Engineering Department Safety Photographs

Engineering Department Safety Photographs, 1947-1987

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Seattle (Wash.). Engineering Dept.
Title: Engineering Department Safety Photographs
Dates: 1947-1987 (inclusive)
19471987
Quantity: 176 black and white photographs, (42 color photographs), (7 Polaroid photographs)
.4 cubic foot, (1 box)
Collection Number: 2613-26
Summary: Photographs of Engineering Department Safety Award-winning departments and individuals, 1947-1987. Also included are photographs of Engineering Department vehicles and equipment, construction projects, and vehicle damage due to accidents.
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 Seattle Engineering Department (SED) maintained the City's streets and bridges, designed and oversaw construction of public works projects, provided traffic and transportation planning, and operated the sewer and solid waste utility. The position of City Surveyor was created in 1873 to survey the City, establish boundaries and street grades, and administer condemnation processes. This position was renamed City Engineer in 1890. In 1931 the Engineering Department absorbed part of the Department of Public Utilities and in 1936 it assumed the responsibilities of the Department of Streets and Sewers and the Traffic Department. In 1997, the water, solid waste, drainage, and wastewater utilities from the Engineering and Water departments were merged with the Engineering Services Division of SED and the Customer Service Call Center and Construction Engineering Sections of City Light to form Seattle Public Utilities. The traffic and transportation functions of the Engineering Department were consolidated in the Seattle Transportation Department.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The Seattle Engineering Department Safety Photographs date from 1954 to 1972. Photographs depicting groups and individuals receiving or posed with Engineering Department Safety Awards for various years comprise the bulk of the collection. Also included are photographs depicting vehicular accidents and damage, Engineering Department construction and repair projects, cleaning operations, Engineering Department vehicles and equipment, and the monorail terminal. Many images are undated.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Preferred Citation

[Title of image, date. Item number.] Seattle Engineering Department Safety Photographs, Record Series 2613-26. Seattle Municipal Archives.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Photographs are arranged alphabetically by subject; within each subject, they are arranged chronologically.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

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

Seattle Engineering Department Safety Photographs, 1947-1987Return to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box/Folder
1/1	Accidents and Vehicle Damage 24 black and white photographs; 7 Polaroid photographs Photographs show damaged vehicles and accident scenes; several 1961 images document the wreckage of a car ("driven by Fairbanks") hit by a train.	1955-1987, n.d.
1/2	Co-Worker of the Year: Sam Yazzolino 6 black and white photographs Award presentation with Seattle Engineering Department officials, including Roy W. Morse.	1961
1/3	Equipment and Machinery 8 black and white photographs Pictured are Engineering Department cars, trucks, and other vehicles, as well as a fan belt.	1958-1963
1/4	Food Drive 2 black and white photographs	1968
1/5	Miscellaneous Photographs 8 black and white photographs Included are images of vehicles, people, and roads.	n.d.
1/6	Monorail 4 black and white photographs Exit ramp at downtown monorail terminal.	1963
1/7	People 6 black and white photographs Photographs of people, mostly unnamed; identified individuals include Warren Vereide, Ron Nieforth, and H. Ward Tyler. One image may show the Seattle City Council, including Mildred Powell.	1960, n.d.
1/8	Safety Awards 1954 1 black and white photograph	ca. 1954-1955
1/9	Safety Awards 1956 1 black and white photograph "Charmed Circle"; names of men are listed on back of photograph.	ca. 1956-1957
1/10	Safety Awards 1957 4 black and white photographs "Charmed Circle" group photograph, banquet, and award presentation to Hillman Mice.	ca. 1957-1958
1/11	Safety Awards 1958 3 black and white photographs	1959
1/12	Safety Awards 1959 14 black and white photographs "Old Timers" and "Near Miss" group portraits; award presentations to individuals.	ca. 1959-1960
1/13	Safety Awards 1960 11 black and white photographs Award presentations to groups and individuals.	1961
1/14	Safety Awards 1961 3 black and white photographs Award presentations to groups and individuals.	1962
1/15	Safety Awards 1962 13 black and white photographs Award presentations to groups and individuals.	1963
1/16	Safety Awards 1963 7 black and white photographs Award presentations to groups and individuals.	ca. 1963-1964
1/17	Safety Awards 1964 1 black and white photograph	ca. 1964-1965
1/18	Safety Awards 1965 3 black and white photographs Award presentations to groups.	1966
1/19	Safety Awards 1966 2 black and white photographs Awards presented to groups.	1966-1967
1/20	Safety Awards 1967 12 color photographs Awards presented to groups.	1968
1/21	Safety Awards 1968 4 color photographs; 1 black and white photograph Awards presented to groups.	1969
1/22	Safety Awards 1969 12 color photographs; 2 black and white photographs Awards presented to groups and close-up shot of National Safety Council Award of Honor.	1969-1970
1/23	Safety Awards 1970 2 color photographs Award presented to group.	1971
1/24	Safety Awards: National Safety Council Award 2 color photographs Roy W. Morse with other Seattle Engineering Department officials.	1971
1/25	Safety Awards 1971 7 color photographs Awards presented to groups.	1972
1/26	Safety Awards 1972 2 color photographs Awards presented to groups.	1973
1/27	Safety Awards: Undated 19 black and white photographs Various award presentation events/banquets/dinners, award recipients, and speakers.	ca. 1960s
1/28	Safety Meeting Inspectors 2 black and white photographs	1959
1/29	Safety Program 3 black and white photographs Photographs document the correct procedure for backing up a dump truck.	1959
1/30	Tolt River Project Employee Tour 5 black and white photographs Includes photographs of tour bus and employees.	1961
1/31	Seattle Engineering Department Work and Projects 16 black and white photographs Specific projects include cleaning operations on the Alaskan Way Viaduct, repair warnings for the Lake Washington Floating Bridge, and an accident at Aurora and Prospect.	1959-1964
1/32	Seattle Engineering Department Work and Projects 7 black and white photographs; 1 color photograph Specific projects include 15th Ave. West widening, work at 44th and Sunset, and the North End Transfer site. One image of men working on a telephone pole is dated 1947 and may be from City Light.	1947-1967

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

Award presentations--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs
Monorail railroads--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs
Municipal engineering--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs
Safety--Washington (State)--Seattle
Traffic accidents--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs

Personal Names

Morse, Roy W.

Corporate Names

Seattle (Wash.). Engineering Dept.

Geographical Names

Seattle (Wash.).

Form or Genre Terms

Group portraits
Instant camera photographs
Photographic prints

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