Electrical Crafts Apprenticeship Committee Records, 1956-2005

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Seattle City Light
Title
Electrical Crafts Apprenticeship Committee Records
Dates
1956-2005 (inclusive)
Quantity
0.8 cubic feet, (2 boxes )
Collection Number
1215-05
Summary
The minutes and miscellaneous files of Electrical Crafts Apprenticeship committee of Seattle City Light's Apprenticeship program, as well as curriculm for this specific program.
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

Historical NoteReturn to Top

City Light provides electricity and electrical and conservation services to its public and private customers. It is the largest public utility in the Pacific Northwest. Public responsibility for electrical energy dates back to 1890 with creation of the Department of Lighting and Water Works. The formulation of this public utility stemmed from fear of monopolization by private companies and was reinforced by the inadequacy of those companies during the Great Fire of 1889. Unable to gain access to private water, much of the business district was burned to the ground. Citizens responded eagerly to the idea of publicly owned water and electricity, which was later encouraged as part of President Roosevelt's New Deal in the 1930s.

In 1902, Seattle voters passed a bond issue to develop hydroelectric power on the Cedar River under the administration of the Water Department. This was the nation's first municipally owned hydroelectric project. Electricity from this development began to serve customers in Seattle in 1905. A City Charter amendment in 1910 created the Lighting Department, making it a full member of the City's Board of Public Works. Under the leadership of Superintendent James D. Ross, the department developed the Skagit River hydroelectric project which began supplying power in 1924 with the completion of the Gorge Dam.

Both public and private power was supplied to Seattle until 1951 when the City purchased the local private electrical power company, the Puget Sound Power and Light Company, making the Lighting Department the sole supplier. The Boundary Project in northeastern Washington began operations in 1967 and supplied over half of City Light's power generation.

The current name of the agency was adopted in 1978 when the department was reorganized. As a municipally owned public power system, Seattle City Light is governed by elected Seattle officials. Administrative authority rests with the Superintendent and an executive team that includes the department's Chief of Staff, Service and Energy Delivery Officer, Human Resources Officer, Power Supply and Environmental Affairs Officer, and Chief Financial Officer. City Light is responsible for electrical service and streetlight service, streetlight problems, and also conservation, both residential and commercial/industrial.

City Light provides low-cost, reliable, and environmentally responsible electric power to approximately 395,000 customers in Seattle and neighboring areas, including Burien, Lake Forest Park, Normandy Park, Renton, SeaTac, Shoreline, Tukwila, and unincorporated King County. It is the ninth-largest public power system in the United States and has the lowest rates among comparably sized cities in the United States.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The Electrical Crafts Apprenticeship Committee was a semi-public entity that administered and coordinated City Light's electrical apprenticeship programs. It was made up of union members from the Brotherhood of Electrical Workers as well as members nominated by the Joint Apprenticeship Advisory Committee. The committee selected apprentices, revised standards of apprenticeships, approved curriculum including fitness programs, monitored apprentice performance and academic progress, and oversaw special electric apprenticeships such as electric meters technicians and cable splicers.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Preferred Citation

[Item and date], Electrical Crafts Apprenticeship Committee Records, Record Series 1215-05. Box [number], Folder [number]. Seattle Municipal Archives.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
1 1 ECAC Minutes 1956-1960
1 2 ECAC Minutes 1961-1971
1 3 ECAC Minutes 1972-1974
1 4 Electrical Worker Program and Lessons 1977-1978
1 5 ECAC Minutes 1980-1981
1 6 ECAC Minutes 1991-1992
1 7 ECAC Minutes 1987-1992
1 8 ECAC Minutes 1993-1995
1 9 ECAC Minutes 1996-1997
2 1 ECAC Minutes 1998-1999
2 2 ECAC Minutes 2000-2001
2 3 ECAC Minutes 2002-2003
2 4 ECAC Minutes 2004-2005
2 5 Meter Apprenticeship Training Program 1/2 1997
2 6 Meter Apprenticeship Training Program 2/2 1997
2 7 Cable Splicer Apprentice Program 1975

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Apprenticeship programs--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Electric meters--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Labor Unions--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Occupational training--Washington (State)--Seattle