Ralph Bushnell Potts papers, 1903-1988

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Potts, Ralph Bushnell, 1901-
Title
Ralph Bushnell Potts papers
Dates
1903-1988 (inclusive)
Quantity
4.5 cubic feet
Collection Number
0932 (Accession No. 0932-003)
Summary
Papers of an attorney, writer and civic leader relating primarily to his participation in Seattle arts and civic organizations
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

Open to all users.

Request at UW

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Ralph Bushnell Potts (1901-1991) was an active leader in civic and cultural organizations, as a founder of the New Order of Cincinnatus, a self-described non-partisan political reform organization; of Allied Arts of Seattle; the Pacific Northwest Writers Conference and Seattle Repertory Theatre. Potts began his law practice in Seattle in 1929 and his writing career with the submission of "My Sacred Ballot" to an American Bar Association essay contest. His books include "Counsel For the Damned," "Come Now the Lawyers," a history of the Washington State Bar Association, and "Sir Boss," which was also adapted and produced as a play.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Writings, including an autobiography and plays, correspondence, minutes, scrapbooks, audio cassettes and reel-to-reel tape, programs, ephemera, reports, clippings, newsletters, photographs. Papers relate primarily to his participation in Seattle arts and civic organizations, including: the New Order of Cincinnatus, Grand Galleria exhibitions, Allied Arts of Seattle, Seattle Repertory Theatre, Pacific Northwest Writers Conference and Washington State Arts Commission. Also documented is Potts' writing activities.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Creator's literary rights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Donated by Ralph Potts, 5/4/1961.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Series 1:  Allied Arts of Seattle, IncReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/1-3
Organizational Features
1955-1963
1/4-31
General Correspondence
Including: Allied Arts, John S. Detlle, Marvin Durning, The Seattle Times, Alfred V. Perthou, Alice Roony, Albert D. Rosellini
1955-1966, 1988, undated
1/32-34
Minutes: Board of Trustees
1960-1966
1/35
Minutes: Congress of the Arts
1960-1962
1/36
Minutes: Executive Board
1960-1965
1/37
Minutes: Membership
1960-1964
1/38
Press Releases
1962-1963
1/39
Reports: Miscellaneous
1960-1962
1/40
Reports: Committee on Underground Wiring
undated
1/41
Reports: "A Short Happy Life"
1961
1/42
Speeches and Writings
1965, undated
1/43
Financial Records
1960-1965
1/44
Newsletters - Allied Art News
1961, 1964-1965
1/45
Membership Lists
1960-1965, undated
1/46
Notes
undated
1/47-49
Clippings
1960-1965
1/50
Ephemera
1964-1965, undated
1/51-53
Miscellany
1952-1962, undated
1/54
Subject Series: Community Arts Councils
1961
1/55
Subject Series: Election of the Board
1964
1/56
Subject Series: Festival of the Arts
1957
1/57
Subject Series: "Street Most Ashamed of..." Contest
1962
1/58
Subject Series: Pike Place Market Project
1964
1/59
Subject Series: Post-World's Fair Seattle Center
1962
1/60
Subject Series: Seattle City Light
1961
1/61-62
Subject Series: Washington Roadside Council Inc.
1962-1963

Series 2:  Other OrganizationsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/63-64
Associated Americans, Inc.
1936-1942, undated
1/65-66
Civic Builders
1941, 1972
1/67
Fine Arts, Inc
1958, 1962-1964

Series 3:  Grand GalleriaReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/68-69
General Correspondence
Including: Lawrence Condon, Kathryn A. Kamel, Bruce Moen
1972-1978
1/70
News Releases
1972, undated
2/1
Photographs - Art Works
1972-1975
2/2
Reports
1972-1976, undated
2/3
Clippings
1971-1972
2/4
Ephemera
1972-1975
Box
5
Scrapbook Oversized
1971-1974
Box/Folder
2/5
Subject Series - Condon, Lawrence
1972-1974

Series 4:  The New Order of CincinnatusReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
2/6
Historical Features
1973
2/7
Organizational Features
1934-1935, 1973
2/8
General Correspondence
Including: Charles Sully
1934-1937, 1976-1978
2/9
Minutes
1934-1935
2/10
Membership Lists
undated
2/11
Newsletters: San Francisco
1935-1936, 1945
2/12
Newsletters: Seattle
1933-1938
2/13
Notes
undated
2/14
Photographs
1934
2/15
Reports
1936-1937, undated
2/16
Writings
1936-1941, undated
2/17-18
Clippings
1934-1936, 1975-1976
2/19-20
Ephemera
1934-1939, undated
Box
5
Scrapbook Oversized
1930-1935

