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James E. Flaherty papers

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Flaherty, James E
Title
James E. Flaherty papers
Quantity
2.38 cubic feet (3 boxes)
Collection Number
5436 (Accession No. 5436-001)
Summary
Papers of Seattle editor, publisher, and civic commissioner concerned with Puget Sound mass transit.
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

Additional Reference Guides

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was partially provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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Biographical Note

James E. Flaherty was born on December 28, 1912 in Seattle, Washington and earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Washington. He served as editor ofTransitalkfor the Seattle Transit System from October 1940 until 1948. Flaherty left to edit and publishThe South District Journaland took over the publication ofThe Beacon Hill Newsin 1950. His mother, Rhoda A. Flaherty, had originally foundedThe Beacon Hill Newsin 1924. He later published theThe Mount Baker Bulletinand several other district newspapers in the Seattle area. He also served as a commissioner on the Seattle Transit Commission for six years during the 1950's, when the city was struggling with issues related to developing a mass transit system for the region. He died on June 22, 1980.

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Content Description

Correspondence, reports, publications, clippings, legislation, photographs, drawings, film; 1910-1986.

Publications include three incomplete runs of "Transitalk," the staff newsletter of the Seattle Transit System, edited by James Flaherty from October 1940 through October 1948. Also includes transit-related publications from the 1950's, newspaper clippings detailing the Seattle Transit System strike negotiations in 1956, and annual reports for the Seattle Transit System from 1940 to 1948 and 1952 to 1959. Photographs include Seattle public transportation lines, equipment, sites, and personnel, many of which were used in "Transitalk" issues. Cartoon drawings were created by Toly E. Kojev, Smart, Reed, and other cartoonist during the 1940's for issues of "Transitalk." The 8mm film, "Success Story," was produced by Metropolitan Coach Lines for Jesse L. Haugh circa 1955.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

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

Preferred Citation

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

Organized into 8 series: Correspondence, Publications, Clippings, Reports, Legislation, Photographs, Drawings, and Film.

Acquisition Information

Received from Katherine F. Green, November 3, 2005.

Processing Note

Minimally processed.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

 

  • Correspondence

    • Description: Letter to James Flaherty from C.A. Nave
      Dates: 1955 July 30
      Container: Box 1
  • Publications

    • Description: Municipal NewsVol. 44, No. 31
      Dates: 1954 July 31
      Container: Box 1
    • Description: Public Relations Manualby the American Transit Association
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box 1
    • Description: Rapid Transit on Freeway, Seattle-Tacoma-Everett: Seattle Metropolitan Area Rapid Transit Studyby Seattle Transit Commission
      Dates: 1957 March
      Container: Box 1
    • Description: Planning for Thoroughfares, Central Freewayby City of Seattle Planning Commission
      Dates: 1952 January
      Container: Box 1
    • Description: Chicago's Mass Transportation Systemby Chicago Transit Authority
      Dates: 1957 February
      Container: Box 1
    • Description: What Parking Means to Businessby Automotive Safety Foundation
      Dates: 1955 November
      Container: Box 1
    • Description: The Metro Enabling Actby Municipality of Metropolitan Seattle
      Dates: 1961 August
      Container: Box 1
    • Description: The Electric JournalVol. 2, No. 5
      Dates: 1912 June
      Container: Box 1
    • Description: Puget Sound Electric JournalVol. 4, No. 7
      Dates: 1914 July
      Container: Box 1
    • Description: Seattle Street Railways: How To Use Themby Seattle Electric Company
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box 1
    • Description: Request for Rapid Transit Mall on Project Seattle Freewayby James E. Flaherty
      Dates: 1955 January 11
      Container: Box 1
    • Description: What You Want to Know About Your Job at Seattle Transitby Seattle Transit System
      Dates: 1945
      Container: Box 1
    • Description: Transitalkby Seattle Transit System

      Three incomplete runs from October 1940 to October 1948 of the in-house employee publication edited by James E. Flaherty.

      Dates: 1940-1948
      Container: Box 1
    • Description: Pacific Northwest QuarterlyVol. 72, No. 2

      Includes a copy of the April 1986 journal, a photocopy of the "Electric Streetcars in Seattle: The Lawton Gowey Photograph Collection" article written by Richard H. Engeman, a letter from Lawton Gowey to the Beacon Hills News in 1974, and a negative and print of a Seattle street car used in a Beacon Hills News article.

      Dates: 1974-1986
      Container: Box 1
  • Clippings

    • Description: Seattle Transit Strike Negotiations
      Dates: 1956
      Container: Box 1
    • Description: "Old Cable Cars" article inThe Seattle Star
      Dates: 1945 September 28
      Container: Box 1
    • Description: Article by Jim Flaherty on 1940Transitalkcover story inSouth District Journal
      Dates: 1980 February 6
      Container: Box 1
  • Reports

    • Description: Seattle Transit System Annual Reports
      Dates: 1940-1948
      Container: Box 1
    • Description: Seattle Transit System Annual Reports
      Dates: 1952-1959
      Container: Box 1
    • Description: Regional Rapid Transit: A Report to the San Francisco Bay Area Transit Commission
      Dates: 1955
      Container: Box:oversize 3
  • Legislation

    • Description: Washington State Senate Bill No. 136 "Metropolitan Municipal Corporations"
      Dates: 1957
      Container: Box 2
  • Photographs

    • Description: Seattle Transit Photographs

      Twenty b/w photographs of early transit drivers and employees, street and cable cars, downtown Seattle, the Seattle Municipal Railway car barn, the U.S. Immigration Service building, construction work on the Denny or Jackson regrade, and the highway sign showing the Seattle end of U.S. Highway 10, prior to the construction of I-90.

      Dates: circa 1917-circa 1940's
      Container: Box 2
    • Description: TransitalkMagazine Photographs
      2 folders

      One hundred twenty-nine b/w photographs of street and cable car crews and equipment, Seattle Transit System employees, and various identified Seattle buildings and scenes. Each photograph is identified with date of theTransitalkissue that the photo appeared in and many contain additional identification of the individuals or location.

      Dates: 1910-1948
      Container: Box 2
  • Drawings

    • Description: TransitalkCartoons

      Thirty-nine original drawings by Toly E. Kojev, Smart, Reed, and other cartoonist who contributed to issues ofTransitalk.

      Dates: circa 1940's
      Container: Box 2
  • 8mm Film

    • Description: Success Storyproduced by Metropolitan Coach Lines for Jesse L. Haugh
      Dates: circa 1955
      Container: Box:oversize 3

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Personal Names

  • Flaherty, James E.--Archives

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)
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