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Seattle City Light albums, approximately 1919-1940

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Seattle City Light
Title
Seattle City Light albums
Dates
approximately 1919-1940 (inclusive)
Quantity
188 photographic prints (2 albums)
Collection Number
PH0045
Summary
Photographs of construction projects of Seattle City Light
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

The collection is open to the public.

Request at UW

Additional Reference Guides

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for the processing of this collection was partially provided through grants awarded by Seattle City Light and IBEW Local 77.
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Biographical Note

Seattle's first hydroelectric project was on Cedar River, and the plant first generated power for the city in 1905, under the supervision of the City Water Department. By 1910, however, the City Council declared the need for a department solely focused on electricity, and Seattle City Light was created on April 1, 1910. The department's second superintendent, James Delmage Ross, is known as the "Father of City Light." Ross spearheaded the complex effort to build the three dams on the Skagit River which provide much of Seattle's electricity.

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Historical Background

The Skagit Hydroelectric Project was a series of dam and power house construction projects along the Skagit River in northern Washington State which began in 1918 and continued until the early 1960s. The Skagit River begins in the Canadian Cascade Range and flows over the border into the North Cascades in Washington State. Construction began with Gorge Dam near Newhalem, the furthest downstream of the Skagit Hydroelectric Project dams; Gorge Dam was dedicated in 1924. The next dam built was Diablo Dam; construction was completed in 1930, and power generation began in 1936. The furthest upstream dam, originally named Ruby Dam but renamed Ross Dam after the death of James D. Ross, was the final dam constructed; the dam was completed in 1943, and first power generation occurred in 1949. These dams currently create electricity and provide water storage for the city of Seattle.

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Content Description

Album 1: Contains 132 photographs documenting the construction of the Gorge Powerhouse, railway, company town, and power substations for the Seattle City Light Skagit River Hydroelectric Project.

Album 2: Contains 56 photographs documenting the construction of the Diablo Dam by Winston Brothers and additional scenes of the Skagit River and Valley.

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Use of the Collection

Alternative Forms Available

View selections from the collection in digital format.

Restrictions on Use

Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.

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Administrative Information

Processing Note

Album 1 processed by Ellie Kleinwort, 2011; Album 2 processed by Elizabeth Russell, completed 2013.

92 loose photos determined to have different provenance were separated in 2012 and form Collection No. PH1124, Photographs of Seattle City Light.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

 

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Dams--Photographs
  • Electricity generation--Photographs
  • Skagit River Hydroelectric Project--Photographs
  • Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)

Corporate Names

  • Seattle City Light

Geographical Names

  • Skagit River (B.C. and Wash.)


2013 (Last modified: 7/28/2021)

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