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Photographs of Yesler Terrace, 1940-1943
Overview of the Collection
- Title
- Photographs of Yesler Terrace
- Dates
- 1940-1943 (inclusive)19401943
- Quantity
- 35 Photographic prints (1 folder) ; 8"x10"
- Collection Number
- PH0915
- Summary
- Photographs of the Yesler Terrace low-income housing project site and construction in Seattle, Washington
- 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
-
Entire collection can be viewed on the Libraries’ Digital Collections website. Permission of Visual Materials Curator required to view originals. Contact Special Collections for more information.
- Languages
- English
Historical BackgroundReturn to Top
Yesler’s mill, the first mill in Seattle, was the city’s first center of industry and development. The original King County Courthouse was located on this part of First Hill. The southwest side of what is now First Hill also included an area of Jewish settlement in the late 19th century. The southernmost edge was part of what was known then as “Japantown,” later the International District. First Hill was also known as “Profanity Hill” due to the steepness of street grades. The surrounding area was developed through the first decade of the 20th century with dense, wood-frame multi-family townhouses, apartment hotels, and boarding houses. However, by the 1930s much of the area was considered blighted.
Due to a lack of affordable housing on First Hill many poor and working-class people lived in substandard conditions. Creation of a public housing authority in Seattle was initiated when Jesse Epstein, a young Seattle attorney and specialist in federal housing law, approached Mayor Arthur Langlie in 1937 for assistance in realizing local housing reforms. Epstein explained to Langlie how Seattle could obtain federal funds for slum clearance projects and new low-income housing. Epstein formed a committee to write legislation to do just that. A city ordinance was passed in 1937 creating a Local Advisory Housing Commission and Epstein was made the committee chairman. The Committee sponsored a Real Property Survey in 1937 that examined low-income housing in Seattle and found that 28.5% of residential structures were substandard. The legislation to establish a housing authority eligible for federal assistance was passed in 1939. In March 1939, the Seattle Housing Authority was established and Epstein was named director. They received $3,000,000 from the federal government. Yesler Terrace was the first project and the first public housing project in the State to house low-income families as well as workers in defense industries. Epstein wanted Yesler Terrace to be racially integrated. It became the first integrated public housing project in the country. When completed the project was lauded for its progressive social goals and modern design.
A diverse range of people, most with low incomes, inhabited the area designated for the Yesler Terrace development. In contrast to the prevailing poverty there was a thriving Japanese community comprising of a third of the families in the neighborhood. Many of these families operated businesses in the area. The 158 buildings on the site contained 471 dwelling units that were rented out by absentee landlords to more than 1,000 residents. With the exception of foreign-born nationals, who were excluded from the project, the original low-income tenants of the site were given preference in applying for housing at Yesler Terrace.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
These photographs document the beginings of Yesler Terrace Project from conceptualization and planning to completed construction.The first group of images show an exhibit that presented information from the Real Property Survey of 1937 and espoused the need for the Yesler Terrace Project and affordable housing. Additional photos show the buildings on the site of Yesler Terrace that were later demolished for the new project. Some of these photos were used in the exhibit to illustrate blight. The second group of photos documents the Yesler Terrace site during and just after the construction period.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Alternative Forms Available
View the digital version of the collection
Restrictions on Use
Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Before Construction: Original Buildings and Exhibit on Blight in SeattleReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Housing Exhibit |
||
item | ||
1 | 1940 | |
2 | 1940 | |
3 | 1940 | |
4 | 1940 | |
5 | 1940 | |
Housing on First Hill |
1940-1941 | |
item | ||
6 |
Housing on First Hill
Written on verso: Scene of typical buildings on site of Yesler Terrace before demolition.
|
circa 1940 |
7 | circa 1940 | |
8 | circa 1940 | |
9 | circa 1940 | |
10 | circa 1940 | |
11 | circa 1940 | |
12 |
Houses on First Hill
Written on verso: Scene of typical buildings on site of Yesler Terrace before demolition.
|
circa 1940 |
13 | circa 1940 | |
14 | circa 1940 |
Construction Begins on Yesler Terrace, 1940-1943Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
item | ||
15 | ||
16 | ||
17 | 1941 | |
18 |
View of First Hill before community center is built
Written on verso: Yesler Terrace-this picture taken before Addition was begun, and does not include community building and Authority offices which have been built since picture was taken. Yesler Terrace consists of 690 units, plus Addition of 178.
|
1941 |
19 | 1941 | |
20-22 | April 9, 1941 | |
23-25 | July 7, 1941 | |
26-29 | Oct. 7, 1941 | |
30-31 | Nov. 5, 1941 | |
32 |
Yesler Terrace housing project
Ray Davis, 302-3 Lloyd Bldg., Seattle-1- Washington, Main 4494
(photographer)
|
July 15, 1943 |
33 |
Yesler Terrace housing project with Smith Tower in background
W. Schmidt
(photographer)
|
Sept 5, 1943 |
34 |
Yesler Terrace housing project and vicinity with Smith Tower in background
W. Schmidt
(photographer)
|
Sept. 5, 1943 |
35 |
Yesler Terrace Community Building and Offices
Ray Davis, 302-3 Lloyd Bldg., Seattle-1- Washington, Main 4494
(photographer)
Written on verso: Yesler Terrace Community bldg. + offices. Central offices of the Seattle Housing Authority are located here.
|
1943 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Form or Genre Terms
- Photographs
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)