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Jeanette Williams Records, 1960-2003

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Williams, Jeanette K. (Jeanette Klemptner)
Title
Jeanette Williams Records
Dates
1960-2003 (inclusive)
1970-1989 (bulk)
Quantity
47.8 cubic feet , (119 boxes)
Collection Number
4693-02
Summary
Records of Seattle City Councilmember Jeanette Williams.
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.
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Biographical Note

Born in Seattle in 1918, Jeanette Williams attended Mercer Grade School and graduated from Queen Anne High School. She attended the Cornish School of Music and received degrees from the University of Washington and the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago as a violin major. She married in the 1940s and settled in Seattle, raising her two children in View Ridge.

In 1962, Williams became chairperson of the King County Democrats. Running for City Council in 1969, Williams stressed two issues: establishing City programs for senior citizens and issues surrounding turning Sand Point Naval Base into a park. Williams served on City Council from 1970 until 1989, when she was defeated in her bid for a sixth term after a fiercely competitive race against Cheryl Chow.

Williams chaired six committees during her tenure on City Council, including: Human Resources and Judiciary 1970-1977; Transportation 1978-1981 and 1988-1989; Labor 1982-1983; City Operations 1984-1985; Parks and Public Grounds 1986-1987; and Intergovernmental Relations 1986-1989.

One of Williams' earliest accomplishments was the establishment of the Fair Campaign Practices Ordinance in 1971 and subsequent amendments. Legislation included a matching fund program and required candidates to list their contributors. The City ordinance was used by the State later when it drafted a campaign reform law. Two other important projects in Williams' tenure include construction of the West Seattle Bridge and acquisition of Kubota Gardens in the Rainier Beach area. The Office of Hearing Examiner was also created under Williams. Established in 1973, it was a judicial body ruling on land-use disputes.

Williams successfully advocated the creation of the Seattle Women’s Commission which was established in 1971. Her work on the women's issues was recognized at the first annual Seattle Women’s Summit on October 19, 2002. She also worked on issues related to equal rights in housing and employment. As the Chair of the Parks and Public Grounds Committee Williams worked on issues related to the Disney proposal for Seattle Center redevelopment. Williams' interest in the development of Sand Point Magnuson Park existed many years prior to its creation in 1974.

Williams continued to be active in civic duties after leaving City Council. In 1999, she was appointed by the mayor to the Sand Point Blue Ribbon Committee, charged to review the park’s plan and make recommendations. She was the Chairperson of the Sand Point Liaison Committee during the 1990s. Williams served on the Advisory Council of the Seattle-Chongqing Sister City Association and served as a member of United Neighbors. In 2003, she was named to an 18-member Citizen Advisory Panel on Council Elections that studied the pros and cons of district, proportional, at-large, and other forms of representation. Williams died October 24, 2008.

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Content Description

Jeanette Williams worked hard while on Council, evidenced by the issues she took on and the persistence with which she pursued them. Williams was also not afraid to take a stand on issues she cared about. The Jeanette Williams Records reflect her committee work on the Seattle City Council. Key issues include the West Seattle Freeway Bridge, I-90, Seattle Center, Discovery Park, Sand Point, fair employment and open housing. The work of her legislative aides, especially Tom Rasmussen, is evident through her papers.

Researchers are encouraged to use the Documents database in conjunction with the Jeanette Williams Papers. Documents on topics such as the Martha Washington / Kubota Garden site, Discovery Park, and I-90 complement Williams' papers. Other Councilmember records serving concurrently will be useful to researchers as well. Some of these include Paul Kraabel, Michael Hildt, and Norm Rice.

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Use of the Collection

Preferred Citation

[Item and date], [Record series title], Record Series 4693-XX. Box [number], Folder [number]. Seattle Municipal Archives.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

The records are comprised of eight series:

4693-02: Subject Files

4693-03: Speeches and Statements

4693-04: City Operations and Utilities Committee Records

4693-05: Intergovernmental Relations Committee Records

4693-06: Parks and Public Grounds Committee Records

4693-07: Transportation Committee Records

4693-08: Human Resources and Judiciary Committee Records

4693-10: Personal and Political Records

Related Materials

Related Record Series: Michael Hildt Subject Files (4636-02), Paul Kraabel Subject Files (4647-02), Central Staff Subject Reference Files (4601-02)

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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

  • Campaign funds--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • City planning--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Land use, Urban--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Parks--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Political campaigns--Law and legislation--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Transportation--Washington (State)--Seattle

Personal Names

  • Williams, Jeanette K. (Jeanette Klemptner)

Geographical Names

  • Seattle (Wash.)--Politics and government

Occupations

  • Women city council members--Washington (State)--Seattle

Other Creators

  • Personal Names

    • Rasmussen, Thomas (creator)

Finding aid prepared by Anne Frantilla
2004

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

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