Municipal Art Commission Subject Files, 1955-1969

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Seattle (Wash.). Municipal Art Commission
Title
Municipal Art Commission Subject Files
Dates
1955-1969 (inclusive)
Quantity
1.6 cubic ft., (4 boxes)
Collection Number
1652-02
Summary
The Municipal Art Commission Subject Files, 1955-1969, contain correspondence, memoranda, reports, and press clippings relating to the programs, activities, and administration of the Commission.
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

An Arts Commission was created in 1955 to advise City government regarding the artistic and cultural development of the City. The Commission had ten members (later increased by ordinance to fifteen), who represented the painting, sculpture, music, literature, architecture, and landscape architecture communities; members could be nominated for appointment to the Commission by their organizations.

The Commission was reorganized in 1957 as the Municipal Art Commission by Ordinance 86692. Its primary mission remained the same, and the composition of the Commission changed only slightly. Its fifteen members included two from each of the abovementioned categories as well as three "lay" members. The Commission's advisory responsibility was extended to recommendations regarding the purchase of artworks by the City or the donation of artworks to the City; each painting, sculpture, or fountain and its location had to be approved by the Commission, which also made recommendations on the removal of artworks. The Commission was also responsible for making recommendations on the design of new physical structures to be constructed in the City and could even advise private property owners at no charge.

In 1961, the Commission's responsibilities were broadened to include historic preservation recommendations. In 1971, the Municipal Art Commission, which was "no longer actively pursuing its responsibilities," was abolished by Ordinance 99982 and replaced by the Seattle Arts Commission. The new Commission acted in the same advisory capacity and had fifteen mayor-appointed members; its actions served "to promote and encourage public programs to further the development and public awareness of and interest in the fine and performing arts."

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Correspondence, memoranda, reports, and press clippings relating to the programs, activities, and administration of the Municipal Arts Commission; included are materials on Commission input regarding planning for construction of physical structures in the City. Photographs and architectural drawings are found in a few files; the collection also contains several folders of annual reports and general correspondence.The records contain information on projects, special events, programs and development in various Seattle neighborhoods, the Chief Seattle statue, the Civic Center, Seattle Center, historic sites preservation, lighting, landscaping, parks, parking, and sign and billboard regulations. Also included are files regarding the work of prominent local artists such as Doris Chase, Mark Tobey, and George Tsutakawa.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Preferred Citation

[Item and date], Municipal Art Commission Subject Files, Record Series 1652-02. Box [number], Folder [number]. Seattle Municipal Archives.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Records are arranged alphabetically by subject.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

