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 Safety Photographs, 1947-1987


2613-26





Finding aid prepared by Shannon B. Lynch

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:
 

2613-26
 
Creator:
 

Seattle (Wash.). Engineering Dept.
 
Title:
 

Safety Photographs
 
Dates:
 

1947-1987 (inclusive)
 
Quantity:
 

176 black and white photographs
42 color photographs
7 Polaroid photographs
.4 cubic foot
1 box
 
Languages:
 

Collection materials are in English. 

 
Summary:
 

Photographs of Engineering Department Safety Award-winning departments and individuals, 1947-1987. Also included are photographs of Engineering Department vehicles and equipment, construction projects, and vehicle damage due to accidents.

 

Historical Note

The Seattle Engineering Department (SED) maintained the City's streets and bridges, designed and oversaw construction of public works projects, provided traffic and transportation planning, and operated the sewer and solid waste utility. The position of City Surveyor was created in 1873 to survey the City, establish boundaries and street grades, and administer condemnation processes. This position was renamed City Engineer in 1890. In 1931 the Engineering Department absorbed part of the Department of Public Utilities and in 1936 it assumed the responsibilities of the Department of Streets and Sewers and the Traffic Department. In 1997, the water, solid waste, drainage, and wastewater utilities from the Engineering and Water departments were merged with the Engineering Services Division of SED and the Customer Service Call Center and Construction Engineering Sections of City Light to form Seattle Public Utilities. The traffic and transportation functions of the Engineering Department were consolidated in the Seattle Transportation Department.

Content Description

The Seattle Engineering Department Safety Photographs date from 1954 to 1972. Photographs depicting groups and individuals receiving or posed with Engineering Department Safety Awards for various years comprise the bulk of the collection. Also included are photographs depicting vehicular accidents and damage, Engineering Department construction and repair projects, cleaning operations, Engineering Department vehicles and equipment, and the monorail terminal. Many images are undated.

Arrangement

Photographs are arranged alphabetically by subject; within each subject, they are arranged chronologically.

Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Access 

Records are open to the public.

Preferred Citation 

[Title of image, date. Item number.] Seattle Engineering Department Safety Photographs, Record Series 2613-26. 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.). Engineering Dept.
Morse, Roy W.
Seattle (Wash.).
Award presentations--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs
Monorail railroads--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs
Municipal engineering--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs
Safety--Washington (State)--Seattle
Traffic accidents--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs
Group portraits
Instant camera photographs
Photographic prints

Detailed Description of the Collection

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


 

Seattle Engineering Department Safety Photographs, 1947-1987
 
Container(s)
Description
Dates
 
box/folder
1/1

Accidents and Vehicle Damage
   1955-1987, n.d.
 
24 black and white photographs; 7 Polaroid photographs
Photographs show damaged vehicles and accident scenes; several 1961 images document the wreckage of a car ("driven by Fairbanks") hit by a train.
 
1/2

Co-Worker of the Year: Sam Yazzolino
   1961
 
6 black and white photographs
Award presentation with Seattle Engineering Department officials, including Roy W. Morse.
 
1/3

Equipment and Machinery
   1958-1963
 
8 black and white photographs
Pictured are Engineering Department cars, trucks, and other vehicles, as well as a fan belt.
 
1/4

Food Drive
   1968
 
2 black and white photographs
 
1/5

Miscellaneous Photographs
   n.d.
 
8 black and white photographs
Included are images of vehicles, people, and roads.
 
1/6

Monorail
   1963
 
4 black and white photographs
Exit ramp at downtown monorail terminal.
 
1/7

People
   1960, n.d.
 
6 black and white photographs
Photographs of people, mostly unnamed; identified individuals include Warren Vereide, Ron Nieforth, and H. Ward Tyler. One image may show the Seattle City Council, including Mildred Powell.
 
1/8

Safety Awards 1954
   ca. 1954-1955
 
1 black and white photograph
 
1/9

Safety Awards 1956
   ca. 1956-1957
 
1 black and white photograph
"Charmed Circle"; names of men are listed on back of photograph.
 
1/10

Safety Awards 1957
   ca. 1957-1958
 
4 black and white photographs
"Charmed Circle" group photograph, banquet, and award presentation to Hillman Mice.
 
1/11

Safety Awards 1958
   1959
 
3 black and white photographs
 
1/12

Safety Awards 1959
   ca. 1959-1960
 
14 black and white photographs
"Old Timers" and "Near Miss" group portraits; award presentations to individuals.
 
1/13

Safety Awards 1960
   1961
 
11 black and white photographs
Award presentations to groups and individuals.
 
1/14

Safety Awards 1961
   1962
 
3 black and white photographs
Award presentations to groups and individuals.
 
1/15

Safety Awards 1962
   1963
 
13 black and white photographs
Award presentations to groups and individuals.
 
1/16

Safety Awards 1963
   ca. 1963-1964
 
7 black and white photographs
Award presentations to groups and individuals.
 
1/17

Safety Awards 1964
   ca. 1964-1965
 
1 black and white photograph
 
1/18

Safety Awards 1965
   1966
 
3 black and white photographs
Award presentations to groups.
 
1/19

Safety Awards 1966
   1966-1967
 
2 black and white photographs
Awards presented to groups.
 
1/20

Safety Awards 1967
   1968
 
12 color photographs
Awards presented to groups.
 
1/21

Safety Awards 1968
   1969
 
4 color photographs; 1 black and white photograph
Awards presented to groups.
 
1/22

Safety Awards 1969
   1969-1970
 
12 color photographs; 2 black and white photographs
Awards presented to groups and close-up shot of National Safety Council Award of Honor.
 
1/23

Safety Awards 1970
   1971
 
2 color photographs
Award presented to group.
 
1/24

Safety Awards: National Safety Council Award
   1971
 
2 color photographs
Roy W. Morse with other Seattle Engineering Department officials.
 
1/25

Safety Awards 1971
   1972
 
7 color photographs
Awards presented to groups.
 
1/26

Safety Awards 1972
   1973
 
2 color photographs
Awards presented to groups.
 
1/27

Safety Awards: Undated
   ca. 1960s
 
19 black and white photographs
Various award presentation events/banquets/dinners, award recipients, and speakers.
 
1/28

Safety Meeting Inspectors
   1959
 
2 black and white photographs
 
1/29

Safety Program
   1959
 
3 black and white photographs
Photographs document the correct procedure for backing up a dump truck.
 
1/30

Tolt River Project Employee Tour
   1961
 
5 black and white photographs
Includes photographs of tour bus and employees.
 
1/31

Seattle Engineering Department Work and Projects
   1959-1964
 
16 black and white photographs
Specific projects include cleaning operations on the Alaskan Way Viaduct, repair warnings for the Lake Washington Floating Bridge, and an accident at Aurora and Prospect.
 
1/32

Seattle Engineering Department Work and Projects
   1947-1967
 
7 black and white photographs; 1 color photograph
Specific projects include 15th Ave. West widening, work at 44th and Sunset, and the North End Transfer site. One image of men working on a telephone pole is dated 1947 and may be from City Light.