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Building Department Annual Reports, 1894-1979

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Seattle (Wash.). City Clerk
Title
Building Department Annual Reports
Dates
1894-1979 (inclusive)
Quantity
.8 cubic ft., ((2 boxes))
Collection Number
1802-F4
Summary
Annual reports of the Building Department, 1894 to 1977. The 1894-1895 reports are from the Dept. of Buildings, Bridges, and Wharves. Records include information on building construction and inspection, safety issues, and economic issues. Also included is information on permits, revenues, and buildings erected.
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 Building Department was established in 1908 [see 1909 report] to manage public buildings and enforce construction codes. In 1912 the supervision of wharves and docks was placed within the Building Department. The Boiler Inspection Department was transferred to the Building Department in 1920. Building inspections and permits constituted a large portion of the department’s activities. The Civic Auditorium was also under the control of the Building Department from 1928 until its 1962 demolition.

The Building Department became part of the Department of Construction and Land Use in 1980.

Superintendents of Buildings: Francis Grant 1908-1911; R.H. Ober 1911-1914; T. Josenhans 19141918-; J.A. Johnson 1918-1920; Jas. E. Blackwell 1920-1922; Robert L. Proctor 1922-1926; G. W. Roberge 1926-1929; J.L. Hardy 1929-1931; W.C. Bickford, 1931-1932; W.A. Gaines, 1932-1934; Paul Fredrickson, 1934-1936; H.C. Ritzman, 1936-1938; Paul Fredrickson 1938-1939; Joseph Little 1939-1941; Charles C. Hughes, 1941-1944-; John B. Cain, 1944-1953; Arthur E.W. Dodds 1953; Fred B. McCoy, 1954-1966; C.S. McCormick 1966-1969; Lester J. Gillis (Acting Superintendent) 1970; Alfred Petty, 1971-1978; William Justen 1978-1980.

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Content Description

The reports date from 1894 to 1977. The earliest reports, from 1894-1895, relate to the Department of Buildings, Bridges, and Wharves. Early reports discuss building construction and inspection; safety concerns are a frequent topic in these reports. Included in this series is a 1921 report from the Superintendent of Buildings listing all property under supervision of the Superintendent. Some reports reflect the economic condition of the City in the context of new construction. Other reports put the City within a national perspective. There is different statistical information for different years. Included is information on permits issued, lists of building erected, lists of revenue derived from City property, and maintenance cost of department automobiles. Some reports have organizational charts for the department.

The 1934 report contains a useful history of legislation relating to building regulations. Reports in the 1950s discuss new legislation relating to construction. Changes in fire and building codes are also reflected in the reports. Reports in the 1960s and 1970s reflect major building projects, such as the Seattle Center and the Model City Program.

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Use of the Collection

Preferred Citation

[Item and date], Building Department Annual Reports, Record Series 1802-F4. Box [number], Folder [number]. Seattle Municipal Archives.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

Reports are arranged chronologically by year.

Custodial History

Records were originally filed with the City Clerk in the Comptroller/Clerk's Files (CFs) and were removed to create this record series.

Related Materials

Boiler and steam reports for the years 1908-1919 may be found in Record Series 1802-A2 (miscellaneous annual reports). Steam boiler inspection became part of the Building Department in 1920.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

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

Finding aid prepared by Anne Frantilla
2004

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

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