Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
City of Ballard Records, 1890-1907
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Ballard (Wash.)
- Title
- City of Ballard Records
- Dates
- 1890-1907 (inclusive)18901907
- Quantity
- 14.4 cubic ft., (9 boxes and 20 volumes)
- Collection Number
- 9106
- Summary
- Records of the City of Ballard, 1890-1907, including City Council minutes, ordinances, administrative records, and warrants. Ballard was annexed to the City of Seattle in 1907.
- 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 encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Historical NoteReturn to Top
The Town of Ballard was incorporated in January 1890 and was governed by a five-member Board of Trustees appointed by a King County Superior Court Judge. Charles F. Treat was the first Chairman of the Board and was subsequently elected mayor in the Town's first municipal election in April 1890. Ballard achieved city of the third class status in December 1890.
Ballard entered into an agreement with the City of Seattle in 1902 whereby the latter supplied water from the Cedar River watershed. The agreement was extended in 1905. The water supply for Ballard was a central issue in the movement for annexation to Seattle. Annexation first became an issue at the time the first water supply agreement terminated. However, at a special election in December 1905, the citizens of Ballard defeated annexation by a 1033-549 vote.
At the regular municipal election in 1906, an "Annexation Ticket" appeared on the ballot and its nominee for mayor, H.E. Peck, was elected. The "Annexation Club" petitioned the City Council to call a special election and in April 1907 the population voted 998-876 in favor of annexation.
Besides the water supply issue, other concerns that led to the successful annexation movement were additional city services availability, taxation, local improvements, and the city debt. At the final meeting of the Ballard City Council on May 29, 1907, the City Treasurer reported the City's assets as $307, 568.91 and liabilities as $452,404.57.
Seattle City Council ordered City department heads to investigate the Ballard city departments and make recommendations to facilitate a smooth transition of responsibilities and activities. Reports from the Engineering, Water, Police, Health and Fire departments all suggested the maintenance of Ballard offices, equipment and staff with the former city to be referred to as the "Ballard District." Ballard became a separate ward of the City with one councilmember representing the newly-annexed area.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The City of Ballard Records, 1890-1907, include records that were maintained or filed with the Ballard City Clerk. These included City Council minutes, ordinances, resolutions, correspondence, petitions, specifications, bids and proposals for improvements and equipment, election materials, and reports of various City Officials. These records were transfered to the Seattle City Clerk upon annexation of Ballard.
Of particular interest is the 1890 Census, taken to verify Ballard's right to advance to a city of the third Class. This alphabetical listing provides only name and age, but includes 1636 names of residents during Ballard's first year of incorporation.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Preferred Citation
