Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Roy B. Misener photograph collection, 1936-1940
Overview of the Collection
- Photographer
- Misener, Roy B. (Roy Brooks), 1896-1955
- Title
- Roy B. Misener photograph collection
- Dates
- 1936-1940 (inclusive)19361940
- Quantity
- 7 photographic prints (1 folder) ; sizes vary
- Collection Number
- PH1338
- Summary
- Photographs of buildings in Seattle, Washington
- 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
-
Entire collection can be viewed on the Libraries’ Digital Collections website. Permission of Visual Materials Curator required to view originals. Contact Special Collections for more information.
- Languages
- English
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Roy Brooks Misener (January 3, 1896-July 22, 1955) was elected to the office of King County Assessor in Washington State in 1935. When Misener assumed office as King County Assessor in January 1935, he found himself confronted with "[many] inequalities of taxation and an antiquated and inefficient system of records". In his role as County Assessor, Misener most notably created the King County Land Use Survey a pioneering four-year undertaking begun in 1936 in partnership with the federal Works Progress Administration. The survey, which concluded in September 1940, was the largest white-collar WPA project to be carried out in King County. The survey was meant to correct inequalities in property tax assessments that had accumulated over the years due to lack of data, inaccurate data, subjectivity in property appraisals, and an outdated recordkeeping system. Aerial photography, field engineering surveys, and a timber survey were among the tools used to ensure that property taxation was maintained into the future. As a result of the survey, tax revenues increased by $574,000 per year, King County was fully photographed from the air for the first time, and photographs were taken of nearly every structure standing in the county at the time. In addition to his work as Assessor, Misener was a Washington State delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1940. Misener lived with his family in the Puget Sound area of western Washington State.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Collection consists of photographs of buildings around Seattle that were audited by Roy B. Misener. Most photographs include handwritten notes about the building's date of construction and tax-related information.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Folder | item | ||
1 | 1a-b |
Gardner Signal Service Station and Chris' Auto Rebuild,
7918 Aurora Avenue, Seattle, Washington Written on item 1a: Altho built in 1929, this super service
station was not on tax rolls until discovered by Roy B. Misener. A.V. in 1929 -
2500. A.V. in 1938 - 1540. Total lost to county in taxes - $1404.75.The names on the building are obscured in item 1a.
|
between 1936-1940 |
1 | 2a-b |
Happy Corner beer parlor, 9040 Holman Road, Seattle,
Washington Written on item 2a: This building erected in 1925. Paid no taxes
whatsoever until Roy B. Misener's revalution program.Item 2a has the name of the building obscured; item 2b has the
name of the building.
|
circa 1936 |
1 | 3a-b |
Masonic Temple, 1201 South Bailey Street, Seattle,
Washington Written on item 3a: Assessor Roy B. Misener discovered previous
assessors had this building listed as a "coal shed". Built - 1927. AV in 1927 -
$18450. AV in 1938 - 12100. Total lost to county in taxes - $14,891.61.
|
between 1936-1940 |
1 | 4 | Standard Oil service station | between 1936-1940 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Buildings--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs
- Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)
Geographical Names
- Seattle (Wash.)--Photographs
Form or Genre Terms
- Photographs