Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Eli and Esther Rashkov papers, 1954-1986
Overview of the Collection
- Title
- Eli and Esther Rashkov papers
- Dates
- 1954-1986 (inclusive)19541986
- Quantity
- 9.69 cubic feet (10 boxes)
- Collection Number
- 4564 (Accession No. 4564-001)
- Summary
- Papers of Seattle community activists Eli Rashkov and his wife Esther concerning the development of Seattle area parks and the use of Forward Thrust funds.
- 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.
- Languages
- English
- Sponsor
- Funding for encoding this finding aid was partially provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Eli Rashkov (1920-1994) and his wife, Esther Rashkov, were community activists in the Seattle, Washington area who were concerned with urban development issues.
Both were heavily involved in the political reform group Choose an Effective City Council (CHECC) in the 1970s and early 1980s. Esther was president of CHECC from 1977 to 1980, and Eli served as president in the early 1980s. CHECC intervened in a number of Seattle municipal policy issues, including the Westlake development project of the late 1970s.
The Rashkovs were also involved in the Citizen’s Rate Advisory Committee, which formed in 1978 out of concerns about the 1979 Seattle City Light rate adjustment. The Committee grew to deal with other issues relating to both City Light and general energy concerns, such as the Washington Public Power Supply System and its nuclear power policies.
In the seventies the Rashkovs were also active members of the Wallingford Community Council (WCC) and each chaired various subcommittees. Eli Rashkov did significant work concerning Lake Union shoreline issues, chairing the WCC’s Lake Union Study Committee and serving as the Council’s representative on the Executive Committee of the Lake Union Coalition. Esther Rashkov was heavily involved in the issue of the Woodland Park Zoo development plans of the 1970s.
Both Rashkovs were also members of Citizens Against the R. H. Thomson (CARHT) – a group of concerned individuals that originally formed to stop the construction of the R. H. Thomson Expressway in Seattle. In the 1970s this group also struggled against the extension of Interstate 90 through Seattle and remained involved in other transportation issues.
Esther Rashkov was a member of the board of CARHT and Eli Rashkov served as vice-chair. Esther Rashkov was president of Community Research Associates, an organization that prepared research, reports, and court exhibits on behalf of other community activist organizations. Eli Rashkov was also a member of this organization, and both he and his wife compiled many reports and speeches that were presented on behalf of CHECC and the CRAC.
Eli Rashkov helped found the Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound in 1947. Both Eli and Esther served on the District Executive Committee and Eli edited the local flyer. He was also involved in the 43rd Legislative District Democratic Organization, which worked on local electoral campaigns.
Eli Rashkov was a pharmacist by trade and owned two drugstores in Seattle. Throughout his life he maintained an interest in local artists and collected the works of Mark Tobey, Guy Anderson, Morris Graves and others.
Eli Rashkov died of cancer on August 1, 1994.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Boxes 1 and 2 contain personal papers of Eli and Esther Rashkov, including speeches, writings and subject files relating to various civic interests not associated with any of the organizations in which the Rashkovs participated. Among these subject files is material concerning the development of Seattle area parks and the use of Forward Thrust funds. Correspondence in these papers includes letters from Mark Tobey and Guy Anderson, as well as miscellaneous information regarding Eli Rashkov’s art collection.
Boxes 2-4 contain records from Choose an Effective City Council (CHECC); the bulk of this material dates from 1977-1979 and pertains to the struggle against the Westlake redevelopment project. Also included are correspondence with city council members and other local officials, reports and subject files pertaining to issues of Seattle urban development.
Boxes 4-8 contain the records of the Citizen’s Rate Advisory Committee, the bulk of which dates from 1976 to 1980. This series includes minutes, agenda, correspondence and organizational materials of the Committee. The “Meeting Packets” series contains agenda, minutes, and various writings that were sent to members of CRAC members as preparatory material for upcoming meetings. Speeches, writings, and reports include both materials prepared by the CRAC and its members as well as those of other institutions. Much of the material pertains to Seattle electric rate issues, but all material on general energy issues, such as nuclear power and the Washington Public Power Supply System are included in this subgroup as well.
