View XML QR Code

Sam Smith Records, 1977-1991

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Smith, Samuel J., 1922-1995
Title
Sam Smith Records
Dates
1977-1991 (inclusive)
Quantity
7.6 cubic ft., (20 boxes)
Collection Number
4682
Summary
Correspondence, memoranda, reports and studies, committee files, and other materials relating to Sam Smith's activities and interests on City Council, including but not limited to utilities, public safety, and social services.
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
Return to Top

Biographical Note

Sam Smith was born on July 21, 1922 in Gibsland, Louisiana, the son of a Baptist minister. In 1942, he was drafted and stationed in Seattle, prior to serving in the South Pacific theater during World War II. After his tour of duty, Smith returned to Seattle to attend college. He earned a bachelor's degree in social science from Seattle University and a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Washington; he also did graduate work in economics and political science at the University of Washington.

Smith went to work for the Boeing Company in 1952 where he was employed for nearly 17 years. He was elected to the Washington State Legislature in 1958, representing the 37th District for five consecutive terms. The high point of his legislative career was the State's passage of the Open Housing Act in 1967.

Smith ran for and was elected to the Seattle City Council in 1968; he was the first African-American to serve on the City Council. During his 24 years on the Council, Smith chaired the Public Safety Committee (1968-1973, 1978-1981), Housing and Human Services Committee (1982-1985), Labor Committee (1988-1989), and the Utilities Committee (1990-1991). He served as Council President in 1974-1977 and 1986-1989.

During Smith's years on the City Council, he championed causes such as local open housing; youth employment; juvenile crime prevention; and racial, religious, and economic equity. The outspoken Smith was less concerned with consensus than the construction of a legislative majority. He was often heard to remark of the nine-member City Council, "Five votes is policy."

Sam Smith was defeated for reelection in 1991 by Sherry Harris. Following a long battle with illness, he died in November of 1995.

Return to Top

Content Description

Smith's City Council records include correspondence, memoranda, reports and studies, Utility Committee records, and other materials relating to Smith's activities and interests on City Council. Primary subjects include utilities, public safety, social services, and issues of particular importance to the African-American community.

Return to Top

Use of the Collection

Preferred Citation

[Item and date], Sam Smith Seattle City Council Records, Collection Number 4682, Series [number]. Box [number], Folder [number]. Seattle Municipal Archives.

Return to Top

Administrative Information

Arrangement

Records are organized in four series:

Constituent Correspondence (4682-01)

Subject Files (4682-02)

Departmental Correspondence (4682-03)

Utility Committee Records (4682-04)

Return to Top

Detailed Description of the Collection

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

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • African Americans--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Discrimination in housing--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Public utilities--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Social services--Washington (State)--Seattle

Geographical Names

  • Seattle (Wash.)--Politics and government

Occupations

  • City council members--Washington (State)--Seattle

Other Creators

  • Corporate Names

    • Seattle (Wash.)--City Council (creator)

Finding aid prepared by Scott Cline
2006

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

About Creative Commons Licenses in Archives West

Loading...
Loading...