Jack B. Robertson papers, 1911-1993

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Robertson, Jack B., 1915-1995
Title
Jack B. Robertson papers
Dates
1911-1993 (inclusive)
Quantity
5.62 cubic feet (7 boxes)
4 sound cassettes
Collection Number
3587 (Accession No. 3587-005)
Summary
Tape recorded interview of a Seattle engineer and environmentalist concerning his efforts and those of Washington Roadside Council to pass the Washington State Billboard Control Act in 1961 and other works
Repository
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions

Open to all users.

Request at UW

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Robertson worked at the University of Washington Applied Physics Lab from 1944 until 1969. As a citizen-activist, he lobbied the state Legislature for passage of the Highway Advertising Control Act (Billboard Act) and Shoreline Management Act. He was a founder of the Washington Environmental Council in 1968 and Citizens' Planning Council in 1961 and served numerous other civic and environmental organizations.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Tape recorded interviews with Robertson, 1993, concerning Robertson's efforts and those of Washington Roadside Council to pass the Washington Billboard Control Act in 1961 and to promote underground wiring; also discusses his activities with other environmental groups and his work at the University of Washington Applied Physics Laboratory and his involvement in the tests of the atomic bomb at Bikini Atoll. Correspondence, legislation, reports, speeches and writings, minutes, news releases, newsletters, photographs, ephemera, clippings, 1911-1982, (bulk 1960-1982). Documents Robertson's activities on behalf of a number of organizations, including CHECC, Citizens for Outdoor Recreation, Citizens' Planning Council, Forward Thrust, Northwest Fund for the Environment, Urban America and Washington Environmental Council. Includes a small number of records of the University of Washington Applied Physics Laboratory.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Creator's literary rights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Donated by Jack Robertson., 6/6/1984.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Series 1:  Personal papersReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
cassette
740A
Sound cassette
Discusses strategy and lobbying used to get the Washington Billboard Control Act passed in 1961, and subsequent similar legislation.
1993
740B
Sound cassette
Including efforts by the billboard industry to weaken it. Primarily documents Robertson’s experiences with the Washington Environmental Council, particularly its efforts in lobbying for legislation which established the Washington Department of Ecology (1970), the Washington Environmental Policy Act (1971), and the Washington Shorelines Management Act (1971).
1993
740C
Sound cassette
Includes a description of Robertson’s early work trying to get Seattle City Light to put its wiring underground, and why this project eventually failed. He then talks about the period in which he served on a Citizen’s Policy Advisory Committee for Seattle City Light and some of the problems within that organization. He speaks at length about his involvement with the Department of Energy and his role as a regional director for it. He briefly talks about his relations with Congressmen Henry Jackson and Joel Prichard.
1993
740D
Sound cassette
Describes Jack Robertson’s work at the University of Washington Applied Physics Laboratory and his involvement in the tests of the atomic bomb at Bikini Atoll. He also describes how various billboard companies, taking advantage of his status as an employee of the University of Washington, tried to prevent him from working for billboard control legislation by influencing the University. The end of Side One contains a mention of his work in Forward Thrust.
1993
Box/Folder
1/1
Biographical features
1962
1/2-3
General Correspondence
1960-1980
1/4
Conference and convention files
1965
1/5-8
Speeches and writings
Includes material by A. Hertzberg, Jack Robertson, and others.
1962-1973
1/9-13
Reports
Includes "Plan of Seattle" by Virgil B. Bogue and other
1911; 1962-1982
1/14
Legislation
1969; undated
1/15-16
Hearings
1962; 1969
1/17
Legal opinion
1962
1/18
Newsletters
1962-1973
1/19
News releases
1965-1969
1/20-21
Photographs
undated
1/22
Notes
1973; undated
1/23-24
Periodicals
1961-1971
1/25
Miscellany
1965-1969
1/26
Clippings: Congressional record
1966-1969
1/27-30
Clippings: Miscellaneous
1954-1977
2/1
Subject series: Advisory Board for Haller Lake community study
1964
2/2-7
Subject series: Alpine Lakes Protection Society
Includes organizational features, correspondence, newsletters, legislation, resolutions, and policy positions
1964-1971; undated
2/8
Subject series: Citizen involvement
1972-1981
2/9
Subject series: Curriculum materials
1962
2/10-16
Subject series: Distinguished Public Service Medal
Includes incoming letters, correspondence, award citation, news release, speech, news clippings and other materials
1963
2/17
Subject series: League of Women Voters
1973-1975
2/18
Subject series: North Acres Park plans
1961-1962
2/19
Subject series: North Cascades Conservation Council
1968-1971
2/20-21
Subject series: North Cascades National Park
1966-1967
2/22
Subject series: Olympic National Park
1964-1966

