne Frantilla

Finding aid encoded by Shannon B. Lynch, 2004
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.


Overview of the Collection
 
Repository Name:
 

Seattle Municipal Archives

PO Box 94728
600 Fourth Avenue, Floor 3
Seattle, WA 98124-4728
Phone: 206/233-7807
Email: archives@seattle.gov
http://www.seattle.gov/cityarchives
 
Collection Number:
 

1802-G2
 
Creator:
 

Seattle (Wash.). City Clerk
 
Title:
 

Seattle Engineering Department Annual Reports
 
Dates:
 

1899-1989 (inclusive)
 
Quantity:
 

3 cubic ft.
(9 boxes)
 
Languages:
 

Collection materials are in English. 

 
Summary:
 

Annual reports for the Seattle Engineering Department. Included are Financial and Statistical reports; information on construction and design of bridges, sewers, and paving; traffic division reports; Sewer Utility reports; and Recycling and Waste Reduction reports.

 

Historical Note

The position of City Surveyor was established in 1873 by City Charter; in 1890, the name of the position was changed to City Engineer. In 1931 the engineering functions performed for City Light were transferred to that department.

The Office of Traffic Engineer was established by the Civil Service Commission in 1930 and was part of the Department of Streets and Sewers until 1936. The Streets and Sewers Department, along with Traffic, became part of the Engineering Department in March 1936 through a charter amendment.

In 1955 the Seattle Sewer Utility was created by Ordinance 84390; the sewer utility was administered through the Engineering Department. The first director was appointed in 1959. In 1978, as part of a solid waste management program established by Resolution 25872, the Engineering Department was assigned the task of developing recycling and composting projects and programs. In 1980 the Recycling and Waste Reduction activities were initiated within the Engineering Department and a composting program was initiated.

The department was called either the Engineering Department or the Department of Engineering through 1997, when it was abolished and its functions reorganized into the Transportation and Seattle Public Utilities Departments.

List of City Engineers:

H.J. Stevenson 1865; W.B. Hall 1875; R.L. Thorn 1875-1876; P.G. Eastwick 1876-1878; M.J. Costello 1878-1879; F.H. Whitworth 1879-1880; Joseph M. Snow 1882-1883; Reginald H. Thomson 1884-1885; Albro Gardner 1886-1887; John G. Scurry 1888-1890; M. Stixrud [1890?]; Albro Gardner 1890-1892; Reginald H. Thomson [1892-1911?]; Arthor H. Dimock 1911-1922; James D. Blackwell 1922-1927; William C. Morse 1927-1928; William D. Barkhuff 1928-1930; R.H. Thomson 1930-1931; Daniel W. McMorris 1931-1932; Melvin O. Syliaasen 1932-1934; Thomas R. Beeman 1934-1936; Nathaniel A. Carle 1936-1938; Charles L. Wartelle 1938-1947; C. G. Will, Acting 1947-1948; Ralph W. Finke 1948-1952; R.R. Hubbard, Acting 1952-1953; William F. Parker 1953-1947; Roy W. Morse 1957-1971; Robert J. Gulino 1971-1974; Paul A. Wiatrak 1974-

Content Description

Engineering Reports date from 1899 to 1989. The earliest report for Engineering in this record series is 1899. The 1909 report of Refuse Destructor No. 1 is also included in this series. It includes composition of refuse, tons of refuse burned, temperature, and other statistics. The Engineering Department reports, often called the Report of the City Engineer, also include the Financial and Statistical reports for the Engineering Department, where they exist. The reports contain very detailed information on paving, sewers, bridges, construction, arterial design, and many other types of work. For example, reports in the 1930s contain information on WPA projects and the 1940 report contains photographs of the seawall constructed along Harbor Avenue Southwest. In cases where a separate financial and statistical report was published, which was primarily in the 1950s through the 1970s, these are included after the annual report.

Traffic division reports exist for 1940-1975. These reports cover traffic surveys, traffic planning, design, signals, signs and markings, safety lighting, street name signs, directional signs, traffic regulation, and various graphs of traffic accidents and other information.