[Item and date], City of Ballard Records, Record Series 9106-[xx]. Box [number], Folder [number]. Seattle Municipal Archives.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
The Ballard records are arranged in six series:
Series I: Council Minutes (9106-01)
Series II: Ordinances (9106-02)
Series III: City Clerk's Files (9106-03)
Series IV: Register of Warrants (9106-04)
Series V: Demands and Warrants (9106-05)
Series VI: Local Improvement District Files (9106-06)
Within each series, records are arranged chronologically or alphabetically by subject.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Series I: City Council Minutes, 1890-1907Return to Top
Proceedings of the Ballard City Council. Includes vote results by precinct of annual city elections.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Volume | ||
| 1 | Minutes |
1890-1893 |
| 2 | Minutes |
1893-1896 |
| 3 | Minutes |
1896-1899 |
| 4 | Minutes |
1899-1902 |
| 5 | Minutes |
1902-1906 |
| 6 | Minutes |
1906-1907 |
| 7 | Minutes (drafts used to
prepare the official Minutes) |
1892-1896 |
Series II: Ordinances, 1890-1907Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Volume | ||
| 1 | Ordinances, 1-225 |
1890-1895 |
| 2 | Ordinances,
226-383 |
1896-1900 |
| 3 | Ordinances,
384-576 |
1900-1903 |
| 4 | Ordinances,
577-753 |
1903-1904 |
| 5 | Ordinances,
754-983 |
1904-1905 |
| 6 | Ordinances,
984-1214 |
1905-1907 |
| 7 | Ordinances,
1215-1260 |
1907 |
Series III: City Clerk's Files, 1890-1907Return to Top
Administrative records of Ballard filed with the City Clerk. Materials include audits, bids and proposals, financial statements, city officials' reports, contracts and bonds, political party nomination records, franchises, oaths of office, petitions, resolutions, specifications, and correspondence. Of particular interest are records relating to the city water system contracted from Seattle, local improvements, service franchises, election materials, activities of the West Coast Improvement Company, and a city census for 1890.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/1 | Affidavits |
1892-1907 |
| 1/2 | Annexation, Petition of
Remonstrance |
1890-1907 |
| 1/3 | Annexation, Resolutions and
Reports |
1907 |
| 1/4 | Applications, B-G |
1894-1906 |
| 1/5 | Applications, H-O |
1890-1907 |
| 1/6 | Applications, P-W |
1899-1906 |
| 1/7 | Appointments |
1891-1902 |
| 1/8 | Artesian Well,
Drilling |
1895-1899 |
| 1/9 | Audit, City
Records |
1890-1901 |
| 1/10 | Bids and Proposals, Artesian
Well |
1893-1905 |
| 1/11 | Bids and Proposals,
Bonds |
1893-1905 |
| 1/12 | Bids and Proposals, Building
Construction |
1890-1907 |
| 1/13 | Bids and Proposals, City
Wharf |
1892 |
| 1/14 | Bids and Proposals,
Equipment |
1890-1906 |
| 1/15 | Bids and Proposals,
Equipment |
1891-1906 |
| 1/16 | Bids and Proposals,
Printing |
1893-1907 |
| 1/17 | Bids and Proposals, Property
Purchase and Sales |
1899-1906 |
| 1/18 | Bids and Proposals,
Services |
1897-1905 |
| 1/19 | Bids and Proposals, Sewer
System |
1893-1903 |
| 1/20 | Bids and Proposals, Street
Improvements |
1898-1905 |
| 1/21 | Bids and Proposals, Street
Improvements |
1900-1907 |
| 1/22 | Bids and Proposals, Water
Works |
1890-1906 |
| 1/23 | Bills and
Receipts |
1890-1892 |
| 1/24 | Bills and
Receipts |
1893-1895 |
| 1/25 | Bills and
Receipts |
1896-1897 |
| 1/26 | Bills and
Receipts |
1898-1899 |
| 1/27 | Bills and
Receipts |
1900-1902 |
| 1/28 | Bills and
Receipts |
1903-1905 |
| 1/29 | Bills and
