Museum of History & Industry
Sophie Frye Bass Library
2700 24th Avenue East
Seattle, WA 98112
Phone: 206-324-1126
URL: http://www.seattlehistory.org



Guide to the Betty Burns Papers on Robert Moran, 1888-1988


2000.87





Finding aid prepared by Julie Kerssen

Finding aid encoded by, 2006
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:
 

Museum of History & Industry
Sophie Frye Bass Library

2700 24th Avenue East
Seattle, WA 98112
Phone: 206-324-1126
URL: http://www.seattlehistory.org

 
Collection Number:
 

2000.87

 
Creator:
 

Burns, Betty

 
Title:
 

Betty Burns Papers on Robert Moran

 
Dates:
 

1888-1988 (inclusive)

 
Quantity:
 

5 boxes
3 linear feet

 
Languages:
 

Collection materials are in English. 

 
Summary:
 

Scrapbooks, personal papers, photographs, and other items belonging to and relating to Robert Moran, Seattle mayor and shipbuilder.

 
Location of Collection:
 

12b.3.3

 

Biographical Note

Robert Moran was born in New York City on January 26, 1857. He came to Seattle in 1875, and as a mechanical engineer, engaged in shipbuilding and marine engineering. With his brothers Frank and Sherman, he established Moran Bros. Marine and Sawmill Machinery Co. in 1882, which later became Moran Bros. Co. (ship and engine builders) in 1890. In 1898, the firm built -- in the record time of only four months -- a fleet of 12 steamers and 10 barges, and delivered them on the Yukon River to carry food to the miners. The firm also built many large steel and wood vessels, including the U.S. battleship NEBRASKA. Moran served as mayor of Seattle from 1888 to 1890, overseeing both the response to the Great Fire and the development of the Cedar River water system. He was active for many years in numerous civic, professional, public, and fraternal organizations. After selling the company in 1906, Moran retired to Rosario, the estate on Orcas Island that he had designed. In 1914, he donated 5,000 acres on Orcas Island to the State of Washington, which became Moran State Park. He died in 1943 at the age of 86.

Content Description

The collection contains a variety of materials, mostly from Robert Moran's personal papers. They cover his various activities and interests, from the Moran Bros. Shipyard to the Cedar River water projects he shepherded while mayor of Seattle to general Seattle history. Items of particular interest include materials relating to the building of the USS NEBRASKA, a booklet about the Great Seattle Fire written shortly after it occurred, and photo albums with shots of the shipyard and of the Moran family.

Administrative Information

Custodial History 

Robert Moran's granddaughter, Betty Burns, inherited Moran's personal library as well as photographs and papers.

Acquisition Information 

The collection was donated by Betty Burns in 2000.

Separated Materials 

Six additional books relating to Seattle were also part of the donation; these are located on the library shelves.

Use of the Collection

Alternative Forms Available 

A selection of the photographs is available in digital form as part of the University of Washington Libraries Digital Collections. (text/html) 

Restrictions on Access 

The collection is open to the public by appointment.

Restrictions on Use 

The Museum of History & Industry is the owner of the materials in the Sophie Frye Bass Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from MOHAI before any reproduction use. The museum does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.

Preferred Citation 

Betty Burns Papers on Robert Moran, Museum of History & Industry, Seattle

Related Information

Related Materials 

The Moran Brothers Company Collection (text/html)  (1995.49) and the Betty Burns Collection on the Moran Brothers Company (text/html)  (1972.5439) contain additional information about the company and about Robert Moran.

Subjects

Moran, Robert, 1857-1943
Moran Brothers Company (Seattle, Wash.)
Mayors -- Washington (State) -- Seattle
Seattle (Wash.) -- Politics and government
Shipbuilding -- Washington (State) -- Seattle
Waterworks -- Washington (State)

Detailed Description of the Collection

 
Container(s)
Description
 
box
2


2000.87.7:  "Souvenir of the Great Ship Building Plant of Moran Bros. Company, Seattle, Washington"
 
 


2000.87.8:  "Souvenir of Seattle" booklet
 
 


2000.87.9:  "Metropolitan Seattle: A Souvenir Devoted to Seattle and Its Environs"
 
