Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Seattle Fire Department Public Information Officer Records, 1915-1993
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Seattle (Wash.). Fire Dept.
- Title
- Seattle Fire Department Public Information Officer Records
- Dates
- 1915-1993 (inclusive)19151993
1964-1993 (bulk)19641993 - Quantity
- 4.4 cubic feet, (13 boxes)
- Collection Number
- 2801-15
- Summary
- Records from the Seattle Fire Department's Public Information Office.
- 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.
Historical NoteReturn to Top
A Fire Department was established by City Charter in 1883. It provided for equipment purchases, but not for hiring of firefighters. Following the Great Fire of 1889, a professional fire department was created with five district fire stations and purchase of a fire boat. The first Fire Chief of the professional department was Gardner Kellogg who served 1890-1892 and 1895-1901. A Board of Fire Commissioners was established by the 1890 City Charter to prescribe rules and regulations for the Department. The Board's responsibilities included enforcing rules violations, and appointing the Fire Chief and all subordinate officers. The Board was abolished with passage of a new City Charter in 1896. The position of Fire Marshall was established in 1901 with responsibility for inspecting buildings to insure they were in compliance the ordinances related to building construction and fire protection. The Fire Marshall also inspects all fires and reports on the causes. The Department's mission is to curtail loss of life and property by fire through inspection and certification of building safety systems, public education, regulation of hazardous material storage, and fire suppression.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Records from the Public Information Officer documenting the activities of the Seattle Fire Department from the 1960s through the late 1980s. The collection includes press releases dating from the 1960s through the 1980s, graduation ceremony programs and planning records, fire station dedication and rededication records, as well as memos from various fire chiefs, citizen complaints and responses, and information on fire safety films. Of particular interest are records pertaining to the investigation and subsequent arrest of Paul Kenneth Keller for various arson fires in 1992-1993. This series also includes promotional activity between the SFD and the Seattle Sounders soccer team from the early 1980s, as well as records from the Seattle Fire Buff Society, the Forward Thrust campaign and a letter from the public relations division to Mrs. Gordon Vickery, the wife of Chief Vickery.
Three early 20th century photographs (ca. 1915) are also included in the collection, showcasing apparatus and firefighters. One photograph is identified as having been taken on Third Avenue and Pine Street, near the Fischer Building. Also of interest are photographs of training activities, women in the fire department, photographic portraits of Chiefs Frank Hanson, Jack Richards and Claude Harris, construction of stations 19, 29 and 36, and fire boat photographs and negatives, as well as night inspections of downtown alleyways and business from the 1960s.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Preferred Citation
[Item and date], Seattle Fire Department Public Information Officer Records, Record Series 2801-15 . Box [number], Folder [number]. Seattle Municipal Archives.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.
2801-15: Seattle Fire Department Public Information Officer Records, 1915-1993Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
