View XML QR Code

Seattle City Light Superintendent James D. Ross Reference Material, 1911-1996

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Seattle City Light
Title
Seattle City Light Superintendent James D. Ross Reference Material
Dates
1911-1996 (inclusive)
Quantity
.2 cubic foot, (1 box)
Collection Number
1200-14
Summary
Writings and publications regarding J. D. Ross
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 processing this record series was provided through a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.
Return to Top

Biographical Note

James Delmage (J. D.) Ross, known as the Father of Seattle City Light, was Born in Chatham, Ontario in 1872. Ross left for the Northwest in 1898, became an assistant city engineer for the City of Seattle in 1902 and designed the City’s first hydroelectric dam on the Cedar River. In 1911 Ross was appointed Superintendent of the newly-created City Light department, a post he held for the rest of his life. Although he was fired by Mayor Edwards in 1931, Ross was rehired the same year following Edwards’ recall. A tireless advocate of municipal ownership of public utilities, Ross won the rights to develop hydroelectric projects on the Skagit River. Under his leadership, the Gorge Dam and powerhouse were completed, as well as the Diablo Dam project. In 1937 President Roosevelt appointed Ross a commissioner on the Securities and Exchange Commission and shortly thereafter named him as the first administrator of the Bonneville Power Administration. Ross continued to serve as Superintendent of City Light during this time and initiated a third power project on the Skagit, Ruby Dam, before his death in 1939.

Return to Top

Content Description

Miscellaneous writings and publications related to the career of James D. Ross, former superintendent of Seattle City Light. Items include biographical materials compiled by third parties, writings by Ross related to public ownership of utilities, transcripts of radio talks by Ross, and an obituary for Ross published in the Bonneville Spark. Also included are four photographs. This small body of material was created as a reference collection in the City Light Superintendent's office.

Return to Top

Use of the Collection

Preferred Citation

[Item and date], Seattle City Light Superintendent James D. Ross Reference Material , Record Series 1200-14. Box [number], Folder [number]. Seattle Municipal Archives.

Return to Top

Administrative Information

Arrangement

Arranged into three series: J. D. Ross Writings, Writings about J. D. Ross and Photographs

Return to Top

Detailed Description of the Collection

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

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Electric utilities--Washington--Seattle
  • Public utilities--Washington--Seattle

Personal Names

  • Ross, J. D. (James Delmage), 1872-1939

Corporate Names

  • Seattle City Light
  • Seattle (Wash.). Lighting Dept.

Geographical Names

  • Seattle (Wash.)

Form or Genre Terms

  • Photographic prints

Finding aid prepared by Janet Ness
2010

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

About Creative Commons Licenses in Archives West

Loading...
Loading...