Boxes 8 and 9 contain the records of the Wallingford Community Council (WCC). The bulk of these materials dates from 1973 to 1979 and consists of subject files about issues affecting the Wallingford district of Seattle. Two of the main issues documented in the papers are use and conservation of Lake Union shoreline areas and development of the Woodland Park Zoo. Both of these subject series contain materials of the WCC and those of various organizations with which the Council allied itself when working on these projects, such as the Lake Union Coalition.
Box 9 also contains materials of three other organizations. The records of Citizens Against the R. H. Thomson (CARHT) date from 1970 to 1979 and include materials of their campaigns against the Interstate 90 extension through Seattle and for the Gas Tax Initiative 384, as well as other information on transportation issues. The series does not contain any records of the group’s original struggle against the proposed R. H. Thomson Expressway. The 43rd Legislative District Democratic Organization records document in Eli Rashkov’s involvement in local elections. The Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound series includes materials from membership meetings and a small amount of writings, organizational materials and ephemera.
The accession does not contain any organizational records of Community Research Associates, but speeches, writings and testimony were prepared by the Rashkovs as part of CRA on behalf of other organizations and can be found in the CHECC and CRAC subgroups.
Major correspondents in this accession include Councilman Tim Hill, Councilwoman Phyllis Lamphere, Seattle City Light, Charles Royer, Benella Caminiti, Mark Tobey and Guy Anderson. Major subject areas represented in the papers include Seattle civic activism, Seattle urban development, Seattle parks, the downtown Seattle Westlake development project, Seattle City Light rate policies, the Washington Public Power Supply System, the Wallingford district of Seattle, Lake Union development and use policies, and the Woodland Park Zoo.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
Creator's literary rights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.
Preferred Citation
Eli and Esther Rashkov Papers, Accession No. 4564-001, Special Collections Division, University of Washington Libraries.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
Arranged into 7 series:
- Personal Papers, 1954-1982
- Choose an Effective City Council, 1972-1986
- Citizen's Rate Advisory Committee, 1973-1982
- Wallingford Community Council, 1958-1979
- Citizens Against the R.H. Thomson, 1970-1979
- 43rd Legislative District Democratic Organization, 1972-1976
- Group Health Coopertive of Puget Sound, 1972-1974
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Personal Papers, 1954-1982Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Incoming Letters |
||
Box | ||
1 | Anderson, Guy |
1954, 1962, 1966, undated |
1 | Kapka, Alice |
1966 |
1 | Tobey, Mark |
1954, 1959, undated |
Box | ||
1 | Outgoing Letters |
1972, 1977-1979, undated |
General Correspondence |
||
Box | ||
1 | re: Eli Rashkov's art collection |
1956-1965 |
1 | Miscellaneous |
1960-1974 |
Box | ||
1 | Correspondence of Others |
1973, 1978 |
1 | Speeches and Writings |
1974-1980, undated |
1 | Speeches and Writings of Others |
1974-1977, undated |
Reports |
||
Box | ||
1 | Report of the Neighborhood Transition Committee to
Mayor Charles Royer |
1978 |
1 | Miscellaneous |
1964-191980 |
News Releases |
||
Box | ||
1 | From the Office of the Mayor (Seattle) |
1978-191980 |
Box | ||
1 | Legislation and Ordinances |
1977-1981 |
1 | Newsletters |
1975-1979 |
Subject Files |
||
Candidates |
||
Box | ||
1 | Mayoral |
1977 |
1 | Miscellaneous |
1973-1979 |
Box | ||
1 | Capital Improvement |
1978 |
box:oversize | ||
10 | Capital Improvement |
|
Box | ||
1 | Citizen Participation |
1978, undated |
1 | City Charter (Seattle) Amendments |
1977, undated |
1 | City/County Consolidation |
circa 1974 |
1 | Community Development |
undated |
1 | Health Care |
1979, undated |
1 | Initiatives |
undated |
1 | LaConner, Washington |
1974, undated |
1 | Land Use |
1979-1980, undated |
Parks |
||
Box | ||
1 | Correspondence |
1975-1977 |
1 | Agenda |
1975-1977 |
1 | Speeches and Writings |
1975-1978, 1982, undated |
1 | Reports |
1974, 1977, undated |
1 | Ordinances |
1977, undated |
1 | Clippings |
1967, undated |
1 | Miscellany |
undated |
2 | Arboretum |
undated |
2 | Forward Thrust |
1977, undated |
2 | Sand Point |
1977, 1979, undated |
Box | ||
2 | Seattle City Budget
Includes photograph.