1/1 | Applicants |
1969 |
1/2 | Apparatus Display
Memos |
1988-1989 |
1/3 | Arson |
1992 |
1/4 | Arson |
1992 |
1/5 | Arson |
1992 |
1/6 | Arson |
1992 |
1/7 | Arson |
1993 |
1/8 | Arson |
1993 |
1/9 | Arson - Newspaper
Clippings |
1993 |
1/10 | Arson - Seattle Magazine
Article |
1993 |
2/1 | Arson - North End |
1987 |
2/2 | Arson - Paul Kenneth
Keller |
1993 |
2/3 | Arson - View
Ridge |
1987 |
2/4 | Bic, Inc. -
Windsurfers |
1985 |
2/5 | Centennial Ball
Program |
1989 |
2/6 | Central Heights
Annexation |
1984-1985 |
2/7 | City University - Fire
Service Administration Specialty Bachelor of Science |
1984 |
2/8 | Commendation and Appreciation
Letters from Fire Chief |
1986-1989 |
2/9 | Complaints |
1985-1987 |
2/10 | Complaints |
1986 |
2/11 | Complaints |
1987 |
2/12 | Computer-Aided Management of
Emergency Operations (CAMEO) Materials |
1987 |
2/13 | Correspondence to Mrs. Gordon
Vickery |
1964 |
2/14 | Environmental Coordinating
Committee |
1986 |
2/15 | Environmental Coordinating
Committee |
1987 |
2/16 | Environmental Coordinating
Committee |
1983-1987 |
3/1 | Environmental Information
Hotline |
1985 |
3/2 | Fire Department Inspection
Questionnaire |
1965 |
3/3 | Fire Department
Statistics |
1988 |
3/4 | Fire Safety Films/Photographs
Correspondence |
1964-1971 |
3/5 | Fire Station #32
Dedication |
1967 |
3/6 | Fire Station #32 Dedication -
Newspaper Clipping |
1967 |
3/7 | Fire Station #25
Dedication |
1970 |
3/8 | Fire Station Nos. 11 and 20
Dedication |
1971 |
3/9 | Fire Station Nos. 11 and 20
Dedication - Newspaper Clipping |
1971 |
3/10 | Fire Station #26
Dedication |
1973 |
3/11 | Fire Station #31
Dedication |
1975 |
3/12 | Fire Station #18
Dedication |
1975 |
3/13 | Fireboat Display
Memos |
1987-1989 |
3/14 | Fireman's Appreciation Day -
Kiwanis |
1968 |
3/15 | Forward Thrust |
1967-1968 |
3/16 | Forward Thrust - Newspaper
Clippings |
1967-1968 |
3/17 | Frank Hanson Retirement
Party |
1973 |
4/1 | General
Correspondence |
1965-1969 |
4/2 | General Correspondence -
Newspaper Clipping |
1965-1969 |
4/3 | General
Correspondence |
1970-1971 |
4/4 | General
Correspondence |
1970-1971 |
4/5 | General
Correspondence |
1970-1971 |
4/6 | General Correspondence - Fire
Chief |
1985 |
4/7 | General Correspondence - Fire
Chief |
1986 |
4/8 | General Correspondence - Fire
Chief |
1987 |
4/9 | General Correspondence - Fire
Chief |
1988 |
4/10 | General Correspondence - Fire
Chief |
1988 |
5/1 | General Correspondence - Fire
Chief |
1988-1989 |
5/2 | Graduation Ceremonies -
August 19 |
1967 |
5/3 | Graduation Ceremonies -
February 3 |
1968 |
5/4 | Graduation Ceremonies - July
13 |
1968 |
5/5 | Graduation - January
11 |
1969 |
5/6 | Graduation - April
12 |
1969 |
5/7 | Graduation - August
1 |
1969 |
5/8 | Graduation - January
17 |
1970 |
5/9 | Graduation - July
18 |
1970 |
5/10 | Graduation, 18th Class -
January 16 |
1971 |
5/11 | Graduation, 20th Class - May
22 |
1971 |
5/12 | Graduation, 22nd Class - June
21 |
1971 |
5/13 | Graduation, 22st Class -
August 28 |
1971 |
5/14 | Graduation Ceremonies -
January 8 |
1972 |
5/15 | Graduation, 23rd Class -
April 22 |
1972 |
5/16 | Graduation, 24th Class - July
29 |
1972 |
5/17 | Graduation, 25th Class -
Novemeber 18 |
1972 |
5/18 | Graduation, 26th Class -
April 21 |
1973 |
5/19 | Graduation, 27th Class - June
16 |
1973 |
6/1 | Graduation, 28th Class -
September 1 |
1973 |
6/2 | Graduation, 28th Class -
September 1 - Newspaper Clipping |
1973 |
6/3 | Graduation, 29th Class -
January 19 |
1974 |
6/4 | Graduation, 30th Class -
April 27 |
1974 |
6/5 | Graduation, 31st Class -
October 25 |
1975 |
6/6 | Graduation, 32nd Class -
