Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Seward Park Art Studio Records, 1972-1984
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Seattle (Wash.). Dept. of Parks and Recreation
- Title
- Seward Park Art Studio Records
- Dates
- 1972-1984 (inclusive)19721984
- Quantity
- 1.8 cubic feet, (5 boxes)
- Collection Number
- 5808-01
- Summary
- Records of a arts studio and school operated by the Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation.
- 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.
Historical NoteReturn to Top
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.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Correspondence, reports, schedules, promotional materials, and attendance records for an arts education and recreation program based at Seward Park in south Seattle. Also included are correspondence, minutes, membership lists, and organizational documents of the Seward Park Art Studio Advisory Council, which acted in an advisory and resource capacity to the staff of the Studio.
The Seward Park Art Studio opened in 1970 as a center for visual arts in a bathhouse at Seward Park that had been renovated with Forward Thrust funds. It offered courses in clay, photography, jewelry-making, weaving and printmaking. The Studio, along with other art programs, was cut from the city budget in 1980 and a private non-profit group, City Art Works, was formed to continue the operation of its programs.
Records of City Art Works, series 5807-16, document operations of Seward Park Art Studio after it was merged with Pratt Fine Arts Center in 1980. For related records documenting the administration of the Performing and Visual Arts Program, see record series 5807-14.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Preferred Citation
[Item and date], Seward Park Art Studio Records , Record Series 5808-01. Box [number], Folder [number]. Seattle Municipal Archives.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
Arranged in two subseries: Administrative records and Seward Park Art Studio Advisory Council records.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.
Administrative records, 1973-1984Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
1/1 | Pacific Art
Center |
1980 |
1/2 | Seattle Book Art
Fair |
1981 |
1/3 | Art Programs for the Hearing
Impaired |
1981 |
1/5 | Memos Incoming |
1977 |
1/6 | Memos Incoming |
1977 |
1/7 | Memos Incoming |
1978 |
1/8 | Memos Incoming |
1979 |
1/9 | Memos Incoming |
1980 |
1/10 | Memos Incoming |
1980 |
1/11 | Memos Incoming |
1980-1981 |
1/12 | Memos Incoming |
1981-1982 |
1/13 | Announcements |
1974-1977 |
1/14 | Fact Sheet,
History |
1979 |
2/1 | Christmas Studio Sale and
Auction |
1975 |
2/2 | Memos Outgoing |
1978 |
2/3 | Memos Outgoing |
1979 |
2/4 | Memos Outgoing |
1980-1982 |
2/5 | Memos Outgoing |
1980-1982 |
2/6 | Memos Outgoing |
1980-1982 |
2/7 | Correspondence
Incoming |
1974-1976 |
2/8 | Correspondence
Incoming |
1974-1976 |
2/9 | Correspondence
Incoming |
1977-1982 |
2/10 | National Endowment of the
Art |
1973 |
2/11 | National Endowment of the
Art |
1974 |
2/12 | National Endowment of the
Art |
1975 |
2/13 | National Endowment of the
Art |
1976 |
3/1 | Park Appreciation
Day |
1980 |
3/2 | Correspondence
Outgoing |
1973-1976 |
3/3 | Correspondence
Outgoing |
1977-1981 |
3/4 | Correspondence
Outgoing |
1981-1982 |
3/5 | City Art Works
Evaluations |
1980 |
3/6 | City Art Works Evaluations -
Winter |
1981 |
3/7 | City Art Works Evaluation -
Summer |
1981 |
3/8 | City Art Works Evaluations -
Winter |
1981 |
3/9 | Bumbershoot |
1974 |
3/10 | Bumbershoot |
1975 |
3/11 | Bumbershoot |
1976 |
3/12 | Staff Notes - Recreation
Program Division |
1980-1982 |
3/13 | Staff Notes - Recreation
Program Division |
1982 |
4/1 | Poncho Pending
Grants |
1975 |
4/2 | Martha Washington Visual Art
Complex |
1973-1975 |
4/3 | Martha Washington Visual Art
Complex |
1973-1976 |
4/4 | Class Schedules |
1974-1984 |
4/5 | Craftsweek |
1977-1978 |
4/6 | Crafts Week |
1978 |
4/7 | Western States Art
Commission- Pending Grants |
1975 |
4/8 | Seattle Foundation - Pending
Grants |
1975 |
4/9 | Bond Issue |
1981 |
4/10 | Faculty Show - Ing
Gallery |
1974 |
4/11 | Faculty Show - The Artist
Gallery |
1975 |
4/12 | Faculty Show - The Artist
Gallery |
1976-1977 |
4/13 | Weekly Reports |
1973-1975 |
4/14 | Weekly Reports |
1975-1977 |
Seward Park Art Studio Advisory Council records, 1972-1981Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
4/15 | Agreements |
1977 |
4/16 | Budget / Finance |
1974-1977 |
5/1 | Constitution and Articles of
Incorporation |
1973-1981 |
5/2 | Correspondence |
1973-1976 |
5/3 | Grants |
1974-1977 |
5/4 | Internal Revenue Service
Returns |
1972-1974 |
5/5 | Meeting with Willis Woods,
Director, Seattle Art Museum |
1974 |
5/6 | Membership |
1973-1976 |
5/7 | Minutes and
Agenda |
1973-1977 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Art Study and teaching--Washington (State)--Seattle
- Art schools--Washington (State)--Seattle
- Bumbershoot Festival (Seattle, Wash.)
Corporate Names
- Seattle (Wash.). Dept. of Parks and Recreation
- Seward Park Art Studio Advisory Council
Geographical Names
- Seattle (Wash.)
Other Creators
-
Corporate Names
- Seward Park Art Studio (Seattle, Wash.) (creator)