WaSMAR1802_F4 Guide to the Building Department Annual Reports 1894-1979 Building Department Annual Reports Finding aid prepared by Anne Frantilla Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Seattle Municipal Archives ©2004
PO Box 94728 600 Fourth Avenue, Floor 3 Seattle, WA 98124-4728 Phone: 206/233-7807 Email: archives@seattle.gov http://www.seattle.gov/cityarchives
Finding aid encoded by Shannon B. Lynch 2004 Finding aid written in English. Seattle Municipal Archives
PO Box 94728 600 Fourth Avenue, Floor 3 Seattle, WA 98124-4728 Phone: 206/233-7807 Email: archives@seattle.gov http://www.seattle.gov/cityarchives
1802-F4 Seattle (Wash.). City Clerk Building Department Annual Reports 1894-1979 .8 cubic ft. (2 boxes) 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. Collection materials are in English. 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.

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.

Reports are arranged chronologically by year.

Records are open to the public.

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

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

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.

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Seattle (Wash.). Building Dept. Seattle (Wash.). Dept. of Buildings, Bridges, and Wharves Seattle Model City Program Seattle (Wash.)--Politics and government Seattle Center (Seattle, Wash.) Building--Washington (State)--Seattle Building inspection--Washington (State)--Seattle Building laws--Washington (State)--Seattle Bridges--Washington (State)--Seattle Wharves--Washington (State)--Seattle Steam-boiler inspection--Washington (State)--Seattle Fire prevention--Washington (State)--Seattle Public buildings--Washington (State)--Seattle Building permits--Washington (State)--Seattle Government and Politics City Planning Seattle Annual reports

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

Building Department Annual Reports 1894-1979 1/1 Buildings, Bridges and Wharves Department Annual Report 1894 1/2 Buildings, Bridges and Wharves Department Annual Report 1895 1/3 Superintendent of Buildings' Annual Report on City Property 1921 1/4 Buildings Department Annual Report 1905 1/4 Building Department Annual Report 1908 1/4 Building Department Annual Report 1909 1/4 Buildings Department Annual Report 1910 1/4 Buildings Department Statement of Financial Operations 1910 1/4 Buildings Department Statement of Financial Operations 1911 1/4 Buildings Department Statement of Financial Operations 1912 1/4 Building Department Annual Report 1913 1/4 Buildings Department Statement of Financial Operations 1913 1/4 Buildings Department Annual Report 1914 1/4 Buildings Department Statement of Financial Operations 1914 1/5 Building Department Annual Report 1915 1/5 Building Department Annual Report 1916 1/5 Building Department Annual Report 1917 1/5 Buildings Department Annual Report 1918 1/6 Buildings Department Annual Report 1921 1/6 Buildings Department Annual Report 1923 1/6 Building Department Annual Report 1924 1/7 Buildings Department Annual Report 1919 1/7 Building Department Annual Report 1920 1/8 Buildings Department Annual Report 1926 1/8 Building Department Annual Report 1931 1/9 Building Department Annual Report 1932 1/9 Building Department Annual Report 1933 1/9 Buildings Department Annual Report 1934 1/9 Buildings Department Annual Report 1935 1/9 Building Department Annual Report 1936-1937 1/10 Buildings Department Annual Report 1938 1/10 Building Department Annual Report 1943 1/10 Building Department Annual Report 1944 1/10 Building Department Annual Report 1945 2/1 Building Department Annual Report 1946 2/1 Building Department Annual Report 1947 2/1 Building Department Annual Report 1948 2/1 Building Department Annual Report 1949 2/2 Building Department Annual Report 1950 2/2 Building Department Annual Report 1951 2/2 Buildings Department Annual Report 1952 2/2 Building Department Annual Report 1953 2/3 Building Department Annual Report 1954 2/3 Building Department Annual Report 1955 2/3 Buildings Department Annual Report 1956 2/3 Building Department Annual Report, Part II 1956 2/4 Building Department Annual Report 1957 2/4 Building Department Annual Report 1958 2/4 Building Department Annual Report 1959 2/5 Building Department Annual Report 1960 2/5 Building Department Annual Report 1961-1962 2/5 Building Department Annual Report 1963 2/6 Building Department Annual Report 1968 2/6 Building Department Annual Report 1969 2/6 Building Department Annual Report 1970 2/7 Building Department Annual Report 1971 2/7 Building Department Annual Report 1972 2/7 Building Department Annual Report 1973 2/7 Building Department Annual Report 1974 2/7 Building Department Annual Report 1975 2/7 Building Department Annual Report 1976 2/7 Buildings Department Annual Report 1977 2/7 Building Department Annual Report 1978 2/7 Building Department Annual Report 1979