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Wesley C. (Wes) Uhlman Mayoral Records, 1956-1978

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Seattle (Wash.). Mayor
Title
Wesley C. (Wes) Uhlman Mayoral Records
Dates
1956-1978 (inclusive)
1970-1977 (bulk)
Quantity
166.6 cubic feet, (417 boxes)
Collection Number
5287
Summary
Records from Wes Uhlman's two terms as Seattle mayor from 1969 to 1977.
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
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Biographical Note

Wes Uhlman was born in 1935 in Cashmere, Washington. He attended Aberdeen High School, Seattle Pacific College, and the University of Washington, where he served as president of the Young Democrats. He married a classmate, Leila Hammond, and returned to UW for law school in 1956.

In 1958, as a 23-year-old law student, he defeated incumbent Republican Hartney Oakes to represent the 32nd district in the Washington State House of Representatives, becoming the youngest member of the State Legislature. He served four terms before running for, and winning, a seat in the Washington State Senate.

Uhlman was elected Mayor in 1969, the youngest chief executive in Seattle's history and the first Democrat in almost 30 years. He was immediately faced with a host of problems ranging from racial tensions and large anti-war demonstrations to a police scandal and an economic downturn. He responded by overhauling the city bureaucracy, encouraging increased citizen participation in government, and expanding social services. He was a strong believer in affirmative action, and the percentage of City workers who were minorities doubled during his time in office.

He left the mayor's office in 1977 after serving two terms that included an unsuccessful run for governor in 1976. After his political career, he worked in law and real estate development.

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Content Description

These records help illustrate many of Seattle's major issues and challenges in the 1970s, including economic woes and unemployment, transportation and land use, and the Forward Thrust projects. The emerging historic preservation movement can be seen in records relating to Pioneer Square and the thwarted redevelopment of Pike Place market. Civil rights-related issues are represented by records relating to desegregation, redlining, affirmative action, and gay rights. And increasing concerns about the health of the environment are reflected in files about pollution, Earth Day, and new environmental policies.

Digitized photos include Uhlman's 1971 trip to Jerusalem, Isreal. Fifty images have been digitized and are available to view on our digital platform. View 5287-04 online

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Use of the Collection

Preferred Citation

[Item and date], Wesley Uhlman Mayoral Records, Record Series [5287-XX]. Box [number], Folder [number]. Seattle Municipal Archives.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

Uhlman's records have been organized into the following series:

  • 5287-01: Departmental Correspondence
  • 5287-02: Subject Files
  • 5287-03: General Correspondence
  • 5287-04: Photographs
  • 5287-05: Mayoral Proclamations

Custodial History

These records were originally donated to the University of Washington. They were transferred to the Seattle Municipal Archives in 2006.

Separated Materials

Publications were pulled from the collection and are cataloged separately in the Published Documents Index.

Related Materials

A small number of Uhlman's early mayoral records are contained in Record Series 5210-01.

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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

  • Affirmative action programs--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • African Americans--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Burke Gilman Trail (Wash.)
  • City planning--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Civil rights--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Demonstrations--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Environmental issues--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Express highways--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Fort Lawton (Seattle, Wash.)
  • Forward Thrust (Seattle, Wash.)
  • Gay Pride Day
  • Gays--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Historic preservation--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Land use--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Local transit--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Municipal engineering--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Municipal services--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Native Americans--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Neighborhoods--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Pike Place Market (Seattle, Wash.)
  • Pioneer Square (Seattle, Wash.)
  • Public utilities--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Ross Dam (Wash.)
  • Seattle Center (Seattle, Wash.)
  • Sister cities
  • State-local relations--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Strikes and lockouts--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Transportation planning--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Unemployment--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Urban renewal--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Warren G. Magnuson Park (Seattle, Wash.)
  • Women--Washington (State)--Seattle

Personal Names

  • Uhlman, Wesley C. (Wesley Carl), 1935-

Corporate Names

  • Seattle (Wash.) Engineering Dept.
  • Seattle (Wash.). Dept. of Community Development
  • Seattle (Wash.). Dept. of Human Resources
  • Seattle (Wash.). Dept. of Parks and Recreation
  • Seattle (Wash.). Legislative Dept.
  • Seattle (Wash.). Lighting Dept.
  • Seattle (Wash.). Mayor
  • Seattle (Wash.). Police Dept.

Geographical Names

  • Seattle (Wash.)

Occupations

  • Mayors--Washington (State)--Seattle

Finding aid prepared by Julie Kerssen
2008

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

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