Series 2:  Choose and Effective City Council (CHECC)Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
2/23
Organizational features
1972
2/24
Incoming letters
1967; 1970; undated
2/25
Outgoing letters
1967-1973
2/26
Minutes
1970-1972
2/27
Speeches and writings
1970; undated
2/28
Reports
1967; undated
2/29
Candidate questionnaires
1971; undated
2/30
News releases
undated
2/31
Newsletters
1957-1972
2/32
Clippings
1967-1968
2/33
Ephemera
1971; undated

Series 3:  Citizens for Outdoor RecreationReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
2/34
Incoming letters
1963-1964
2/35
Outgoing letters
1963-1965
2/36
Interoffice correspondence
1963-1964
2/37
Minutes
1962-1966
2/38
Speeches and writings
1962-1966
2/39
Reports
1962-1963
2/40
Financial records
1964
2/41
Legal documents
1964
2/42
Legislation
1962-1970
2/43
Newsletters
1962-1970
2/44
News releases
1963-1964
2/45
Lists
1962-1966
2/46
Notes
2/47
Clippings
1963-1970
2/48
Miscellany
2/37
Ephemera

Series 4:  Citizens Planning CouncilReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
3/1
Organization features
3/2
General correspondence
1961-1971
3/3
Memoranda
1961-1965
3/4
Minutes
1961-1967
3/5
Speeches and writings
1962-1965; undated
3/6
Financial records
1961-1965
3/7
Reports
1961-1966
3/8
Resolutions
1962-1964
3/9-10
Newsletters
CPC and others
1961-1965
3/11
News releases
1961-1962
3/12
Proposed ordinances
1964; undated
3/13
Lists
3/14
Notes
3/15
Clippings
1961-1966
3/16
Miscellany
3/17-18
Ephemera
3/19
Subject series: Air rights over freeway
1961-1962
3/20
Subject series: American Institute of Planners
1961; 1965
3/21
Subject series: Central waterfront (Seattle)
1964-1965
3/22
Subject series: Central Association
1960-1961
3/23
Subject series: CPC statement re: Lake Union
1964
3/24
Subject series: Economic profile of Washington state
1965
3/25-27
Subject series: Freeway
1961
3/28
Subject series: Greenbelts
1959-1967
3/29
Subject series: Growth
3/30-34
Subject series: Lake Union
Includes clippings and a file on property owners
1962-1964
3/35
Subject series: Seattle city charter changes
1962
3/36-37
Subject series: Seattle planning
Includes a file on the Seattle Planning Commission
1960-1965
3/38
Subject series: Transit
1961-1965
3/39
Subject series: Washington. Legislature. Urban Area Government Joint Committee
1961

Series 5:  Forward ThrustReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
3/40
Organizational features
1967; undated
3/41
General correspondence
1965-1971
3/42
Minutes
1966
3/43
Speeches and writings
1966; 1973
3/44-47
Reports
1966-1973
4/1
Newsletters
1966-1970
4/2
Lists
4/3
Clippings
1966-1970
4/4
Miscellany
4/5
Ephemera
4/6-11
Forward Thrust Parks and Open Space Study Committee
1964-1967
4/12
Forward Thrust Task Force Study of a Department of Transportation
1967-1969
4/13
Forward Thrust Multiple Use Facilities Subcommittee
1968-1970

Series 6:  Lake Union CoalitionReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
4/14-15
Reports
1972

Series 7:  Municipal League. Seattle & King County.Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
4/16
City Planning Committee. Design Hearing Subcommittee
1961-1962

Series 8:  Northwest Fun for the EnvironmentReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
4/17
Organizational features
4/18
General correspondence
1971-1980
4/19
Minutes
1972-1980
4/20
Reports
4/21
Speeches and writings
1980
4/22
Newsletters
4/23
Financial records
1973-1980
4/24
Lists
4/25
Notes
4/26
Clippings
1972
4/27
Miscellany
4/28
Ephemera

