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Virginia Galle Subject Files, 1970-1989

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Galle, Virginia
Title
Virginia Galle Subject Files
Dates
1970-1989 (inclusive)
1983-1989 (bulk)
Quantity
4 cubic feet, (10 boxes)
Collection Number
4630-02
Summary
Virginia Galle served on the Seattle City Council between 1981 and 1989. This collection contains her subject files on topics such as solid waste, smoking policies, and domestic partnerships.
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
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Biographical Note

Virginia Galle served two terms on City Council between 1981 and 1989. The daughter of career Salvation Army officers, she was a librarian and high school English teacher in the Midwest before moving to Seattle. Influenced by the women’s movement, in 1965 Galle went back to school to earn a master’s degree at the University of Washington’s Graduate School of Public Affairs, writing her thesis on King County’s home-rule charter. She began working in the City of Seattle’s new Citizens Service Bureau, an agency which served as a resource for information and a clearinghouse for complaints about the city. Galle worked her way up through the ranks to become the head of the agency.

In 1973, she became the first woman department head in Seattle city government when she was appointed director of the Department of Licenses and Consumer Affairs. She eventually was fired from that position by Mayor Wes Uhlman after her aggressive pursuit of companies she perceived to be swindling the public. She served as executive director of the Girl Scouts Totem Council from 1977 until she resigned in 1981 to run for a City Council seat vacated by Randy Revelle.

While on the Council, Galle chaired the City Operations and Utilities (1982-1983), Environmental Management (1984-1987), and Finance and Personnel (1988-1989) committees. In 1987, she testified before a U.S. Congressional subcommittee on municipal solid waste issues. She lost her seat to Tom Weeks in the 1989 election. After leaving the Council, Galle worked as a consultant and remained active in community affairs.

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Content Description

The collection consists of correspondence, memoranda, reports, notes, surveys, newspaper clippings, and other materials relating to Galle’s work on various City Council committees. Materials have been organized into topical categories relating to issues of concern to the City Council.

A large portion of the materials reflects Galle’s extensive work on solid waste issues. One major initiative documented in the files is a proposal to demolish the West Point secondary treatment plant and build a new plant in Interbay. The files contain a large number of citizen comments about this plan. Another key topic is solid waste management, including issues surrounding a proposal to build a mass burn incinerator.

Another set of materials focuses on the development of smoking policies for City employees. Files chronicle the development of the policy, from recruitment of smoking and non-smoking employees to serve on the Citywide Smoking Policy Development Committee through employee input and legal challenges.

Domestic partnership was another issue Galle worked on. Files relate to two Council Bills addressing domestic partner benefits and use of sick leave and funeral leave for domestic partners. Materials include correspondence, news clippings, constituent letters, and background information.

Other topics covered in this collection include the redevelopment of Seattle Center, including files relating to a proposal from Disney to take over the site; management compensation; the admissions tax; the City Light customer information system; and the Seattle/Kent Good Neighbor Program.

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Use of the Collection

Preferred Citation

[Item and date], Virginia Galle Subject Files, Record Series 4630-02. Box [number], Folder [number]. Seattle Municipal Archives.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

The collection has been organized into eight topical categories:

  • Civil Rights & Education
  • Energy
  • Finance
  • Land Use & Urban Development
  • Parks, Recreation & Culture
  • Personnel
  • Public Safety & Health
  • Utilities, Water, & Waste Management

Separated Materials

Publications were pulled from the collection and are cataloged separately in the Published Documents Index.

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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

  • Domestic partner benefits--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Integrated solid waste management--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Refuse and refuse disposal--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Sewage disposal--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Smoking law and legislation--Washington (State)--Seattle

Personal Names

  • Galle, Virginia

Corporate Names

  • Seattle Center (Seattle, Wash.)

Geographical Names

  • Seattle (Wash.)

Other Creators

  • Corporate Names

    • Seattle (Wash.)--City Council (creator)

Finding aid prepared by Julie Kerssen
2006

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

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