|
1975-1977, 1981, undated |
2 | Seattle Development Planning |
1966, 1976-1978, undated |
2 | Seattle Downtown Parking |
1975-1976 |
2 | Seattle Water and Sewer |
1974, undated |
2 | Solid Waste |
1980, undated |
2 | South Park/Duwamish Annexation |
1979 |
Box | ||
2 | Notes |
undated |
2 | Ephemera |
undated |
2 | Clippings |
1971-1981, undated |
Choose an Effective City Council (CHECC), 1972-1986Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box | ||
2 | Organization |
1972, 1978 |
Incoming Letters |
||
Box | ||
2 | Hill, Tim |
1977-1978 |
2 | A-Z |
1977-1979 |
Box | ||
2 | Outgoing Letters |
1977-1978, undated |
General Correspondence |
||
Box | ||
2 | United States Internal Revenue Service |
1979 |
Box | ||
2 | Financial Records |
1977, 1979 |
2 | Speeches and Writings |
1977-1979, undated |
2 | Newsletters with Drafts |
1978-1979, undated |
2 | Reports |
1974-1980 |
Subject Files |
||
Box | ||
3 | Downtown |
1980-1981, undated |
3 | Land Use/Housing |
1977-1978, 1981, undated |
box:oversize | ||
10 | Land Use/Housing |
1977-1978, 1981, undated |
Box | ||
3 | Municipal Bonds |
1977, 1983 |
3 | Overnight Use of City Vehicles |
1974-1976, undated |
Westlake |
||
Box | ||
3 | General Correspondence |
1975-1982 |
3 | Minutes and Agenda (of various groups) |
1976-1982 |
3 | Speeches and Writings |
1975-1978, undated |
3 | Fact Sheets |
1977-1978, undated |
3 | Reports |
1973, 1983-1984, undated |
3 | Financial Records |
1980-1981, undated |
3 | News Releases |
1979-1982 |
Hearings |
||
Box | ||
3 | Testimony |
1977-1978, 1983 |
3 | Exhibits |
1977-1978 |
4 | Miscellaneous |
1978-1979, undated |
Box | ||
4 | Bills |
1977, undated |
4 | Laws and Regulations |
1978, undated |
4 | Ordinances |
1977, 1983, undated |
4 | Resolutions |
1977, undated |
4 | Court Papers |
1978, 1979 |
4 | Contract |
1976 |
Subject Files |
||
Box | ||
4 | Analysis of Westlake Development Authority
Charter |
1977 |
4 | City of Seattle Debt Management Policy |
1976 |
4 | Monorail |
1979 |
Box | ||
4 | Lists |
undated |
4 | Timelines |
1977-1978 |
Notes |
undated | |
Box | ||
4 | Drawings and Charts |
undated |
box:oversize | ||
10 | Drawings and Charts |
undated |
Box | ||
4 | Clippings |
1974-1980 |
4 | Miscellany |
1976 |
Box | ||
4 | Lists |
1976-1978, undated |
4 | Ephemera |
1975-1979, undated |
4 | Clippings |
1967-1986 |
Citizens' Rate Advisory Committee (CRAC), 1973-1982Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box | ||
4 | Historical Features |
1978-1979 |
4 | Organization |
1980, undated |
Incoming Letters |
||
Box | ||
4 | Seattle City Light A - Z |
1978-1980 |
4 | Miscellaneous A - Z |
1979 |
Box | ||
4 | Outgoing Letters |
1976, 1978-1979 |
4 | Correspondence of Others |
1975, 1977-1980 |
4 | Memoranda |
1978-1980 |
4 | Minutes and Agenda |
1978-1980 |
4 | Minutes and Agenda of Others |
1977-1982 |
4-5 | Meeting Packets |
1978-1980 |
Speeches and Writings |
||
Box | ||
4-5 | CRAC |
1978-1982, undated |
4-5 | Rashkov, Eli and Esther |
1974-1978, undated |
4-5 | Seattle City Light |
1973, 1977, 1980 |
4-5 | Daniggelis, Nick - City Light Accountant |
1977, undated |
4-5 | Seattle (Miscellaneous City Offices) |
1975-1980 |
4-5 | Miscellaneous |
1977-1980, undated |
Reports |
||
Box | ||
4-5 | CRAC Committees |
1977-1978 |
5-6 | Seattle City Light |
