Building Department Annual Reports

Building Department Annual Reports, 1894-1979

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Seattle (Wash.). City Clerk
Title: Building Department Annual Reports
Dates: 1894-1979 (inclusive)
18941979
Quantity: .8 cubic ft., ((2 boxes))
Collection Number: 1802-F4
Summary: Annual reports of the Building Department, 1894 to 1977. The 1894-1895 reports are from the Dept. of Buildings, Bridges, and Wharves. Records include information on building construction and inspection, safety issues, and economic issues. Also included is information on permits, revenues, and buildings erected.
Repository: Seattle Municipal Archives
Seattle Municipal Archives
Office of the City Clerk
City of Seattle
PO Box 94728
98124-4728
Seattle, WA
Telephone: 2062337807
Fax: 2063869025
archives@seattle.gov
Access Restrictions: Records are open to the public.
Languages: English
Sponsor: Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Historical NoteReturn to Top

The Building Department was established in 1908 [see 1909 report] to manage public buildings and enforce construction codes. In 1912 the supervision of wharves and docks was placed within the Building Department. The Boiler Inspection Department was transferred to the Building Department in 1920. Building inspections and permits constituted a large portion of the department’s activities. The Civic Auditorium was also under the control of the Building Department from 1928 until its 1962 demolition.

The Building Department became part of the Department of Construction and Land Use in 1980.

Superintendents of Buildings: Francis Grant 1908-1911; R.H. Ober 1911-1914; T. Josenhans 19141918-; J.A. Johnson 1918-1920; Jas. E. Blackwell 1920-1922; Robert L. Proctor 1922-1926; G. W. Roberge 1926-1929; J.L. Hardy 1929-1931; W.C. Bickford, 1931-1932; W.A. Gaines, 1932-1934; Paul Fredrickson, 1934-1936; H.C. Ritzman, 1936-1938; Paul Fredrickson 1938-1939; Joseph Little 1939-1941; Charles C. Hughes, 1941-1944-; John B. Cain, 1944-1953; Arthur E.W. Dodds 1953; Fred B. McCoy, 1954-1966; C.S. McCormick 1966-1969; Lester J. Gillis (Acting Superintendent) 1970; Alfred Petty, 1971-1978; William Justen 1978-1980.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The reports date from 1894 to 1977. The earliest reports, from 1894-1895, relate to the Department of Buildings, Bridges, and Wharves. Early reports discuss building construction and inspection; safety concerns are a frequent topic in these reports. Included in this series is a 1921 report from the Superintendent of Buildings listing all property under supervision of the Superintendent. Some reports reflect the economic condition of the City in the context of new construction. Other reports put the City within a national perspective. There is different statistical information for different years. Included is information on permits issued, lists of building erected, lists of revenue derived from City property, and maintenance cost of department automobiles. Some reports have organizational charts for the department.

The 1934 report contains a useful history of legislation relating to building regulations. Reports in the 1950s discuss new legislation relating to construction. Changes in fire and building codes are also reflected in the reports. Reports in the 1960s and 1970s reflect major building projects, such as the Seattle Center and the Model City Program.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Preferred Citation

[Item and date], Building Department Annual Reports, Record Series 1802-F4. Box [number], Folder [number]. Seattle Municipal Archives.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Reports are arranged chronologically by year.

Custodial History

Records were originally filed with the City Clerk in the Comptroller/Clerk's Files (CFs) and were removed to create this record series.

Related Materials

Boiler and steam reports for the years 1908-1919 may be found in Record Series 1802-A2 (miscellaneous annual reports). Steam boiler inspection became part of the Building Department in 1920.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

Building Department Annual Reports, 1894-1979Return to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box/Folder
1/1	Buildings, Bridges and Wharves Department Annual Report	1894
1/2	Buildings, Bridges and Wharves Department Annual Report	1895
1/3	Superintendent of Buildings' Annual Report on City Property	1921
1/4	Buildings Department Annual Report	1905
1/4	Building Department Annual Report	1908
1/4	Building Department Annual Report	1909
1/4	Buildings Department Annual Report	1910
1/4	Buildings Department Statement of Financial Operations	1910
1/4	Buildings Department Statement of Financial Operations	1911
1/4	Buildings Department Statement of Financial Operations	1912
1/4	Building Department Annual Report	1913
1/4	Buildings Department Statement of Financial Operations	1913
1/4	Buildings Department Annual Report	1914
1/4	Buildings Department Statement of Financial Operations	1914
1/5	Building Department Annual Report	1915
1/5	Building Department Annual Report	1916
1/5	Building Department Annual Report	1917
1/5	Buildings Department Annual Report	1918
1/6	Buildings Department Annual Report	1921
1/6	Buildings Department Annual Report	1923
1/6	Building Department Annual Report	1924
1/7	Buildings Department Annual Report	1919
1/7	Building Department Annual Report	1920
1/8	Buildings Department Annual Report	1926
1/8	Building Department Annual Report	1931
1/9	Building Department Annual Report	1932
1/9	Building Department Annual Report	1933
1/9	Buildings Department Annual Report	1934
1/9	Buildings Department Annual Report	1935
1/9	Building Department Annual Report	1936-1937
1/10	Buildings Department Annual Report	1938
1/10	Building Department Annual Report	1943
1/10	Building Department Annual Report	1944
1/10	Building Department Annual Report	1945
2/1	Building Department Annual Report	1946
2/1	Building Department Annual Report	1947
2/1	Building Department Annual Report	1948
2/1	Building Department Annual Report	1949
2/2	Building Department Annual Report	1950
2/2	Building Department Annual Report	1951
2/2	Buildings Department Annual Report	1952
2/2	Building Department Annual Report	1953
2/3	Building Department Annual Report	1954
2/3	Building Department Annual Report	1955
2/3	Buildings Department Annual Report	1956
2/3	Building Department Annual Report, Part II	1956
2/4	Building Department Annual Report	1957
2/4	Building Department Annual Report	1958
2/4	Building Department Annual Report	1959
2/5	Building Department Annual Report	1960
2/5	Building Department Annual Report	1961-1962
2/5	Building Department Annual Report	1963
2/6	Building Department Annual Report	1968
2/6	Building Department Annual Report	1969
2/6	Building Department Annual Report	1970
2/7	Building Department Annual Report	1971
2/7	Building Department Annual Report	1972
2/7	Building Department Annual Report	1973
2/7	Building Department Annual Report	1974
2/7	Building Department Annual Report	1975
2/7	Building Department Annual Report	1976
2/7	Buildings Department Annual Report	1977
2/7	Building Department Annual Report	1978
2/7	Building Department Annual Report	1979

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

Bridges--Washington (State)--Seattle
Building inspection--Washington (State)--Seattle
Building permits--Washington (State)--Seattle
Building laws--Washington (State)--Seattle
Building--Washington (State)--Seattle
Fire prevention--Washington (State)--Seattle
Public buildings--Washington (State)--Seattle
Steam-boiler inspection--Washington (State)--Seattle
Wharves--Washington (State)--Seattle

Corporate Names

Seattle Model City Program

Geographical Names

Seattle (Wash.)--Politics and government
Seattle Center (Seattle, Wash.)

Form or Genre Terms

Annual reports

Other Creators

Corporate Names
- Seattle (Wash.). Building Dept. (creator)
- Seattle (Wash.). Dept. of Buildings, Bridges, and Wharves (creator)

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