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Engineering Department Unrecorded Subject Files, 1890-1994

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Seattle (Wash.). Engineering Dept.
Title
Engineering Department Unrecorded Subject Files
Dates
1890-1994 (inclusive)
Quantity
16.4 cubic feet, (plus 14,000 microfiche)
Collection Number
2602-02
Summary
Records from the Seattle Engineering Department's central filing system.
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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Content Description

Records include correspondence, memoranda, reports, specifications and standards, permits, deeds, drawings, and other materials related to public works, capital improvements, and public utilities, as well as routine affairs of the Seattle Engineering Department. The records are heavily weighted toward subjects such as traffic engineering and transportation, garbage and solid waste management, sewers, drainage and wastewater, water supply, and other primary engineering functions. They also document the Department's activities related to the Skagit River power development projects, Cedar River Watershed development, civil defense, New Deal employment projects, railroads, and inter-departmental relationships. The Unrecorded Subject Files comprise the Seattle Engineering Department's central filing system up to 1988. Almost all records were microfilmed by the Department's Administrative Records Center until its dissolution in the late 1980s.

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Historical Note

The Engineering Department (SED) maintained the City's streets and bridges, designed and oversaw construction of public works projects, provided traffic and transportation planning, and operated the sewer and solid waste utility. The position of City Surveyor was created in 1873 to survey the City, establish boundaries and street grades, and administer condemnation processes. This position was renamed City Engineer in 1890. In 1931 the Engineering Department absorbed part of the Department of Public Utilities and in 1936 it assumed the responsibilities of the Department of Streets and Sewers and the Traffic Department. In 1997, the water, solid waste, drainage, and wastewater utilities from the Engineering and Water departments were merged with the Engineering Services Division of SED and the Customer Service Call Center and Construction Engineering Sections of City Light to form Seattle Public Utilities. The traffic and transportation functions of the Engineering Department were consolidated in the Seattle Transportation Department.

Records include correspondence, memoranda, reports, specifications and standards, permits, deeds, drawings, and other materials related to public works, capital improvements, and public utilities, as well as routine affairs of the Seattle Engineering Department. A majority of the documents have been reformatted to microfiche, but 38 boxes (15.2 cubic feet) of original paper documents are also included in the collection. Important subjects relating to public works and engineering functions include traffic planning and control, transportation, garbage and solid waste management, sewers, street maintenance and design, and water supply. Other topics include: bicycles, bridges, carpools, pollution, and landslides. Principal internal operations are also covered substantially, such as budgeting, contract agreements, permit control, and status reporting for both internal and external audiences. An important subset of these documents is correspondence received from the public, such as petitions, permits, complaints, and claims, as well as the departmental response.

Significant inter-departmental and inter-jurisdictional communication between the Engineering Department and the Washington State Department of Transportation, the Seattle Housing Authority, the Department of Parks and Recreation, the Department of Community Development, and the Mayor's Office, are present in substantial amounts, as well as with the Municipality of Metropolitan Seattle (Metro). Notable engineering projects covered included the Alaskan Way Viaduct, the Monorail, public transit, the Forward Thrust Initiative Series, and the 1962 Century 21 Exposition. The Unrecorded Subject Files comprises the Seattle Engineering Department's central filing system up to 1988. Almost all records were microfilmed by the Department's Administrative Records Center until its dissolution in the late 1980s. Records date from 1890 to 1990. Early correspondence includes topics such as paving materials; 1917 correspondence with the Minneapolis Engineer regarding their use of wood blocks as experimental paving material is an example. Records are arranged alphabetically.

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Use of the Collection

Preferred Citation

[Item and date], Engineering Department Unrecorded Subject Files, Record Series 2602-02. Box [number], Folder [number]. Seattle Municipal Archives.

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Administrative Information

Related Materials

Related records include: Ordinances (1801-02), Engineering Local Improvements District records (2615-03) and Engineering Condemnation records (2608-02).

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Alaskan Way Viaduct (Seattle, Wash.)
  • Bridges--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Century 21 Exposition (1962 : Seattle, Wash.)
  • Civil defense--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Construction--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Environmental protection--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Express highways--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Forward Thrust (Seattle, Wash.)
  • Lake Washington Ship Canal (Seattle, Wash.)
  • Landslides--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Monorail railroads--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Municipal engineering--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Municipal water supply--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Public Utilities--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Refuse and refuse disposal--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Sewers--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Streets--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Traffic engineering--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Transportation--Planning--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Viaducts--Washington (State)--Seattle

Corporate Names

  • Municipality of Metropolitan Seattle
  • Seattle (Wash.). Engineering Dept.
  • Seattle (Wash.). Mayor
  • Seattle (Wash.). Dept. of Community Development
  • Seattle (Wash.). Dept. of Parks and Recreation
  • Seattle Housing Authority
  • Washington (State). Dept. of Transportation

Geographical Names

  • Seattle (Wash.)

Finding aid prepared by Jonathan King
2011

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

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