October 2 |
1976 |
6/7 | Graduation, 33rd Class -
September 10 |
1977 |
6/8 | Graduation, 34th Class - May
6 |
1978 |
6/9 | Graduation, 35th Class -
December 9 |
1978 |
6/10 | Graduation, 36th Class -
April 5 |
1980 |
6/11 | Graduation, 37th Class -
October 18 |
1980 |
6/12 | Graduation, 38th Class -
February 28 |
1981 |
6/13 | Graduation, 39th Class - June
30 |
1981 |
6/14 | Graduation, 40th Class -
October 26 |
1981 |
6/15 | Graduation, 41st Class -
September 17 |
1982 |
6/16 | Graduation, 42nd Class - May
6 |
1983 |
6/17 | Hazardous Materials
Information |
1988 |
6/18 | Hazardous Materials Unit
Information |
1982 |
6/19 | Hazardous Waste
Subcommittee |
1987 |
6/20 | International Associationof
Fire Chiefs (IAFC) Correspondence |
1970 |
6/21 | John E. Philbin Retirement
Party |
1974 |
6/22 | Letter Recommending Steven
Sanislo for Elemetary School Name |
1966 |
6/23 | Marine Fire Protection Pilot
Project |
1974-1980 |
7/1 | Marine Firefighting
Materials |
1988 |
7/2 | Medic II |
1973 |
7/3 | Medic II |
1980 |
7/4 | Medic One |
1976 |
7/5 | Medic One - The First Six
Years |
1976 |
7/6 | Medic One - Good Samaritan
Law |
1975 |
7/7 | Medic One Film - "Second
Chance to Live" |
1976 |
7/8 | Memos from Assistant Fire
Chief |
- |
7/9 | National Articles |
1965-1988 |
7/10 | National Fire Protection
Association - Magazine Clippings |
1966 |
7/11 | National Recruiting
Brochures |
1966 |
7/12 | Northwest Burn
Foundation |
1986-1987 |
7/13 | Northwest Burn
Foundation |
1987-1988 |
7/14 | Northwest Burn Foundation -
General Information |
1987 |
7/15 | Northwest Police and Fire
Olympics |
1985 |
7/16 | Northwest Senior Center Event
Invitation |
1986 |
7/17 | Orthopedic Hospital
Auction |
1984 |
7/18 | Ozark Hotel Fire |
1970 |
8/1 | Pacific Medical
Center |
1983 |
8/2 | Parade Permits |
1984 |
8/3 | Parametrix, Inc. Study -
Piers 90-91 (Navy) |
1983-1984 |
8/4 | Phone Book
Collection |
1983 |
8/5 | PIO Quarterly Planning
Program Memos |
1985-1987 |
8/6 | Poison Control
Center |
1985-1986 |
8/7 | Polk Directory |
1984 |
8/8 | Post-Mortem
Protocol |
1982-1983 |
8/9 | Press Releases |
1964 |
8/10 | Press Releases - Newspaper
Clipping - Roosevelt High Students Rescue Child |
1964 |
8/11 | Press Releases |
1965 |
8/12 | Press Releases - Radio and
T.V. Spots |
1965-1966 |
8/13 | Press Releases |
1966 |
8/14 | Press Releases |
1967 |
8/15 | Press Releases |
1967 |
8/16 | Press Releases |
1968 |
8/17 | Press Releases - Newspaper
Clipping - Todd Shipyard Fire |
1968 |
8/18 | Press Releases |
1969-1970 |
9/1 | Press Releases |
1970 |
9/2 | Press Releases |
1971 |
9/3 | Press Releases |
1971-1973 |
9/4 | Press Releases |
1974-1976 |
9/5 | Press Releases |
1977-1980 |
9/6 | Press Releases |
1981-1987 |
9/7 | Project Seattle Outreach to
Sudan |
1985-1986 |
9/8 | Raffle Request for Medic
One |
1983 |
9/9 | Rainier Tower
Sculpture |
1983 |
9/10 | Raquetball
Tournament |
1981-1984 |
9/11 | Recruitment
Materials |
1964-1980 |
9/12 | RIX Air
Compressor |
1965 |
10/1 | Salvation Army - Emergency
Disaster Service |
1987 |
10/2 | Savings Bonds |
1982 |
10/3 | Scout Show Pole Slide
Tickets |
1983-1984 |
10/4 | Seattle Fire Buff
Society |
1984-1988 |
10/5 | Seattle Fire Buff Society
Handbook |
1982 |
10/6 | Seattle Fire Buff Society
Handbook |
1982 |
10/7 | Seattle Housing Authority -
Senior Housing |
1983 |
10/8 | Seattle Sounders - Fire
Department Trading Cards |
1980-1983 |
10/9 | Seattle Sounders - Fire
Department Trading Cards - Newspaper Clippings |
1980-1983 |
10/10 | Seattle University Students'
Study - Organizational Behavior |
1983 |
10/11 | Senior Citizen
Assistance |
1983 |
10/12 | Sign Amnesty Day |
1982-1987 |
