WAUPriceTruman0519.xmlGuide to the History of Electric Power in the State of Washington Interviews 1962History of Electric Power in the State of Washington InterviewsSpecial Collections, University of Washington Libraries© 2013 (Last modified: 2/26/2021)
Seattle, WA 98195
Finding aid written in English.Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard).University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections0519 (Accession No. 0519-001)Bell, Lloyd R.History of electric power in the state of Washington interviews1962.42 cubic feet including 23 sound tape reels and 16 transcripts (1 box)Collection materials are in English.Sixteen interviews related to the history of electric power in the state of Washington

Sixteen interviews conducted by Lloyd R. Bell on the history of electric power in the state of Washington. Interviewees include Ken Billington, Ira Cottom, Bert Heggen, Owen Hurd, Bob Keiser, Charles Heiser, Gus Norwood, Walter Omeg, Lacey Peoples, Mike Pullyan, Harvey McGuire, Malcolm Moore, Elmer Patana, Robert C. Rodruck.

The interviews were originally recorded on DeJur Stenorette magnetic tape. According to notes from the transcribers, a few interviews are difficult to impossible to understand. Users wanting to listen to the original recordings will need to pay to have the tapes transferred to digital format. Please contact Special Collections for more information.

The transcripts are open to all users. Original analog tapes are not accessible at this time due to preservation concerns.

The interviews were originally recorded on DeJur Stenorette magnetic tape. According to notes from the transcribers, a few interviews are difficult to impossible to understand. Users wanting to listen to the original recordings will need to pay to have the tapes transferred to digital format. Please contact Special Collections for more information.

Request at UW

Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries

Donated by Truman Price, 1990.

Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)Bell, Lloyd RBillington, Ken, 1916---InterviewsBone, Homer Truett, 1883-1970--InterviewsCottom, Ira--InterviewsHeggen, Bert L., 1894---InterviewsHeiser, Charles--InterviewsHurd, Owen D.--InterviewsInsull, Samuel, 1859-1938Keiser, Robert--InterviewsLloyd, Thedodore--InterviewsLuce, Charles F. (Charles Franklin), 1917-2008--InterviewsMcGuire, Harvey--InterviewsMoore, Malcom M.--InterviewsNorwood, Gus, 1916-2006--InterviewsOmeg, Walter--InterviewsPatana, Elmer--InterviewsPeoples, Lacey--InterviewsPrice, TrumanPullyan, Michael--InterviewsRodruck, Robert C.--InterviewsRoss, J. D. (James Delmage), 1872-1939Puget Sound Power and Light Company--History--SourcesSeattle City Light--History--SourcesWashington (State)--History--SourcesInterviewsmagnetic tapesOral historiestranscriptsFast gavelElectric power--Washington (State)--Seattle--HistoryElectric power--Washington (State)--Seattle--History--SourcesElectric power--Washington (State)--Tacoma--HistoryElectric power--Washington (State)--Tacoma--History--SourcesPublic utilities--Washington (State)--HistoryPublic utility districts--Washington (State)--HistoryPuget Sound Power and Light Company--HistoryPuget Sound Traction, Light & Power Company--HistorySeattle City Light--HistoryWashington Public Power Supply SystemWashington Public Utility Districts' Association--HistoryEnergy ProductionOral HistoriesWashington (State)Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)Electric power--Washington (State)--Seattle--History--SourcesElectric power--Washington (State)--Tacoma--History--SourcesPuget Sound Power and Light Company--History--SourcesSeattle City Light--History--SourcesWashington (State)--History--SourcesInterviewstranscriptsmagnetic tapesBilingtons, KenCottom, IraHeggen, BertHurd, OwenKeiser, BobHeiser, CharlesPeoples, LaceyPrice, TrumanBell, Lloyd RBillington, Ken, 1916---InterviewsCottom, Ira--InterviewsHeggen, Bert L., 1894---InterviewsHurd, Owen D.--InterviewsKeiser, Robert--InterviewsNorwood, Gus, 1916-2006--InterviewsOmeg, Walter--InterviewsPeoples, Lacey--InterviewsPullyan, Michael--InterviewsMcGuire, Harvey--InterviewsMoore, Malcom M.--InterviewsPatana, Elmer--InterviewsRodruck, Robert C.--InterviewsBone, Homer Truett, 1883-1970--InterviewsLuce, Charles F. (Charles Franklin), 1917-2008--InterviewsLloyd, Thedodore--InterviewsRoss, J. D. (James Delmage), 1872-1939Insull, Samuel, 1859-1938Seattle City Light--HistoryPuget Sound Traction, Light & Power Company--HistoryPuget Sound Power and Light Company--HistoryElectric power--Washington (State)--Tacoma--HistoryElectric power--Washington (State)--Seattle--HistoryPublic utilities--Washington (State)--HistoryWashington Public Utility Districts' Association--HistoryWashington Public Power Supply SystemPublic utility districts--Washington (State)--HistoryOral historiesFast gavelEnergy ProductionWashington (State)Oral Histories

 

VF2919Ken Billington interviewDecember 19, 19621 sound tape reel and 1 transcript (22 p.)

