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Engineering Department Seattle Bridges Photograph Album, 1910-1932

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Seattle (Wash.). Engineering Dept.
Title
Engineering Department Seattle Bridges Photograph Album
Dates
1910-1932 (inclusive)
Quantity
.5 cubic ft., ((1 box)), (83 digitized images)
Collection Number
2613-23
Summary
Photographs of Seattle Engineering Department work on bridges, overpasses, and viaducts. Neighborhoods pictured include the Industrial District, University District, and Downtown.
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.
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Historical Note

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.

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Content Description

The images in this collection, taken by the Seattle Engineering Department, illustrate bridges, overpasses, and viaducts in the Seattle area as well as work that the Engineering Department performed on the structures. Structural materials, signs, neighboring businesses, Engineering Department employees at work, streetcars, and waterways are depicted in the photographs. Neighborhoods include the Industrial District, University District, and Downtown.

Photographs are pasted on black paper and each page is labeled and dated. The sizes of the prints vary from 3 1/2 x 5 to 5 x7. The majority of the images are available online. View 2613-23 online

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Use of the Collection

Preferred Citation

[Title of image, date. Item number.] Seattle Engineering Department Bridge Photographs, Record Series 2613-23. Box [number], Folder [number]. Seattle Municipal Archives.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

Photographs are grouped according to neighborhood and arranged alphabetically by neighborhood name.

Processing Note

Pages were removed from albums and placed in folders.

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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

  • Bridge construction--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs
  • Viaducts--Design and construction--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs

Corporate Names

  • Seattle (Wash.) Engineering Department

Geographical Names

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

Form or Genre Terms

  • Photographic prints

Finding aid prepared by Anne Frantilla
2002

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

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