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Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation Performing and Visual Arts Program Records, 1976-1990

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Seattle (Wash.). Dept. of Parks and Recreation
Title
Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation Performing and Visual Arts Program Records
Dates
1976-1990 (inclusive)
1976-1984 (bulk)
Quantity
1.8 cubic feet, (5 boxes)
Collection Number
5807-14
Summary
Administrative records of the staff responsible for the Department of Parks and Recreation's cultural programs.
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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Historical Note

The Department of Parks and Recreation maintains the City's parks, shorelines, and boulevards; and administers community centers, public golf courses, and other athletic and cultural facilities. Seattle's first park was established in 1884 after David Denny donated land to the City for that purpose. At that time, a three-member park committee, with limited authority, was created to manage the nascent park system. A Board of Parks Commissioners was established in 1890 with control over all public parks and authority to appoint a Parks Superintendent. In 1896, the City Charter created the position of Superintendent of Streets, Sewers and Parks. The Parks Department became a separate entity in 1904. In 1926, a City Charter amendment abolished the position of Superintendent, distributing its responsibilities between the Head Gardener and the Landscape Architect. A 1948 City Charter amendment required the Board of Park Commissioners to appoint a park superintendent to administer the department. In 1967, another City Charter Amendment reconstituted the Board as an advisory body to the Mayor and City Council, changed the agency name to Department of Parks and Recreation, and placed fiscal and operational administration under the superintendent. In 1902 the City hired the Olmsted Brothers, the country's premier landscape architectural firm, to design a parks and boulevards system. Although not all of the plan was implemented, the Olmsted legacy is evident in many of Seattle's parks and boulevards. The City acquired significant amounts of property for park purposes following the turn of the 20th Century, but in 1926 further acquisition was limited by a City Charter amendment that stipulated only money in the Park Fund could be used for that purpose. However, in the 1970s the Forward Thrust Bond issue, along with federal grants and the Seattle Model City Program, supported the largest expansion of the Park system in Seattle history. These programs funded more than 70 new parks and park facilities. The Department manages over 6,000 acres of park land, over two dozen community centers, five municipal golf courses, the Aquarium, and many other recreational and athletic facilities.

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Content Description

Records of the Performing and Visual Arts section (until 1979 known as the Cultural Arts Section), including correspondence, memos, program histories, reports, budgets, concession agreements, photographs and subject files concerning music, dance and theater performances, and arts instruction programs. Also documented is the unit’s management of the Bathhouse Theatre, Madrona Dance Studio, Poncho Theatre, Pratt Fine Arts Studio and Seward Park Art Studios following their renovation or construction using Forward Thrust funds. Documented also is the 1982 transition to operation of the Parks’ cultural facilities by the program’s advisory councils.

Related records of the Performing and Visual Arts staff are also in records series nos. 5810-01, 5807-15, 5807-03, 5807-16, 5808-01 and 5807-07.

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Use of the Collection

Preferred Citation

[Item and date], Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation Performing and Visual Arts Program Records, Record Series 5807-14. Box [number], Folder [number]. Seattle Municipal Archives.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Art schools--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Art schools--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Children’s theater--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Concerts--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Dance schools--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Dance--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Glass art--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Music--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Theater--Washington (State)--Seattle

Personal Names

  • Chambless, John

Corporate Names

  • Seattle (Wash.). Dept. of Parks and Recreation
  • Bathhouse Theatre
  • Madrona Dance Studio
  • PONCHO (Organization : Seattle, Wash.). Theatre
  • Pratt Fine Arts Center (Seattle, Wash.)
  • Seward Park Art Studio (Seattle, Wash.)

Geographical Names

  • Seattle (Wash.)

Other Creators

  • Personal Names

    • O'Neill, Maureen A.

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Form or Genre Terms

  • Film negatives
  • Photographs

Finding aid prepared by Janet Ness
2011

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

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