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 Building Department Annual Reports, 1894-1979


1802-F4





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-F4
 
Creator:
 

Seattle (Wash.). City Clerk

 
Title:
 

Building Department Annual Reports
 
Dates:
 

1894-1979 (inclusive)
 
Quantity:
 

.8 cubic ft.
(2 boxes)
 
Languages:
 

Collection materials are in English. 

 
Summary:
 

Annual reports of the Building Department, 1894 to 1977. The 1894-1895 reports are from the Dept. of Buildings, Bridges, and Wharves. Records include information on building construction and inspection, safety issues, and economic issues. Also included is information on permits, revenues, and buildings erected.
 

Historical Note

The Building Department was established in 1908 [see 1909 report] to manage public buildings and enforce construction codes. In 1912 the supervision of wharves and docks was placed within the Building Department. The Boiler Inspection Department was transferred to the Building Department in 1920. Building inspections and permits constituted a large portion of the department’s activities. The Civic Auditorium was also under the control of the Building Department from 1928 until its 1962 demolition.

The Building Department became part of the Department of Construction and Land Use in 1980.

Superintendents of Buildings: Francis Grant 1908-1911; R.H. Ober 1911-1914; T. Josenhans 19141918-; J.A. Johnson 1918-1920; Jas. E. Blackwell 1920-1922; Robert L. Proctor 1922-1926; G. W. Roberge 1926-1929; J.L. Hardy 1929-1931; W.C. Bickford, 1931-1932; W.A. Gaines, 1932-1934; Paul Fredrickson, 1934-1936; H.C. Ritzman, 1936-1938; Paul Fredrickson 1938-1939; Joseph Little 1939-1941; Charles C. Hughes, 1941-1944-; John B. Cain, 1944-1953; Arthur E.W. Dodds 1953; Fred B. McCoy, 1954-1966; C.S. McCormick 1966-1969; Lester J. Gillis (Acting Superintendent) 1970; Alfred Petty, 1971-1978; William Justen 1978-1980.

Content Description

The reports date from 1894 to 1977. The earliest reports, from 1894-1895, relate to the Department of Buildings, Bridges, and Wharves. Early reports discuss building construction and inspection; safety concerns are a frequent topic in these reports. Included in this series is a 1921 report from the Superintendent of Buildings listing all property under supervision of the Superintendent. Some reports reflect the economic condition of the City in the context of new construction. Other reports put the City within a national perspective. There is different statistical information for different years. Included is information on permits issued, lists of building erected, lists of revenue derived from City property, and maintenance cost of department automobiles. Some reports have organizational charts for the department.

The 1934 report contains a useful history of legislation relating to building regulations. Reports in the 1950s discuss new legislation relating to construction. Changes in fire and building codes are also reflected in the reports. Reports in the 1960s and 1970s reflect major building projects, such as the Seattle Center and the Model City Program.

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], Building Department Annual Reports, Record Series 1802-F4. Box [number], Folder [number]. Seattle Municipal Archives.

Related Information

Related Materials 

Boiler and steam reports for the years 1908-1919 may be found in Record Series 1802-A2 (miscellaneous annual reports). Steam boiler inspection became part of the Building Department in 1920.

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 Model City Program
Seattle (Wash.)--Politics and government
Seattle Center (Seattle, Wash.)
Bridges--Washington (State)--Seattle
Building inspection--Washington (State)--Seattle
Building laws--Washington (State)--Seattle
Building permits--Washington (State)--Seattle
Building--Washington (State)--Seattle
Fire prevention--Washington (State)--Seattle
Public buildings--Washington (State)--Seattle
Steam-boiler inspection--Washington (State)--Seattle
Wharves--Washington (State)--Seattle
Annual reports
Other Creators :
Seattle (Wash.). Building Dept.
Seattle (Wash.). Dept. of Buildings, Bridges, and Wharves

Detailed Description of the Collection

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


 

Building Department Annual Reports, 1894-1979
 
Container(s)
Description
Dates
 
box/folder
1/1

Buildings, Bridges and Wharves Department Annual Report
   1894
 
1/2

Buildings, Bridges and Wharves Department Annual Report
   1895
 
1/3

Superintendent of Buildings' Annual Report on City Property
   1921
 
1/4

Buildings Department Annual Report
   1905
 


Building Department Annual Report
   1908
 


Building Department Annual Report
   1909
 


Buildings Department Annual Report
   1910
 


Buildings Department Statement of Financial Operations
   1910
 


Buildings Department Statement of Financial Operations
   1911
 


Buildings Department Statement of Financial Operations
   1912
 


Building Department Annual Report
   1913
 


Buildings Department Statement of Financial Operations
   1913
 


Buildings Department Annual Report
   1914
 


Buildings Department Statement of Financial Operations
   1914
 
1/5

Building Department Annual Report
   1915
 


Building Department Annual Report
   1916
 


Building Department Annual Report
   1917
 


Buildings Department Annual Report
   1918
 
1/6

Buildings Department Annual Report
   1921
 


Buildings Department Annual Report
   1923
 


Building Department Annual Report
   1924
 
1/7

Buildings Department Annual Report
   1919
 


Building Department Annual Report
   1920
 
1/8

Buildings Department Annual Report
   1926
 


Building Department Annual Report
   1931
 
1/9

Building Department Annual Report
   1932
 


Building Department Annual Report
   1933
 


Buildings Department Annual Report
   1934
 


Buildings Department Annual Report
   1935
 


Building Department Annual Report
   1936-1937
 
1/10

Buildings Department Annual Report
   1938
 


Building Department Annual Report
   1943
 


Building Department Annual Report
   1944
 


Building Department Annual Report
   1945
 
2/1

Building Department Annual Report
   1946
 


Building Department Annual Report
   1947
 


Building Department Annual Report
   1948
 


Building Department Annual Report
   1949
 
2/2

Building Department Annual Report
   1950
 


Building Department Annual Report
   1951
 


Buildings Department Annual Report
   1952
 


Building Department Annual Report
   1953
 
2/3

Building Department Annual Report
   1954
 


Building Department Annual Report
   1955
 


Buildings Department Annual Report
   1956
 


Building Department Annual Report, Part II
   1956
 
2/4

Building Department Annual Report
   1957
 


Building Department Annual Report
   1958
 


Building Department Annual Report
   1959
 
2/5

Building Department Annual Report
   1960
 


Building Department Annual Report
   1961-1962
 


Building Department Annual Report
   1963
 
2/6

Building Department Annual Report
   1968
 


Building Department Annual Report
   1969
 


Building Department Annual Report
   1970
 
2/7

Building Department Annual Report
   1971
 


Building Department Annual Report
   1972
 


Building Department Annual Report
   1973
 


Building Department Annual Report
   1974
 


Building Department Annual Report
   1975
 


Building Department Annual Report
   1976
 


Buildings Department Annual Report
   1977
 


Building Department Annual Report
   1978
 


Building Department Annual Report
   1979