Clark County Public Utility District history; Washington Public Utility Districts' Association; Association's relationship with Washington Public Power Supply System; public power movement and utility districts in the state; construction of Hanford and nuclear power; Homer Bone, Rufus Woods and J.D. Ross instrumental in starting public power movement; Operating Agency Law; demand for power after WWII; Initiative 139 (Let the people vote) sponsored by private power advocates; Referendum 25 to combine all PUDs in the state; Initiative 166; fights from private power; Governor Langlie and the Washington State Power Commission;

Homer T. Bone interviewJuly 26-27, 19625 sound tapes reels (approx. 200 minutes) and 1 transcript

(Tape 1) Restrictions on selling surplus electricity; La Grande power plant on the Nisqually; damming of the Nisqually; Peninsula Light Company (the transcription ends abruptly) / (Tape 2) "Bone Bill"; Rocky Reach Power Plant; The "Insull crowd" and their "glorious larceny"; did he ever have bodyguards?; private vs public power plants and competition; Bonneville; Grand Coulee; La Grande power plant, Tacoma / (Tape 3) Development of a power plant on Hood Canal; bonds; Tacoma and plants on the Cowlitz River; involvement in National Cancer Institute; Bonneville Act; benefits of public vs privately owned power plants; Senator Dill; power in Centralia; effects on salmon runs and the "fish people"; apathy of the people towards violence; Governor Hartley; Skagit development/J.D. Ross; Rufus Woods; American Light and Power / (Tape 4) Charles P. Steinmetz; Bonneville, Insull and Hobson and Manns; Aberdeen and the Depression; National Cancer Institute and cancer; public vs power fight; conflict with the Superintenant of Public Instruction about benefits of public instruction publicity; PUD Act / (Tape 5) Bone talks about the beginnings of electric power in Seattle and Tacoma; J.D. Ross; damming of the Skagit River; "Local Improvement District bonds (L.I.D.s)"; Samuel Insull and the "Insull Empire"; Halsey Stuart Company; difficulties of farmers getting electric power;

According to original transcriber, tape 1 is only partially audible.

Ira Cottom interviewSeptember 24, 19621 sound tape reel (approx. 15 min.) and 1 transcript (6 p.)

Seattle City Light

Senator Bert. L. Heggen interviewOctober 5, 19621 sound tape reel and 1 transcript (12 p.)

Development of power in the Skagit Valley; his defeat to re-election by private power interests; Bosell & Jacobs; Allan Lafrentz; president of Washington Public Utility Districts Association; banker Jerry Ives; interference by Weyerhaeuser Timber Company; Porter Pratt being a "bad egg"; Harvey Benson; work in Grange programs; 1947 bills against public power and "Oregon law";

Owen D. Hurd interviewJuly 24, 19621 sound tape reel and 1 transcript (9 p.)

Washington Public Power Supply System history; selecting sites that will handling "peaking" demands; Gus Norwood

Bob Keiser interviewSeptember 12, 19621 sound tape reel and 1 transcript (13 p.)Charles Keiser interviewSeptember 12, 19621 sound tape reel and 1 transcript (10 p.)Gus Norwood interviewSeptember 6, 19621 sound tape reel and 1 transcript (15 p.)Walter Omeg interviewAugust 17, 19621 sound tape reel and 1 transcript (15 p.)Lacey Peoples interview 1September 17, 19621 sound tape reel and 1 transcript (22 p.)Lacey Peoples interview 2September 17, 19621 sound tape reel and 1 transcript (9 p.)Mike Pullyan interviewSeptember 18, 19621 sound tape reel and 1 transcript (15 p.)

Original transcriber said that the original tape and Pullyan's accent were difficult to understand resulting in some holes in the transcription.

Harvey McGuire interviewSeptember 18, 19621 sound tape reel and 1 transcript (13 p.)Malcolm Moore interviewSeptember 17, 19621 sound tape reel and 1 transcript (22 p.)Elmer Patana interviewSeptember 17, 19621 sound tape reel and 1 transcript (13 p.)Robert C. Rodruck interviewSeptember 24, 19621 sound tape reel (approx. 25 min.) and 1 transcript (11 p.)