 


2000.87.10:  "South Canal and Harbor Improvements: Seattle & Lake Washington Waterway Company"
 
 


2000.87.11:  "Wreck of the Steamer Valencia: Report to the President of the Federal Commission of Investigation"
 
 


2000.87.12:  "The State of Washington" (book produced for distribution at 1893 Columbian Exposition)
 
 


2000.87.13:  "Inaugural Message and First Message to the Legislature of Elisha P. Ferry, First Governor of Washington"
 
 


2000.87.14:  "Annual Message of the Mayor of the City of Seattle"
 
 


2000.87.15:  "Charter of the City of Seattle"
 
 


2000.87.16:  "The City of Seattle -- Plans, Specifications and Contract for Constructing the Cedar River Water Supply System"
 
 


2000.87.17:  "A Statement Concerning the Proposed Cedar River Water Supply System for the City of Seattle, Washington"
 
 
4

2000.87.18a-d:  Photo albums of Moran Bros. Shipyard and Moran family
 
 
3

2000.87.18e:  Photo album of Moran Bros. Shipyard and Moran family
 
 


2000.87.19:  Suburban Life magazine (contains article on Rosario)
 
 


2000.87.20:  "Record of the Subsidy Raised January 1901 by Seattle Chamber of Commerce for Moran Bros. Company, to Assist in Building a United States Battleship"
 
 


2000.87.21:  "Building a Battleship: Moran Bros. Company" (scrapbook with photographs)
 
 
2

2000.87.22:  Bound copies of letters of Robert Moran
 
 


2000.87.23:  Bound copies of letters of Robert Moran
 
 


2000.87.24:  Ledger of Yukon River steamers
 
 
5

2000.87.25:  Scrapbook of newspaper clippings and handwritten letter
 
 


2000.87.26:  Scrapbook of ships built and repaired by Moran Bros.
 
 


2000.87.27:  Scrapbook of Robert Moran re: War Labor Board
 
 


2000.87.28:  Scrapbook re: Seattle history
 
 


2000.87.29:  Scrapbook of Robert Moran re: general subjects
 
 


2000.87.30:  Scrapbook of Robert Moran re: Seattle history
 
 
3

2000.87.31:  Scrapbook re: Robert Moran
 
 
1

2000.87.32:  "History of the Acquisition of Seattle Water System" by Robert Moran
 
 


2000.87.33:  Letter from Robert Moran re: Seattle south end history
 
 


2000.87.34:  Map of City of Seattle Harbor Dept., Central Waterfront
 
 


2000.87.35:  "Business Property Values in Seattle" pamphlet
 
 


2000.87.36:  "A Campaign Story: Dealing with our Water Supply and Power Plant Investments" by Oliver T. Erickson (re: Cedar River projects)
 
 


2000.87.37:  Civil Service Age magazine (contains article on Seattle's water system)
 
 


2000.87.38:  John B. Stetson hat company catalog
 
 


2000.87.39:  Seattle Elks Lodge No. 92 roster
 
 


2000.87.40:  Seattle Construction and Dry Dock Company pamphlet
 
 


2000.87.41:  Letter signed by Alden J. Blethen
 
 


2000.87.42:  Receipts signed by A.A. Denny
 
 


2000.87.43:  Report of the Condition of Dexter Horton & Co., Bankers
 
 


2000.87.44:  "The Great Seattle Fire of June 6, 1889" by C.W. Austin and H.S. Scott
 
 


2000.87.45:  Patent certificate for hydraulic lifting docks
 
 


2000.87.46:  Letter re: sale of Moran Bros. Shipyard
 
 


2000.87.47:  Documents concerning USS NEBRASKA and steamer WILLAMETTE
 
 


2000.87.48:  Invitation to launch of tugboat TATOOSH
 
 


2000.87.49:  Photo: "drilling boiler plate"
 
 


2000.87.50:  Letters re: USS NEBRASKA
 
 


2000.87.51:  Correspondence re: Yukon River boats
 
 


2000.87.52:  Correspondence re: steamer PILGRIM
 
 


2000.87.53:  Correspondence re: Yukon River boats