Series 5:  Pacific Northwest Writers ConferenceReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
2/21-34
Conference and Conventions
1956-1964
2/35
Writings - "Yesterday and Today" PNWWC Story
1983

Series 6:  Seattle Repertory TheatreReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
2/36
Organizational Features
1963, undated
2/37
General Correspondence
Including: Bagley Wright
1963-1966, 1973
2/38
Minutes- Board of Trustees
1964-1966, 1975
2/39
News Release
1966, undated
2/40
Newsletters
1964-1965
2/41
Financial Records
1964-1966, 1975
2/42
Reports
1963-1965
2/43
Writings
1963-1965, undated
2/44
Playbills
1963-1965
2/45
Calendars
undated
2/46
Lists
1966
2/47
Clippings
1963-1966
2/48
Ephemera
1965-1967, undated

Series 7:  Washington State Arts CommissionReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
3/1
General Correspondence
1965-1965, 1969
3/2
Minutes
1961-1964
3/3
Reports
1962-1964
3/4
Writings
1956-1964, undated
3/5
Legislation
1967
3/6
Lists
1964
3/7
Clippings
1959-1963
3/8
Ephemera
1963, undated

Series 8:  Writers ClubReturn to Top

Other Descriptive Information

Was Morrow Club 1903-1905

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
3/9-12
Minutes
1903-1919

Series 9:  Personal PapersReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
3/13
Biographical Features
1991
3/14
General Correspondence
1954-1979
3/15
Writings by R.B. Potts: Miscellaneous
1956, 1967, undated
3/16
Writings by R.B. Potts: May It Please the Court - Autobiography
1979
3/17
Writings by R.B. Potts: Living by Proxy: My Sacred Ballot
1946-1962
3/18
Writings by Others
1953-1967
3/19
Notes
1951, 1960, undated
3/20
Programs: Miscellaneous
1934-1967, 1986
3/21
Programs: Seattle International Potlatch
1934
3/22
Photographs
1948, undated
3/23
Receipts, Legal Documents and Correspondence Re: American Siberian Trading Co., Scandinavian American Bank, Immigrants
1917-1922
3/24
Clippings
1952-1975
3/25
Ephemera
1934-1986, undated
3/26
Subject Series: Burma
1957-1959, undated
3/27
Subject Series: Come Now The Lawyers
1965, 1972-1973, undated
3/28
Subject Series: Counsel For the Damned
1953
3/29
Subject Series: The Kingdoms of Storey Wayne
1964-1965
3/30
Subject Series: The Judge
1976
3/31
Subject Series: May It Please The Court
1979
3/32
Subject Series: Mr. Bogus
1979
3/33
Subject Series: Playwright's Workshop
1967
3/34
Subject Series: The Specialist - Renaissance Production, Inc.
1978-1979
3/35
Subject Series: Sir Boss - Book
1960, 1976, undated
Box
4
Subject Series: Sir Boss - Book Cover Oversized
1976
Box/Folder
3/36
Subject Series: Sir Boss - Play
1959-1962
Box
4
Transcripts: Transcript of Record - Charles S. Green and Others vs. Supreme Court
1927
4
Transcripts: Investigation by City Council of Seattle
1935
4
Audio Cassette Tapes: R.B. Potts Biography
undated
4
Audio Cassette Tapes: The Specialist Main Theme w/ Vocal
undated
4
Reel to Reel Audio Tape- William O. Douglas
1961
4
Scrapbooks: Counsel For The Damned
1953-55
4
Scrapbooks: Mayoral Campaign
1941
4
Scrapbooks: Miscellaneous
1929-1937
4
Scrapbooks: Mustang Car
1948

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)

Personal Names

  • Potts, Ralph Bushnell, 1901- --Archives

Other Creators

  • Personal Names
    • Rooney, Alice (creator)
    Corporate Names
    • Associated Americans, Inc. (Seattle, Wash.) (creator)
    • Civic Builders (Seattle, Wash.) (creator)
    • Fine Arts, Inc (creator)
    • Grand Galleria (creator)
    • New Order of Cincinnatus (creator)
    • Pacific Northwest International Writers' Conference (creator)
    • Seattle Repertory Theatre (creator)
    • Seattle Times Company (creator)
    • Washington State Arts Commission (creator)