1978-1980, undated |
5-6 | Seattle (Other City Offices) |
1973-1979 |
5-6 | Washington (Miscellaneous State Offices) |
1977-1978 |
5-6 | United States (Miscellaneous Federal) |
1975, 1978, undated |
5-6 | Miscellaneous |
1976 |
Box | ||
5-6 | Testimony |
1977-1978, 1981 |
Subject Files |
||
Box | ||
5-6 | Bonneville Power Association |
1978-1981, undated |
6 | Copper Creek Dam |
1977-1979, undated |
6 | Drought Surcharge |
1977 |
7 | Ecological Issues |
1976-1978, undated |
7 | Hearings |
1977-1979 |
7 | Light Brigade |
1978-1979 |
7 | Nuclear Power |
1977-1978, undated |
7 | Proposed Energy Code |
1979 |
7 | Public vs. Private Utilities |
1979 |
7 | Public Utilities Regulatory Policies Act |
1978-1980 |
7 | Rate Data and Comparisons |
1976-1977, undated |
7 | Rate Increase Proposal |
1974 |
7 | Rate Relief/ Rate Discounts |
1978 |
7 | Regional Power Plans |
1976-1978, undated |
7 | Ross Dam |
1977 |
7 | Seattle City Finances |
1976 |
7 | Seattle City Light Budget and Finances |
1974-1979 |
7 | Solar, Wind and Energy Alternatives |
1978-1980, undated |
7 | Washington Public Power Supply System
(WPPSS) |
1978-1979 |
Box | ||
7 | Resolutions |
1977-1979 |
7 | Legislation |
1979, undated |
7 | Conferences and Conventions |
1977-1979 |
7 | Newsletters (of Various Groups) |
1978-1980 |
7 | Fact Sheets |
1977, undated |
7 | Timelines and Schedules |
1976-1980 |
box:oversize | ||
10 | Timelines and Schedules |
1976-1980 |
Box | ||
7 | Lists |
1976-1978, undated |
7 | Pamphlets - Seattle City Light |
1977, undated |
7 | Questionnaire |
undated |
7 | Notes |
undated |
8 | Clippings |
1977-1980 |
8 | Miscellany |
undated |
8 | Conservation Subcommittee |
1979-1980 |
8 | Costing and Pricing Methodologies
Subcommittee |
1977-1978, undated |
8 | Financial Subcommittee |
1978 |
8 | Programs, Projects and Resources
Subcommittee |
1978 |
Wallingford Community Council (WCC), 1958-1979Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box | ||
8 | Organization |
1972-1976 |
8 | Incoming Letters |
1974 |
8 | Outgoing Letters |
1977 |
General Correspondence |
||
Box | ||
8 | Nominating Esther Rashkov to Seattle Board of Park
Commissioners |
1974 |
Box | ||
8 | Speeches and Writings |
1974-1977, undated |
8 | Speeches and Writings of Others |
1973-1974, undated |
8 | Court Papers |
1972-1974 |
Subject Files |
||
Box | ||
8 | Good Shepherd Home |
1969, 1973-1978, undated |
box:oversize | ||
10 | Good Shepherd Home |
1974-1977 |
Box | ||
8 | Lake Union Shoreline |
|
Box | ||
8 | General Correspondence |
1965, 1970-1975 |
8 | Speeches and Writings |
1971-1974, undated |
8 | Legislation |
1971-1972, 1978 |
8 | Court Papers |
1968, 1975 |
8 | Notes |
undated |
8 | Maps |
undated |
box:oversize | ||
10 | Maps |
undated |
Box | ||
8 | Clippings |
1974-1976, undated |
8 | Gas Works Tavern Waterside Sign |
1975 |
8 | Lake Union Coalition |
1973, undated |
8 | Lake Union Special Review District |
1973 |
8 | Marine Power and Equipment Company |
1975 |
8 | Roanoke Reef |
1973-1974 |
8 | Shoreline Master Program |
1974-1975 |
8 | Waterway 11 |
1975 |
8 | Rezoning |
1978-1979 |
8 | Seattle City Charter Annotations |
undated |
8 | Wallingford Community Council vs. City of Seattle et
al. |
1975 |
Woodland Park Zoo |
||
Box | ||
8 | General Correspondence |