Sewer Utility reports exist for 1956/1957 and 1958, and Recycling and Waste Reduction reports exist for the years 1983-1985.

Arrangement

Reports are arranged chronologically by year.

Administrative Information

Custodial History 

Records were originally filed with the City Clerk in the Comptroller/Clerk's Files (CFs) and were removed to create this record series.

Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Access 

Records are open to the public.

Preferred Citation 

[Item and date], Seattle Engineering Department Annual Reports, Record Series 1802-G2. Box [number], Folder [number]. Seattle Municipal Archives.

Subjects

This 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.

 
Seattle (Wash.). Dept. of Streets and Sewers
Seattle (Wash.). Refuse Destructor No. 1
United States. Works Progress Administration
Seattle (Wash.)--Politics and government
Bridges--Washington (State)--Seattle
Municipal engineering--Washington (State)--Seattle
Recycling (Waste, etc.)--Washington (State)--Seattle
Refuse disposal facilities--Washington (State)--Seattle
Sea-walls--Washington (State)--Seattle
Sewerage--Washington (State)--Seattle
Streets--Washington (State)--Seattle
Traffic accidents--Washington (State)--Seattle
Traffic engineering--Washington (State)--Seattle
Traffic surveys--Washington (State)--Seattle
Waste minimization--Washington (State)--Seattle
Annual reports
Other Creators :
Seattle (Wash.). Engineering Dept.
Seattle (Wash.). Traffic Division

Detailed Description of the Collection

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


 

Seattle Engineering Department Annual Reports, 1899-1989
 
Container(s)
Description
Dates
 
box/folder
1/1

Engineering Annual Report
   1898-1899
 


Engineering Annual Report
   1900
 


Engineering Annual Report
   1904
 


Engineering Annual Report
   1908
 
1/2

Engineering - Data and Monthly Reports of Refuse Destructor No. 1
   1909
 


Engineering (Financial and Statistical) Annual Report
   1909
 


Engineering Annual Report
   1909
 
1/3

Engineering Annual Report
   1910
 


Engineering Annual Report
   1913
 


Engineering Annual Report
   1914
 


Engineering Annual Report
   1915
 
1/4

Engineering Annual Report
   1918
 


Engineering Annual Report
   1920
 


Engineering Annual Report
   1921
 
1/5

Engineering Annual Report
   1922
 


Engineering Annual Report
   1923
 
1/6

Engineering Annual Report
   1924
 


Engineering Annual Report
   1925
 
1/7

Engineering Annual Report
   1926
 


Engineering Annual Report
   1927
 


Engineering Annual Report
   1929
 
2/1

Engineering Annual Report
   1932
 


Engineering Annual Report
   1933
 


Engineering Annual Report
   1934
 
2/2

Engineering Annual Report
   1936
 


Engineering Annual Report
   1938
 
2/3

Engineering Annual Report
   1939
 


Engineering Annual Report
   1940
 
2/4

Engineering Annual Report
   1941
 


Engineering Annual Report
   1942
 
2/5

Engineering Annual Report
   1943
 


Engineering Annual Report
   1944
 


Engineering Annual Report
   1945
 
2/6

Engineering Annual Report
   1946
 


Engineering Annual Report
   1947
 


Engineering Annual Report
   1948
 


Engineering Annual Report
   1949
 
3/1

Engineering Annual Report
   1950
 


Engineering Annual Report
   1951
 
3/2

Engineering Annual Report
   1952
 


Engineering Annual Report
   1953
 
3/3

Engineering Annual Report
   1954
 


Engineering Annual Report
   1955
 


Engineering Annual Report
   1956
 
3/4

Engineering Annual Report
   1957
 


Engineering (Financial and Statistical) Annual Report
   1957
 


Engineering Annual Report
   1958
 


Engineering (Financial and Statistical) Annual Report
   1958
 


Engineering Annual Report
   1959
 


Engineering (Financial and Statistical) Annual Report
   1959
 
3/5

Engineering Annual Report (two parts, includes Financial and Statistical Report)
   1960
 