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

Municipal Art Commission Subject Files, 1955-1969Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/1
Allied Arts of Seattle
1956-1967
1/2
Annual Art Commission Awards Dinner: Correspondence, Invitation Lists and Commission Members
1966-1967
1/2
Annual Art Commission Awards Dinner: Correspondence, Invitation Lists, and Commission Members
1966-1967
1/3
Architecture, Planning, Landscaping Committee: Second Preliminary Report
1956
1/4
Art Commission Annual Report
1958
1/5
Art Commission Annual Report
1957
1/6
Art Commission Annual Report
1956
1/7
Art Commission Annual Report
1959
1/8
Art Commission Annual Report
1960
1/9
Art Commission Annual Report
1962
1/10
Art Commission Annual Report
1964
1/11
Art Commission: Correspondence, General
1963
1/12
Art Commission: Correspondence, General
1964
1/13
Art Commission: Correspondence, General
1965-1966
1/14
Art Commission: Correspondence, General
1967
1/15
Art Commission: Correspondence, General
1968
1/16
Art Commission Landscape and Architecture Committee
1964-1967
1/17
Art Commission Members, Committees, Regulations
1959-1967
1/18
Art Commission Projects: Gifts for the Mayor
1965
1/19
Art Commission Projects: Miscellaneous
1965-1967
1/20
Arts for Youth Festival
1964
1/21
Arts Programming: Report on Park Department Music and Art Programming
1961
1/22
Associated Council for the Arts (New York)
1967-1968
1/23
Ballard City Hall Site
1965-1966
1/24
Beautification: General
1965-1966
1/25
Boeing 50th Anniversary Medallion
1965-1966
1/26
Bridges
1964
1/27
Bus Stops and Shelters
1962-1963
1/28
Central Association of Seattle
1965-1966
1/29
Central Area Motivation Program: Performing Arts Center - Cherry Hill Firehouse
1967
1/30
Central Business District Development
1963
1/31
Charles Street Traffic Engineering Building: Landscape Recommendations
1964-1966
1/32
Chief Sealth Statue: Report on Relocation
1957
1/33
Citations, Awards, and Resolutions
1961-1962
1/34
City Council
1966
1/35
City Building Signs
1965
1/36
City Flag
1965
2/1
City Light
1962-1964
2/2
City Light: Pine Street Substation (Drawing)
1965
2/3
Civic Arts Account: Donated Art Works
1961
2/4
Civic Arts Account: Donated Art Works
1962
2/5
Civic Arts Fund
1965-1966
2/6
Civic Arts Fund
1967-1969
2/7
Civic Center: International Fountain Design and Competition
1960-1962
2/8
Civic Center Survey
n.d.
2/9
Design Review and Recommendations
1966-1968
2/10
Engineering Department: General
1965-1966
2/11
Public Financing for Public Art Works
1966
2/12
Fire Station Number 8
1963
2/13
Fire Station Number 22: Preservation
1963-1966
2/14
Fire Station Number 23: Disposition
1965
2/15
Fire Station Number 40
1964
2/16
Freeway Landscaping and Highway Aesthetics
1959-1964
2/17
Fortson Square
1966
2/18
Gerber Memorial Park: Children's Fountain - George Tsutakawa
1968
2/19
Gray, Maxine Cushing: "The Argus"
1965-1966
2/20
Historic Sites in Seattle
1960-1966
2/21
Historic Sites in Seattle: Suggested Consultants
1965
2/21
Historic Sites: Suggested Consultants
1965
2/22
Holiday Dance Concert
1963
2/22
Holiday Dance Concert
1963
2/23
Interdepartmental Seattle Beautiful Committee
1966
2/24
Instructions to Architects: Design Review
1965
2/25
Ivar Haglund Fountain
1966
2/26
Joshua Green Fountain: George Tsutakawa Insurance Issues
1965-1967
2/27
Kerry Park: Doris Totten Chase Sculpture
1968
2/27
Kerry Park: Doris Totten Chase Sculpture
1968
2/28
Landscape Architect Licensing
1966-1967
2/29
Nominating Committee
1956-1968
2/29
Lake Union Development
1963-1967
2/30
Lake Washington Bridge
1963
3/1
Lake Washington Boulevard at Hillside Drive: Viewpoint Proposed Improvement - Frederick J. Blanchett Foundation
1965-1966
3/2
Legislative Department: City Council
1965
3/3
Library and Library Branches
1963-1967
3/4
Lighting Fixtures for Restaurant Annex A, Civic Center: Seattle Lighting Company (includes drawing and photographs)
1964
3/5
Mark Tobey Mural Cards: Journey of the Opera Star
1965-1966
3/6
Messenger Memorial: United Parcel Service
1966
3/7
Municipal Building
1963-1968
3/8
Municipality of Metropolitan Seattle (METRO)
1965-1966
3/9
Northwest Craft Center
1965-1967
3/10
Northwest Dance Theater
1965
3/11
Old Public Safety Building (Yesler Building)
1966