1973-1979, undated |
Minutes and Agenda |
||
Box | ||
8 | Zoo Steering Committee |
1975-1976 |
8 | Park Board |
1975-1976 |
8 | Unidentified |
1975 |
Speeches and Writings |
||
Box | ||
8 | WCC |
1974-1975 |
8 | David Hancocks (Director of Zoo) |
1975 |
8 | Benella Caminiti |
1974-1978 |
8 | Miscellaneous |
1976, undated |
Box | ||
8 | Reports |
1974-1977 |
8 | Financial Records |
1974, undated |
8 | Agreement |
undated |
8 | Resolution |
circa 1968 |
8 | News Releases |
1975 |
8 | Development Bulletins |
circa 1975 |
8 | Comprehensive Plan |
1976 |
8 | Zoo Fee |
1976 |
8 | Schedules |
1976, undated |
8 | Notes |
undated |
box:oversize | ||
10 | Maps |
undated |
Box | ||
8 | Clippings |
1974-1976, undated |
Box | ||
9 | Newsletters |
1973, 1975 |
9 | News Releases |
1975 |
9 | Ordinances |
1974, undated |
9 | Resolutions |
1958, 1974 |
box:oversize | ||
10 | Maps |
undated |
Box | ||
9 | Notes |
undated |
9 | Ephemera |
1975, undated |
9 | Clippings |
1972-1974, undated |
9 | Miscellany |
undated |
Citizens Against the R. H. Thomson (CARHT), 1979-1979Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box | ||
9 | Organization |
1974, 1977 |
9 | Outgoing Letters |
1974, 1977, undated |
9 | Speeches and Writings |
1976-1977, undated |
9 | Speeches and Writings of Others |
1978, undated |
9 | Reports |
1976-1977 |
Subject Files |
||
Box | ||
9 | Bay Freeway |
1970, undated |
9 | Gas Tax |
1977-1978 |
9 | Interstate 90 |
1976-1979, undated |
9 | Seattle Transportation Policy Plan |
1977-1978 |
43rd Legislative District Democratic Organization, 1972, 1975-1976, undatedReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 9
Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound, 1972-1974Return to Top
Container(s): Box 9
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Art--Collectors and collecting--Washington (State)--Seattle--Archives
- City planning--Washington (State)--Seattle--Citizen participation
- Civic leaders--Washington (State)--Seattle--Archives
- Community organization--Washington (State)--Seattle
- Highway planning--Washington (State)--Seattle--Public opinion
- Parks--Washington (State)--Seattle--Planning--Citizen participation
- Political activists--Washington (State)--Seattle--Archives
- Public utilities--Rates--Washington (State)--Seattle
Personal Names
- Caminiti, Benella--Correspondence
- Hill, Tim, 1936- --Correspondence
- Lamphere, Phyllis--Correspondence
- Rashkov, Eli--Archives
- Rashkov, Esther--Archives
- Royer, Charles, 1939- --Correspondence
- Tobey, Mark--Correspondence
Corporate Names
- CARHT (Organization : Seattle, Wash.)
- Choose an Effective City Council (Organization : Seattle, Wash.)
- Citizens' Rate Advisory Committee (Seattle, Wash.)
- Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound
- Seattle City Light
- Wallingford Community Council
- Woodland Park Zoo
Geographical Names
- Lake Union
- Seattle (Wash.)--Politics and government
- Wallingford (Seattle, Wash.)
- Westlake Mall (Seattle, Wash.)
Form or Genre Terms
- Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
- Correspondence
- Drawings
- Ephemera
- Financial records
- Minutes
- Reports
- Speeches, addresses, etc
- Writings
Other Creators
-
Personal Names
- Rashkov, Esther (creator)
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)