Receipts |
1906-1907 |
| 1/30 | Bills and
Receipts |
1890-1907 |
| 1/31 | Bonds, Local Improvement
Districts |
1895-1899 |
| 1/32 | Census |
1890 |
| 1/33 | Cigarette Licenses,
Applications |
1891-1905 |
| 1/34 | City Attorney,
Reports |
1893-1906 |
| 1/35 | City Clerk,
Correspondence |
1893-1906 |
| 2/1 | City Clerk, Monthly Statement
of Receipts |
1895-1899 |
| 2/2 | City Clerk, Quarterly
Financial Statements |
1890-1894 |
| 2/3 | City Clerk, Quarterly
Financial Statements |
1895-1899 |
| 2/4 | City Clerk, Quarterly
Financial Statements |
1900-1903 |
| 2/5 | City Clerk, Quarterly
Financial Statements |
1904-1907 |
| 2/6 | City Council, Committee
Appointments |
1904-1906 |
| 2/7 | City Council, Committee
Recommendations |
1890-1907 |
| 2/8 | City Council, Committee
Reports |
1891-1906 |
| 2/9 | City Engineer,
Reports |
1890-1907 |
| 2/10 | City Hall
Construction |
1893-1899 |
| 2/11 | City Marshall,
Reports |
1890-1906 |
| 2/12 | Claims |
1895-1907 |
| 2/13 | Contracts and Bonds, Artesian
Well |
1894-1904 |
| 2/14 | Contracts and Bonds, City
Wharf |
1892 |
| 2/15 | Contracts and Bonds,
Construction |
1892-1903 |
| 2/16 | Contracts and Bonds,
Equipment |
1890-1904 |
| 2/17 | Contracts and Bonds, Fire
Station |
1902 |
| 2/18 | Contracts and Bonds,
Printing |
1891-1907 |
| 2/19 | Contracts and Bonds,
Services |
1890-1905 |
| 2/20 | Contracts and Bonds, Sewer
System |
1899-1907 |
| 2/21 | Contracts and Bonds, Street
Improvements |
1893-1901 |
| 2/22 | Correspondence, A |
1891-1906 |
| 2/23 | Correspondence, B |
1891-1906 |
| 2/24 | Correspondence, B |
1891-1906 |
| 2/25 | Correspondence, C |
1891-1906 |
| 2/26 | Correspondence, D |
1890-1905 |
| 2/27 | Correspondence, E |
1890-1906 |
| 2/28 | Correspondence, F |
1890-1907 |
| 2/29 | Correspondence, G |
1890-1906 |
| 2/30 | Correspondence, H |
1890-1906 |
| 2/31 | Correspondence, J |
1890-1906 |
| 2/32 | Correspondence, K |
1890-1906 |
| 2/33 | Correspondence, L |
1890-1907 |
| 2/34 | Correspondence, M |
1890-1906 |
| 2/35 | Correspondence, N |
1890-1906 |
| 2/36 | Correspondence, O |
1890-1905 |
| 2/37 | Correspondence, P |
1890-1906 |
| 2/38 | Correspondence, R |
1890-1907 |
| 2/39 | Correspondence, S |
1890-1907 |
| 3/1 | Correspondence, T |
1890-1907 |
| 3/2 | Correspondence, V |
1890-1905 |
| 3/3 | Correspondence, W |
1890-1905 |
| 3/4 | County Auditor,
Reports |
1890-1907 |
| 3/5 | Debt Management |
1890-1906 |
| 3/6 | Delinquent Taxes |
1895-1905 |
| 3/7 | Delinquent Taxes, Land Sales
Certificates |
1890-1892 |
| 3/8 | Elections, Affidavits of
Publication |
1893-1906 |
| 3/9 | Elections, Annexation of
Territory |
1890-1891 |
| 3/10 | Elections, Candidate
Nominations |
1890 |
| 3/11 | Elections,
Certificates |
1895-1906 |
| 3/12 | Elections, Certificates of
Votes Cast |
1890-1894 |
| 3/13 | Elections, Citizens'
Anti-Gambling Ticket |
1904 |
| 3/14 | Elections, Citizens'
Independent Party |
1895 |
| 3/15 | Elections, Citizens'
Party |
1890-1905 |
| 3/16 | Elections, Citizens' Union
Party |
1894 |
| 3/17 | Elections, Contesting of
Returns |
1894 |
| 3/18 | Elections, Democratic
Party |
1890-1903 |
| 3/19 | Elections, Independent
Citizens' Party |
1898 |
| 3/20 | Elections, Non-Political
Citizens' Ticket |
1896 |
| 3/21 | Elections,
Notices |
1890-1905 |
| 3/22 | Elections, Official
Oaths |
1890-1899 |
| 3/23 | Elections, People's
Party |
1891-1892 |
| 3/24 | Elections, Republican
Party |
1892-1906 |
| 3/25 | Elections, Socialist