Series 9:  Urban AmericaReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
4/29
Incoming letters
1962-1965
4/30
Outgoing letters
1965
4/31
Minutes
1964-1965
4/32
Memoranda
1961-1965
4/33
Speeches and writings
1965; undated
4/34
Reports
1962-1965
4/35
Resolutions
1965
4/36
News releases
1965
4/37
Legislation
undated
4/38
Lists
1965
4/39
Notes
4/40-41
Clippings
1958-1966
4/42
Miscellany
4/43
Ephemera

Series10:  Washington Environmental CouncilReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
4/44
Organizational features
4/45
General correspondence
1970-1974; undated
4/46
Minutes
1967; 1973
5/1-2
Speeches and writings
WEC and others
5/3
Reports
1971
5/4-5
Newsletters
WEC and others
1973-1980
5/6
News releases
1969 ; 1971
5/7
Legislation
1971 ; undated
5/8
Clippings
1961-1973
5/9
Miscellany
5/10
Ephemera
5/11
Subject series: Auburn Interceptor
1974
5/12
Subject series: Bay Freeway
1967; 1972
5/13-15
Subject series: Beaches
1968-1972
5/16
Subject series: Columbia Basin Development League
1969
5/17
Subject series: Conservation Bill of Rights
1967-1971
5/18
Subject series: Conservation Litigation
1969-1972
5/19
Subject series: Kiket Island
1973-1980
5/20
Subject series: National Materials Policy
1979-1980
5/21-23
Subject series: Pollution
Includes files on air pollution, noise pollution, and oil.
1973-1981
5/24-33
Subject series: Ross Dam
1966-1975
6/1-2
Subject series: Transmission lines
1963-1973
6/3-4
Subject series: U.S. Atomic Energy Commission
1963-1973
6/5
Subject series: U.S. Bonneville Power Administration
1969-1972
6/6
Subject series: U.S. Citizens Advisory Committee on Environmental Quality
1969-1970
6/7
Subject series: U.S. Citizens Advisory Committee on Recreation and Natural Beauty
1966-1968
6/8
Subject series: U.S. National Water Commission
1972-1973
6/9
Subject series: Washington Ecology Department
1971-1972
6/10
Subject series: The Wild Cascades
1965-1966
6/11-13
Subject series: Wilderness
1960-1966
7/1
Subject series: Wilderness, Northwest
1962
7/2
Subject series: Yakima River Conservancy
1965

Series11:  W. U. Applied Physics LaboratoryReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
7/3
Incoming letters
1961-1969
7/4
Outgoing letters
1962-1968
7/5
Speeches and writings
1963
7/6
Reports
1963
7/7
Newsletters
1963
7/8
Photographs: Bikini Atoll negatives
7/9
Clippings
1966
7/10
Miscellany
7/11-13
Subject series: Anti-Submarine Torpedo (ASTOR)
1959-1966
7/14
Subject series: Contract guides
1960-1961
7/15
Subject series: U.W. Machinists dispute
1961-1962

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Nuclear weapons--Testing--Marshall Islands
  • Underground electric lines

Personal Names

  • Robertson, Jack B., 1915-1995--Archives

Corporate Names

  • Alpine Lakes Protection Society (Wash.)
  • U.S. Atomic Energy Commission
  • United States. Bonneville Power Administration
  • United States. Citizens' Advisory Committee on Environmental Quality
  • United States. Citizens' Advisory Committee on Recreation & Natural Beauty

Geographical Names

  • Bikini Atoll (Marshall Islands)
  • Lake Union (Wash.)

Other Creators

  • Corporate Names
    • Choose an Effective City Council (Organization : Seattle, Wash.) (creator)
    • Citizens for Outdoor Recreation (Wash.) (creator)
    • Citizens' Planning Council (Seattle,Wash.) (creator)
    • Forward Thrust (Seattle, Wash.) (creator)
    • Lake Union Coalition (Seattle, Wash.) (creator)
    • Municipal League of Seattle and King County (creator)
    • Northwest Fund for the Environment (creator)
    • University of Washington. Applied Physics Laboratory (creator)
    • Urban America (Organization) (creator)
    • Washington Environmental Council (creator)
    • Washington Roadside Council (creator)

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)