Historical Note
The Seattle-King County Youth Commission was established in 1964 to
advise the elected officials of Seattle and King County on issues such as
juvenile delinquency and youth recreation. It also coordinated citizen input on
these issues and served as a youth advocacy group. The commission consisted of
22 members, 11 appointed by the Mayor and 11 by the King County Executive.
Membership was made up of eight youth, four representatives from youth
agencies, four representatives from funding sources, and six community members.
It was abolished in 1977. The commission’s predecessor was the Municipal
Advisory Commission on Youth (MACY).
Content Description
The collection consists of minutes of the commission, detailing its work
on programs and employment for youth. Also includes minutes of the Municipal
Advisory Commission on Youth for 1962 and 1963. Youth employment was a major
focus of the commission; minutes document discussions of job counseling and
training programs. Drug use was talked about at length, including the extent of
use among youth and the areas where drugs were most available, along with
recommendations for drug-related education and legislation. Issues discussed
relating to juvenile delinquents included recidivism, detention center
overcrowding, and caseloads for parole officers. Other topics covered in
commission meetings included coffeehouses, dropouts, youth recreation, and
curfews.