Party |
1904-1906 |
| 3/26 | Elections, Voter
Registration |
1891-1906 |
| 3/27 | Equalization, Board
of |
1890-1905 |
| 3/28 | Finance Committee,
Reports |
1890-1902 |
| 3/29 | Fire Department |
1890-1906 |
| 3/30 | Franchises |
1892-1902 |
| 3/31 | Franchises |
1902-1907 |
| 3/32 | Franchises,
Correspondence |
1890-1907 |
| 3/33 | Health Officer,
Reports |
1894-1907 |
| 3/34 | Insurance
Policies |
1898-1907 |
| 3/35 | Insurance
Policies |
1898-1907 |
| 3/36 | Insurance
Policies |
1898-1907 |
| 3/37 | King County Treasurer, Tax
Receipts |
1894-1896 |
| 3/38 | King County Treasurer, Tax
Receipts |
1897-1900 |
| 3/39 | King County Treasurer, Tax
Receipts |
1901-1903 |
| 3/40 | King County Treasurer, Tax
Receipts |
1904-1907 |
| 3/41 | Leases |
1890-1906 |
| 3/42 | Legal Actions |
1890-1898 |
| 3/43 | Liquor Licenses,
Petitions/Bonds |
1890-1894 |
| 3/44 | Liquor Licenses,
Petitions/Bonds |
1897-1902 |
| 3/45 | Liquor Licenses,
Petitions/Bonds |
1903-1904 |
| 4/1 | Liquor Licenses,
Petitions/Bonds |
1905-1907 |
| 4/2 | Mayor, Communications/Vetoes
to Council |
1890-1906 |
| 4/3 | Minutes, Board of
Trustees |
1890 |
| 4/4 | Oaths of Office,
A |
1894-1906 |
| 4/5 | Oaths of Office,
B |
1893-1906 |
| 4/6 | Oaths of Office,
C-D |
1893-1906 |
| 4/7 | Oaths of Office,
E-H |
1890-1906 |
| 4/8 | Oaths of Office,
I-L |
1893-1906 |
| 4/9 | Oaths of Office,
M-P |
1890-1906 |
| 4/10 | Oaths of Office,
R-W |
1893-1907 |
| 4/11 | Official Bonds, B |
1899-1904 |
| 4/12 | Official Bonds,
C-G |
1892-1905 |
| 4/13 | Official Bonds,
H-L |
1890-1907 |
| 4/14 | Official Bonds,
M-P |
1890-1906 |
| 4/15 | Official Bonds,
R-W |
1891-1907 |
| 4/16 | Payroll, City
Engineer |
1895-1896 |
| 4/17 | Petitions,
Annexation |
1903-1907 |
| 4/18 | Petitions, Assessment
Readjustments |
1893-1907 |
| 4/19 | Petitions, Ballard General
Hospital |
1907 |
| 4/20 | Petitions, City Limits
Altered |
1902 |
| 4/21 | Petitions, Creation of
Wards |
1895 |
| 4/22 | Petitions, Fire
Hydrants |
1892-1906 |
| 4/23 | Petitions, Fire and
Police |
1890-1907 |
| 4/24 | Petitions,
General |
1891-1906 |
| 4/25 | Petitions, Leases |
1901-1904 |
| 4/26 | Petitions, Light and Power
Issues |
1891-1902 |
| 4/27 | Petitions, Liquor and
Saloons |
1904-1907 |
| 4/28 | Petitions,
Livestock |
1892-1906 |
| 4/29 | Petitions, Permits to Use
City Parks/Council Chamber |
1895-1906 |
| 4/30 | Petitions,
Protests/Demonstrations |
1891-1907 |
| 4/31 | Petitions, Public Boat
Landing |
1904-1907 |
| 4/32 | Petitions, Public
Nuisances |
1897-1906 |
| 4/33 | Petitions, Sewer
System |
1903-1907 |
| 4/34 | Petitions,
Slaughterhouse |
1898-1905 |
| 4/35 | Petitions, Street
Improvements |
1893-1901 |
| 4/36 | Petitions, Street
Improvements |
1902-1903 |
| 4/37 | Petitions, Street
Improvements |
1904-1905 |
| 5/1 | Petitions, Street
Improvements |
1906-1907 |
| 5/2 | Petitions, Street
Improvements |
1890-1907 |
| 5/3 | Petitions, Street
Lighting |
1897-1907 |
| 5/4 | Petitions, Street Vacations
and Condemnations |
1900-1907 |
| 5/5 | Petitions, Street
Vendors |
1890-1904 |
| 5/6 | Petitions, Streetcar
Service |
1901-1906 |
| 5/7 | Petitions, Water Main
Extensions |
1897-1903 |
| 5/8 | Petitions, Water Main
Extensions |
1904-1907 |
| 5/9 | Petitions, Water Main
Extensions |
1890-1907 |
| 5/10 | Police/Justice
Court |
1892-1897 |
| 5/11 | Police Justice,
Reports |
1891-1907 |
| 5/12 | Property
Ownership |
1892-1903 |
| 5/13 | Public Library |
1893-1906 |