Engineering Annual Report
   1961
 


Engineering (Financial and Statistical) Annual Report
   1961
 
3/6

Engineering Annual Report
   1962
 


Engineering (Financial and Statistical) Annual Report
   1962
 


Engineering Annual Report
   1963
 


Engineering (Financial and Statistical) Annual Report
   1963
 
4/1

Engineering Annual Report
   1964
 


Engineering (Financial and Statistical) Annual Report
   1964
 


Engineering Annual Report
   1965
 


Engineering (Financial and Statistical) Annual Report
   1965
 
4/2

Engineering Annual Report
   1966
 


Engineering Annual Report
   1967
 
3/6

Engineering Annual Report (two parts, including Financial and Statistical Report)
   1968
 
4/3

Engineering Annual Report
   1969
 


Engineering (Financial and Statistical) Annual Report
   1969
 


Engineering Annual Report
   1970
 


Engineering (Financial and Statistical) Annual Report
   1970
 
4/4

Engineering Annual Report
   1971
 


Engineering (Financial and Statistical) Annual Report
   1971
 


Engineering Annual Report
   1972
 


Engineering (Financial and Statistical) Annual Report
   1972
 


Engineering Annual Report
   1973
 


Engineering (Financial and Statistical) Annual Report
   1973
 
4/5

Engineering Annual Report
   1974
 


Engineering Annual Report
   1975
 


Engineering (Financial and Statistical) Annual Report
   1975
 


Engineering Annual Report
   1976
 


Engineering Annual Report
   1977
 


Engineering Annual Report
   1978
 
4/6

Engineering Annual Report
   1979
 


Engineering (Financial and Statistical) Annual Report
   1980
 


Engineering Annual Report
   1981
 
5/1

Engineering Annual Report
   1983
 


Engineering Annual Report
   1984
 


Engineering Annual Report
   1985
 


Engineering Department Annual Report
   1989
 
6/1

Engineering: Recycling and Waste Reduction Annual Report
   1983
 


Engineering: Recycling and Waste Reduction Annual Report
   1984
 


Engineering: Recycling and Waste Reduction Annual Report
   1985
 
6/2

Engineering: Sewer Utility Annual Report
   1957
 


Engineering: Sewer Utility Annual Report
   1958
 
6/3

Engineering Department: Recycling and Waste Reduction Annual Report
   1986
 
7/1

Engineering: Traffic Division Annual Report
   1940
 


Engineering: Traffic Division Annual Report
   1943
 
7/2

Engineering: Traffic Division Annual Report
   1944
 
7/3

Engineering: Traffic Division Annual Report
   1947
 
7/4

Engineering: Traffic Division Annual Report
   1949
 
7/5

Engineering: Traffic Division Annual Report
   1950
 


Engineering: Traffic Division Annual Report
   1953
 
8/1

Engineering: Traffic Division Annual Report
   1954
 


Engineering: Traffic Division Annual Report
   1955
 


Engineering: Traffic Division Annual Report
   1956
 
8/2

Engineering: Traffic Division Annual Report
   1957
 


Engineering: Traffic Division Annual Report
   1958
 
8/3

Engineering: Traffic Division Annual Report
   1959
 


Engineering: Traffic Division Annual Report
   1960
 
8/4

Engineering: Traffic Division Annual Report
   1961
 


Engineering: Traffic Division Annual Report
   1962
 
8/5

Engineering: Traffic Division Annual Report
   1963
 


Traffic Engineering Annual Report
   1964
 
8/6

Engineering: Traffic Division Annual Report
   1965
 


Engineering: Traffic Division Annual Report
   1966
 
9/1

Engineering: Traffic Division Annual Report
   1967
 


Engineering: Traffic Division Annual Report
   1968
 


Engineering: Traffic Annual Report
   1969
 
9/2

Engineering: Traffic Division Annual Report
   1970
 


Engineering: Traffic and Transportation Division Annual Report
   1971
 


Engineering: Traffic and Transportation Division Annual Report
   1972
 


Traffic Accident Summary
   1972
 
9/3

Engineering: Traffic and Transportation Division Annual Report
   1973-1974
 


Engineering: Traffic Accident Summary
  1973
 


Engineering: Traffic Collision Summary
   1975