Museum of History & Industry, Sophie Frye Bass Library
5933 6th Avenue South
Seattle, WA 98108
Phone: 206-324-1126
URL: http://www.mohai.org
2000.87
Burns, Betty M., 1917-2004
Betty Burns Papers on Robert Moran
1888-1988
5 boxes
3 linear feet
Scrapbooks, personal papers, photographs, and other items belonging to and
relating to Robert Moran, Seattle mayor and shipbuilder.
15b.1.9-10
VIII.a.8 Collection materials are in
English.
Biographical Note:
Robert Moran was born in New York City on January 26, 1857. He came to Seattle in 1875, and as a mechanical
engineer, engaged in shipbuilding and marine engineering. With his brothers Frank and Sherman, he established Moran
Bros. Marine and Sawmill Machinery Co. in 1882, which later became Moran Bros. Co. (ship and engine builders) in 1890.
In 1898, the firm built -- in the record time of only four months -- a fleet of 12 steamers and 10 barges, and
delivered them on the Yukon River to carry food to the miners. The firm also built many large steel and wood vessels,
including the U.S. battleship NEBRASKA. Moran served as mayor of Seattle from 1888 to 1890, overseeing both the
response to the Great Fire and the development of the Cedar River water system. He was active for many years in
numerous civic, professional, public, and fraternal organizations. After selling the company in 1906, Moran retired to
Rosario, the estate on Orcas Island that he had designed. In 1914, he donated 5,000 acres on Orcas Island to the State
of Washington, which became Moran State Park. He died in 1943 at the age of 86.
The collection contains a variety of materials, mostly from Robert Moran's personal papers. They cover his
various activities and interests, from the Moran Bros. Shipyard to the Cedar River water projects he shepherded while
mayor of Seattle to general Seattle history. Items of particular interest include materials relating to the building of
the USS NEBRASKA, a booklet about the Great Seattle Fire written shortly after it occurred, and photo albums with shots
of the shipyard and of the Moran family.
View a selection of the photographs in digital format by clicking on the camera icons in the inventory
below.
The collection is open to the public by appointment.
The Museum of History & Industry is the owner of the materials in the Sophie Frye Bass Library and makes
available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from MOHAI
before any reproduction use. The museum does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections.
In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.
Betty Burns Papers on Robert Moran, Museum of History & Industry, Seattle
Robert Moran's granddaughter, Betty Burns, inherited Moran's personal library as well as photographs and
papers.
The collection was donated by Betty Burns in 2000.
Six additional books relating to Seattle were also part of the donation; these are located on the library
shelves.
The
Moran Brothers Company Collection (1995.49) and the
Betty Burns Collection on the Moran Brothers Company (1972.5439) contain additional
information about the company and about Robert Moran.
Moran, Robert, 1857-1943
Moran Brothers Company (Seattle, Wash.)
Shipbuilding -- Washington (State) -- Seattle
Seattle (Wash.) -- Politics and government
Mayors -- Washington (State) -- Seattle
Waterworks -- Washington (State)
Ships and Shipping
Water and Water Rights
Seattle
2
2000.87.7
"Souvenir of the Great Ship Building Plant of Moran Bros. Company, Seattle,
Washington"
1902
2
2000.87.8
"Souvenir of Seattle" booklet
circa
1902
2
2000.87.9
"Metropolitan Seattle: A Souvenir Devoted to Seattle and Its Environs"
1902
2
2000.87.10
"South Canal and Harbor Improvements: Seattle & Lake Washington
Waterway Company"
1902
2
2000.87.11
"Wreck of the Steamer Valencia: Report to the President of the Federal
Commission of Investigation"
1906
2
2000.87.12
"The State of Washington" (book produced for distribution at 1893 Columbian
Exposition)
1893
2
2000.87.13
"Inaugural Message and First Message to the Legislature of Elisha P. Ferry,
First Governor of Washington"
1889
2
2000.87.14
"Annual Message of the Mayor of the City of Seattle"
1890
2
2000.87.15
"Charter of the City of Seattle"
1890
2
2000.87.16
"The City of Seattle -- Plans, Specifications and Contract for Constructing
the Cedar River Water Supply System"
1899
2
2000.87.17
"A Statement Concerning the Proposed Cedar River Water Supply System for
the City of Seattle, Washington"
1899
4
2000.87.18a-d
Photo albums of Moran Bros. Shipyard and Moran family
circa
1905
3
2000.87.18e
Photo album of Moran Bros. Shipyard and Moran family
circa
1905
3
2000.87.19
Suburban Life magazine (contains article on
Rosario)
1914
3
2000.87.20
"Record of the Subsidy Raised January 1901 by Seattle Chamber of Commerce
for Moran Bros. Company, to Assist in Building a United States Battleship"
1901
3
2000.87.21
"Building a Battleship: Moran Bros. Company" (scrapbook with photographs)
1903
2
2000.87.22
Bound copies of letters of Robert Moran
1892-1893
2
2000.87.23
Bound copies of letters of Robert Moran
1894
2
2000.87.24
Ledger of Yukon River steamers
1898
5
2000.87.25
Scrapbook of newspaper clippings and handwritten letter
1892-1903
5
2000.87.26
Scrapbook of ships built and repaired by Moran Bros.
1899-1903
5
2000.87.27
Scrapbook of Robert Moran re: War Labor Board
1917-1918
5
2000.87.28
Scrapbook re: Seattle history
1888
5
2000.87.29
Scrapbook of Robert Moran re: general subjects
1905-1922
5
2000.87.30
Scrapbook of Robert Moran re: Seattle history
1888
3
2000.87.31
Scrapbook re: Robert Moran
circa
1900-1988
1
2000.87.32
"History of the Acquisition of Seattle Water System" by Robert Moran
1913
1
2000.87.33
Letter from Robert Moran re: Seattle south end history
1936
VIII.a.8
2000.87.34
Map of City of Seattle Harbor Dept., Central Waterfront
1918
1
2000.87.35
"Business Property Values in Seattle" pamphlet
circa
1905
1
2000.87.36
"A Campaign Story: Dealing with our Water Supply and Power Plant
Investments" by Oliver T. Erickson (re: Cedar River projects)
1931
1
2000.87.37
Civil Service Age magazine (contains article
on Seattle's water system)
1917
1
2000.87.38
John B. Stetson hat company catalog
1905-1906
1
2000.87.39
Seattle Elks Lodge No. 92 roster
1905
1
2000.87.40
Seattle Construction and Dry Dock Company pamphlet
undated
1
2000.87.41
Letter signed by Alden J. Blethen
1899
1
2000.87.42
Receipts signed by A.A. Denny
1893
1
2000.87.43
Report of the Condition of Dexter Horton & Co., Bankers
1902
1
2000.87.44
"The Great Seattle Fire of June 6, 1889" by C.W. Austin and H.S. Scott
1889
1
2000.87.45
Patent certificate for hydraulic lifting docks
1892
1
2000.87.46
Letter re: sale of Moran Bros. Shipyard
1905
1
2000.87.47
Documents concerning USS NEBRASKA and steamer WILLAMETTE
1901-1907
1
2000.87.48
Invitation to launch of tugboat TATOOSH
1900
1
2000.87.49
Photo: "drilling boiler plate"
undated
1
2000.87.50
Letters re: USS NEBRASKA
1902-1906
1
2000.87.51
Correspondence re: Yukon River boats
1898
1
2000.87.52
Correspondence re: steamer PILGRIM
1898
1
2000.87.53
Correspondence re: Yukon River boats
1897-1898