10/13 | Small Business Administration
Federal Disaster Assistance |
1983 |
10/14 | Stuart Bradley Company -
Complaints re: "Fire and Home Safety Manuals" |
1985 |
10/15 | Suggestion Award
Board |
1984 |
10/16 | Support-A-Child
Auction |
1983-1986 |
10/17 | Toyota Pickup
Program |
1983 |
10/18 | Washington Burn
Fund |
1984 |
10/19 | Washington Burn Fund -
Newspaper Clipping |
1984 |
10/20 | Water Department -
Conservation Plan |
1984 |
10/21 | Waterfront Park
Proposal |
1984 |
10/22 | Western Fire Journal -
Seattle Fire Department Article |
1982-1983 |
11/1 | Prints - Air Room |
1965 |
11/2 | Prints - Apparatus Assembly -
Kentworth Motor Truck Company |
1967 |
11/3 | Prints and Slides -
Apparatus |
1965-1986 |
11/4 | Prints - Apparatus #322 -
American La France Elevated Platform |
1969-1970 |
11/5 | Prints and Slides - Fire
Boat |
1965-1985 |
11/6 | Prints - Correspondence with
Photos from Venice, Italy |
1987 |
11/7 | Prints -
Equipment |
1968-1972 |
11/8 | Prints and Slides -
Firefighter Personnel |
1965-1985 |
11/9 | Prints and Slides -
Firefighters at Work |
1965-1983 |
11/10 | Print - Fire Station #26
Dedication [Box 3] |
1973 |
11/11 | Prints - Fire Station #18
Dedication [Box 3] |
1975 |
11/12 | Prints - Fire Station
Rededications, Nos. 6, 25, 31, 36 and 41 |
1965-1987 |
11/13 | Print - Graduation, 37th
Class [Box 6] |
1980 |
11/14 | Prints and Contact Sheets -
Miscellaneous |
1965-1989 |
11/15 | Prints - Night Inspections -
Identified |
1968 |
11/16 | Prints - [Night Inspections -
Unidentified] |
1965 |
11/17 | Print - Northwest Burn
Foundation [Box 7] |
1986 |
11/18 | Prints - Station
#18 |
1971 |
11/19 | Station #19 - Survey and Site
Location |
1969-1970 |
11/20 | Prints - Station #19 Site
Location |
1969 |
11/21 | Prints - Station #25 Water
Leaks |
1970 |
11/22 | Prints - Station #25 Door
Accident |
1980 |
11/23 | Prints - Station #29 Under
Construction |
1970 |
11/24 | Prints - Station
#36 |
1970-1972 |
11/25 | Prints - Station #40
Interior |
1965 |
11/26 | Prints - Training |
1964-1970 |
12/1 | Negatives -
Apparatus |
1965-1986 |
12/2 | Negatives -
Equipment |
1980 |
12/3 | Negatives - Firefighters at
Work |
1965-1985 |
12/4 | Negatives - Firefighter
Personnel |
1980 |
12/5 | Negatives - Fire Station
Rededications, Nos. 2, 8, 9, 13, 14, 17, 28, 37, 38 and 39 |
1970-1989 |
12/6 | Negatives -
Miscellaneous |
1965-1989 |
12/7 | Negatives - Night Inspections
- Identified |
1967-1969 |
12/8 | Negatives - Seattle Sounders
- Fire Department [Box 9] |
1980 |
12/9 | Negatives - Station #19 Work
Progress, Site Location |
1970-1971 |
12/10 | Negatives - Station #36 Work
Progress |
1970-1972 |
12/11 | Negatives -
Training |
1968-1983 |
13/1 | Command Car Lesson
Plan |
1970 |
13/2 | Prints - Command Car Lesson
Plan |
1970 |
13/3 | Emergency Breathing Air -
NOAA Facility Operating Instructions |
1984 |
13/4 | Prints - Emergency Breathing
Air - NOAA Facility Operating Instructions |
1984 |
13/5 | Ladder Nozzle, Elk 750 RC
Instructions |
1968 |
13/6 | Prints - Ladder Nozzle, Elk
750 RC Instructions |
1968 |
13/7 | Mobile Air Station Operating
Instructions |
1980 |
13/8 | Prints - Mobile Air Station
Operating Instructions |
1980 |
13/9 | Recording - 4815 S. Graham
Street |
1989 |
13/10 | Station 10 Air Room Operating
Instructions |
1980 |
13/11 | Prints - Station 10 Air Room
Operating Instructions |
1980 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Arson--Washington (State)--Seattle
- Fire chiefs--Washington (State)--Seattle
- Fire engines--Washington (State)--Seattle
- Fire fighters--Washington (State)--Seattle
Corporate Names
- Seattle (Wash.). Fire Dept.
Geographical Names
- Seattle (Wash.).