| 5/14 | Reorganization, Advancement
to Third Class City Status |
1890 |
| 5/15 | Requests for
Construction |
1895-1907 |
| 5/16 | Requests, General |
1890-1907 |
| 5/17 | Resignations, B-W |
1890-1907 |
| 5/18 | Resolutions |
1892-1907 |
| 5/19 | Salt Water Main |
1902-1903 |
| 5/20 | Scandinavian American Bank,
Deposits |
1899-1904 |
| 5/21 | Seattle and Montana Railway
Company |
1890-1906 |
| 5/22 | Seattle Electric
Company |
1900-1907 |
| 5/23 | Ship Canal, Correspondence
and Condemnations |
1898-1906 |
| 5/24 | Specifications,
Construction |
1890-1906 |
| 5/25 | Specifications,
Equipment |
1899-1906 |
| 5/26 | Specifications, General
Improvements |
1890-1907 |
| 5/27 | Specifications, Local
Improvement Districts |
1903-1907 |
| 5/28 | Specifications, Local
Improvement Districts |
1906 |
| 5/29 | Specifications, Local
Improvement Districts |
1906 |
| 5/30 | Specifications, Local
Improvement Districts |
1906 |
| 6/1 | Specifications, Street
Improvements |
1898-1901 |
| 6/2 | Sunset Telephone and
Telegraph Company |
1899-1907 |
| 6/3 | Superior Court
Cases |
1890-1904 |
| 6/4 | Taxes, Collector's Statements
and Levies |
1892-1904 |
| 6/5 | Treasurer's
Receipts |
1899-1906 |
| 6/6 | Treasurer's
Reports |
1890-1897 |
| 6/7 | Treasurer's
Reports |
1898-1900 |
| 6/8 | Treasurer's
Reports |
1901-1904 |
| 6/9 | Treasurer's
Reports |
1905 |
| 6/10 | Treasurer's
Reports |
1906-1907 |
| 6/11 | Water and Light,
Superintendent's Reports |
1896-1901 |
| 6/12 | Water and Light,
Superintendent's Reports |
1902-1907 |
| 6/13 | Water Supply, Agreements and
Correspondence |
1902-1906 |
| 6/14 | Water System, Bids and
Proposals |
1895-1904 |
| 6/15 | Water System, Contracts and
Bonds |
1895-1897 |
| 6/16 | Water System, Contracts and
Bonds |
1902-1906 |
| 6/17 | Water System, Correspondence
and Reports |
1894-1906 |
| 6/18 | Water System,
Specifications |
1895 |
| 6/19 | Water System,
Specifications |
1895-1906 |
| 6/20 | Water System,
Specifications |
1902-1906 |
| 6/21 | West Street and North End
Electric Railway Company |
1890-1897 |
Series IV: Register of Warrants, 1890-1907Return to Top
Numerical register of warrants issued by the City of Ballard. Includes warrant number, date, to whom issued, amount, and reason for issue.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Volume | ||
| 1 | Register of
Warrants |
1890-1896 |
| 2 | Register of
Warrants |
1896-1901 |
| 3 | Register of
Warrants |
1901-1905 |
| 4 | Register of
Warrants |
1904-1907 |
| 5 | Register of
Warrants |
1905-1907 |
Series V: Demands and Warrants, 1890-1898Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Volume | ||
| 1 | Demands and
Warrants |
1890-1898 |
Series VI: Local Improvement District Files, 1891-1907Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box | ||
| 1 | LIDs, A-W and
1-16 |
1891-1907 |
| 2 | LIDs, 17-114 |
1891-1907 |
| 3 | LIDs, 115-162 |
1891-1907 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Annexation (Municipal government)--Washington (State)--Seattle
- City councils--Washington (State)--Seattle
- Civic improvement--Washington (State)--Seattle
Geographical Names
- Ballard (Wash.)--Politics and government
- Ballard (Wash.)--Census, 1890
- Seattle (Wash.)--Politics and government
Form or Genre Terms
- Minutes
- Ordinances
Other Creators
-
Corporate Names
- Ballard (Wash.). City Council (creator)
Finding aid prepared by Scott
Cline
1989
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
