Archives West Finding Aid

Annual reports for the Civil Service Commission from both before and after the 1979 reorganization. The earliest report, from 1894, is a report of the Labor Commissioner. The Labor Commissioner administered the Public Employment Office, which was part of the Civil Service Commission. Reports from 1896 to the 1920s have appendices that include reports from the secretary, chief examiner, and labor commissioner. The appendices also include information such as labor statistics, rulings, amendments, examinations, including examination questions, and labor issues. The 1899 report includes reports for the years 1897 and 1898. Labor Commissioner reports in the 1890s are very detailed and include information on types and numbers of positions filled, the increase of population due to the gold rush in Alaska, railroad laborers, hop picking, women, and minorities. By the 1930s, the annual report of the Labor Commissioner is presented jointly with the Civil Service Commission report and not as an appendix. These reports include statistical information but not as much narrative as earlier reports. Labor Commissioner reports cease to be a part of the Civil Service Commission reports in 1942 when the Public Employment Office was abolished. Reports in the 1950s begin listing names of examiners used, both inside and outside of City employment. Reports in the 1960s include organizational charts. Beginning in 1970, the reports are much shorter, only including one to two pages of statistical trends, or no statistics, and a few pages of narrative.