Archives West Finding Aid

Department of Health or Sanitation and Health Officer Reports date from 1896 to 1947; Seattle-King County Department of Public Health Annual Reports date from 1950 forward. Early reports include information on sewer and solid waste in the City as these were issues closely related to health conditions. There are two reports for 1896. One is the annual report of the Department of Sanitation for the first and second districts recording complaints, nuisances, inspections, and condemnations. The second 1896 report is by J. H. Swyney, Sanitary Inspector in the Department of Sanitation of public schools and kindergartens; the report discusses plumbing and sewer systems. The 1899 report as a lengthy narrative preceding the statistical report which includes a list of health related legislation passed during the year, reasons why the Health Officer should not also act as city physician as specified in the Charter, and a discussion of unsanitary localities and mortality statistics. Also included is a report by the quarantine inspector and a report on slaughterhouses. Market Inspectors reports are included in the series and date from 1896 to 1909. Reports from 1905 to 1910 do not contain detailed statistics but include information on contagious disease, food and plumbing inspections, care of the sick poor, and, in the 1910 report, expectoration. Reports for the years 1912 to 1916 are very detailed in both the narrative and statistical sections. The 1932 to 1935 report traces most statistics from 1901 to 1935. The 1939 to 1943 report is a 433-page history and survey of public health in Seattle and includes a brief history of the City and agency histories for the City. Reports in the 1940s and 1950s include information on venereal disease, dog bites, and statistics on the County as well as the City. In 1942, a separate report exists for Firland Sanatorium. Combined reports for King County and Seattle exist beginning in 1947. Beginning in 1983, reports are less detailed.