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Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation Theatre Program Records, 1969-1999

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Seattle (Wash). Dept. of Parks and Recreation
Title
Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation Theatre Program Records
Dates
1969-1999 (inclusive)
1975-1983 (bulk)
Quantity
.8 cubic feet, (2 boxes)
Collection Number
5807-15
Summary
Records concerning theater programs sponsored by the Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation.
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.
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Historical Note

The Department of Parks and Recreation maintains the City's parks, shorelines, and boulevards; and administers community centers, public golf courses, and other athletic and cultural facilities. Seattle's first park was established in 1884 after David Denny donated land to the City for that purpose. At that time, a three-member park committee, with limited authority, was created to manage the nascent park system. A Board of Parks Commissioners was established in 1890 with control over all public parks and authority to appoint a Parks Superintendent. In 1896, the City Charter created the position of Superintendent of Streets, Sewers and Parks. The Parks Department became a separate entity in 1904. In 1926, a City Charter amendment abolished the position of Superintendent, distributing its responsibilities between the Head Gardener and the Landscape Architect. A 1948 City Charter amendment required the Board of Park Commissioners to appoint a park superintendent to administer the department. In 1967, another City Charter Amendment reconstituted the Board as an advisory body to the Mayor and City Council, changed the agency name to Department of Parks and Recreation, and placed fiscal and operational administration under the superintendent. In 1902 the City hired the Olmsted Brothers, the country's premier landscape architectural firm, to design a parks and boulevards system. Although not all of the plan was implemented, the Olmsted legacy is evident in many of Seattle's parks and boulevards. The City acquired significant amounts of property for park purposes following the turn of the 20th Century, but in 1926 further acquisition was limited by a City Charter amendment that stipulated only money in the Park Fund could be used for that purpose. However, in the 1970s the Forward Thrust Bond issue, along with federal grants and the Seattle Model City Program, supported the largest expansion of the Park system in Seattle history. These programs funded more than 70 new parks and park facilities. The Department manages over 6,000 acres of park land, over two dozen community centers, five municipal golf courses, the Aquarium, and many other recreational and athletic facilities.

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Content Description

Records of the Department’s Performing and Visual Arts section, including correspondence, memos, grant files, schedules, flyers, press releases, reports and fact sheets, concerning operations of two theatre programs sponsored and supported by the City of Seattle. Beginning in 1969, the Bathhouse Theatre operated in a converted bathhouse at Green Lake Park, hosted several companies, presented professional and amateur productions, and provided training for younger actors. Poncho Theatre, located near the entrance of Woodland Park Zoo, opened in 1971 under zoo management and in 1975 became a professional theatre for the theatre arts education of children, young adults and their families. Also included are records of the Drama Board of the Bathhouse Theatre and Poncho Theatre Advisory Council, including minutes, correspondence, budgets and organizational documents.

For related records documenting the administration of the Performing and Visual Arts Program, see record series 5807-14.

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Use of the Collection

Preferred Citation

[Item and date], Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation Theatre Program Records , Record Series 5807-15. Box [number], Folder [number]. Seattle Municipal Archives.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

Arranged into subseries for each theatre and advisory body.

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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

  • Children’s theater--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Theater--Washington (State)--Seattle

Personal Names

  • Chambless, John

Corporate Names

  • Seattle Children’s Theatre
  • Bathhouse Theatre
  • PONCHO (Organization : Seattle, Wash.). Theatre

Geographical Names

  • Seattle (Wash.)

Other Creators

  • Personal Names

    • Kalinoski, Richard (creator)

Finding aid prepared by Janet Ness
2011

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

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