3/12
Overpasses
1962-1965
3/13
Parking Garages and Parking Lots
1963-1967
3/13
Parking Lots and Parking Garages
1963-1967
3/14
Parking: Suggested Modifications to Parking Lot Criteria in New Zoning Ordinance
n.d.
3/14
Parking: Suggested Modifications to Parking Lot Criteria in the New Zoning Ordinance
n.d.
3/15
Parks Department: General
1964-1966
3/16
Pedestrian Overpasses
1959-1964
3/17
Performing Arts Program for Youth: Grant Proposal to Ford Foundation - Central Area Motivation Program
1967
3/18
Pike Place Market
1964-1968
3/19
Pioneer Square
1964-1968
3/20
Planning Commission
1966
3/21
Plaques for Donated Works of Art
1962-1967
3/22
Playgrounds and Playfields
1963-1966
3/23
Plymouth Congregational Church Columns
1966-1967
3/24
Post Office: Curb-Side Mailboxes
1965-1966
3/25
Queen City Yacht Club
1963
3/26
Requests for Information
1965-1966
3/27
R.H. Thomson Freeway
1965
3/28
Robert Joffrey Ballet Company: Proposed Summer Residency
1965-1967
3/29
Seattle Center: General
1963-1968
3/30
Seattle Center: International Fountain
1965
3/30
Seattle Center: International Fountain
1965
3/31
Seattle Center: Kobe Bell Building and Grounds
1964-1966
3/31
Seattle Center: Kobe Bell Building and Grounds
1964-1966
3/32
Seattle Center: Marine Park and Aquarium Proposal
1966
3/33
Seattle Center: Opera House
1963-1966
3/34
Seattle Center: Opera House - Cecilia Schultz Music Room Dedication
1965
3/35
Seattle Center Permanent Works of Art and Items of Interest
1965-1966
3/35
Seattle Center: Permanent Works of Art and Items of Interest
1965-1966
3/36
Seattle Center: Playhouse Questionnaire
1965
3/37
Seattle Center: Repertory Theatre
1964
4/1
Seattle Housing Authority
1966
4/2
Seattle Public Library: General
1965-1966
4/2
Seattle Public Library: General
1965-1966
4/3
Seattle Repertory Theatre Tickets
1965-1966
4/3
Seattle Repertory Theatre Tickets
1965-1966
4/4
Service Pins for City Employees
1966
4/5
Sewage Treatment Plants: Landscaping and Design
1963
4/6
Seward Park: Torii
1962-1963
4/6
Seward Park: Torii
1962-1963
4/7
Sign and Billboard Regulation
1955-1958
4/8
Sign and Billboard Regulation
1959
4/9
Sign and Billboard Regulation
1960
4/10
Sign and Billboard Regulation
1961-1962
4/10
Sign and Billboard Regulation
1961-1963
4/11
Sign and Billboard Regulation
1963-1964
4/11
Sign and Billboard Regulation
1963-1964
4/12
Sign and Billboard Regulation
1965-1967
4/12
Sign and Billboard Regulation
1965-1967
4/13
Spring and Seneca Streets and Sixth Avenue Triangle
1965-1966
4/14
Stewart Street Landscaping and Lighting
1965
4/15
Street Furniture
1966
4/16
Street Lighting
1964-1965
4/17
Street Tree Planting Program: A Report on Current and Future Stree Tree Planting Programs
1966
4/18
Street Trees: Planting and Pruning
1963-1968
4/19
Trash Receptacles
1965-1966
4/20
Title III: Supplementary Education Planning
1966
4/21
Underground Wiring
1963-1968
4/22
Urban Design Board
1965
4/23
Victoria (B.C.) Light Standards
1965
4/24
Washington Bird Sculpture
1965-1966
4/25
Washington State Arts Commission
1965
4/26
Washington State Coliseum
1963
4/27
Westlake Mall
1963-1965
4/28
Westlake Square Fountain (Drawing)
1964-1967
4/29
Will Rodgers Memorial
1966
4/30
Winter Leaves by Morris Graves
1963
4/31
Woodland Park Zoo
1964

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Architecture--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Art commissions--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Art, Municipal--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Billboards--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • City planning--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Historic preservation--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Public sculpture--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Public art--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Signs and signboards--Washington (State)--Seattle

Personal Names

  • Chase, Doris, 1923-
  • Seattle, Chief, 1790-1866--Statues
  • Tobey, Mark
  • Tsutakawa, George

Corporate Names

  • Seattle Center (Seattle, Wash.)

Geographical Names

  • Seattle (Wash.)--Buildings, structures, etc.

Form or Genre Terms

  • Architectural drawings
  • Correspondence
  • Memorandums
  • Photographic prints