WaSMAR1652_02 Guide to the Municipal Art Commission Subject Files 1955-1969 Municipal Art Commission Subject Files Finding aid prepared by Scott Cline and Shannon B. Lynch 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
1652-02 Seattle (Wash.). Municipal Art Commission Municipal Art Commission Subject Files 1955-1969 1.6 cubic ft. 4 boxes The Municipal Art Commission Subject Files, 1955-1969, contain correspondence, memoranda, reports, and press clippings relating to the programs, activities, and administration of the Commission. Collection materials are in English. Historical Note

An Arts Commission was created in 1955 to advise City government regarding the artistic and cultural development of the City. The Commission had ten members (later increased by ordinance to fifteen), who represented the painting, sculpture, music, literature, architecture, and landscape architecture communities; members could be nominated for appointment to the Commission by their organizations.

The Commission was reorganized in 1957 as the Municipal Art Commission by Ordinance 86692. Its primary mission remained the same, and the composition of the Commission changed only slightly. Its fifteen members included two from each of the abovementioned categories as well as three "lay" members. The Commission's advisory responsibility was extended to recommendations regarding the purchase of artworks by the City or the donation of artworks to the City; each painting, sculpture, or fountain and its location had to be approved by the Commission, which also made recommendations on the removal of artworks. The Commission was also responsible for making recommendations on the design of new physical structures to be constructed in the City and could even advise private property owners at no charge.

In 1961, the Commission's responsibilities were broadened to include historic preservation recommendations. In 1971, the Municipal Art Commission, which was "no longer actively pursuing its responsibilities," was abolished by Ordinance 99982 and replaced by the Seattle Arts Commission. The new Commission acted in the same advisory capacity and had fifteen mayor-appointed members; its actions served "to promote and encourage public programs to further the development and public awareness of and interest in the fine and performing arts."

Correspondence, memoranda, reports, and press clippings relating to the programs, activities, and administration of the Municipal Arts Commission; included are materials on Commission input regarding planning for construction of physical structures in the City. Photographs and architectural drawings are found in a few files; the collection also contains several folders of annual reports and general correspondence.The records contain information on projects, special events, programs and development in various Seattle neighborhoods, the Chief Seattle statue, the Civic Center, Seattle Center, historic sites preservation, lighting, landscaping, parks, parking, and sign and billboard regulations. Also included are files regarding the work of prominent local artists such as Doris Chase, Mark Tobey, and George Tsutakawa.

Records are arranged alphabetically by subject.

Records are open to the public.

[Item and date], Municipal Art Commission Subject Files, Record Series 1652-02. Box [number], Folder [number]. Seattle Municipal Archives.

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 Center (Seattle, Wash.) Seattle, Chief, 1790-1866--Statues Tsutakawa, George Chase, Doris, 1923- Tobey, Mark Seattle (Wash.)--Buildings, structures, etc. Art, Municipal--Washington (State)--Seattle Art commissions--Washington (State)--Seattle City planning--Washington (State)--Seattle Architecture--Washington (State)--Seattle Public art--Washington (State)--Seattle Historic preservation--Washington (State)--Seattle Public sculpture--Washington (State)--Seattle Signs and signboards--Washington (State)--Seattle Billboards--Washington (State)--Seattle Architecture Arts and Humanities Government and Politics Seattle Photographs Architectural Drawings Correspondence Memorandums Photographic prints Architectural drawings

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

Municipal Art Commission Subject Files 1955-1969 1/1 Allied Arts of Seattle 1956-1967 1/2 Annual Art Commission Awards Dinner: Correspondence, Invitation Lists and Commission Members 1966-1967 1/2 Annual Art Commission Awards Dinner: Correspondence, Invitation Lists, and Commission Members 1966-1967 1/3 Architecture, Planning, Landscaping Committee: Second Preliminary Report 1956 1/4 Art Commission Annual Report 1958 1/5 Art Commission Annual Report 1957 1/6 Art Commission Annual Report 1956 1/7 Art Commission Annual Report 1959 1/8 Art Commission Annual Report 1960 1/9 Art Commission Annual Report 1962 1/10 Art Commission Annual Report 1964 1/11 Art Commission: Correspondence, General 1963 1/12 Art Commission: Correspondence, General 1964 1/13 Art Commission: Correspondence, General 1965-1966 1/14 Art Commission: Correspondence, General 1967 1/15 Art Commission: Correspondence, General 1968 1/16 Art Commission Landscape and Architecture Committee 1964-1967 1/17 Art Commission Members, Committees, Regulations 1959-1967 1/18 Art Commission Projects: Gifts for the Mayor 1965 1/19 Art Commission Projects: Miscellaneous 1965-1967 1/20 Arts for Youth Festival 1964 1/21 Arts Programming: Report on Park Department Music and Art Programming 1961 1/22 Associated Council for the Arts (New York) 1967-1968 1/23 Ballard City Hall Site 1965-1966 1/24 Beautification: General 1965-1966 1/25 Boeing 50th Anniversary Medallion 1965-1966 1/26 Bridges 1964 1/27 Bus Stops and Shelters 1962-1963 1/28 Central Association of Seattle 1965-1966 1/29 Central Area Motivation Program: Performing Arts Center - Cherry Hill Firehouse 1967 1/30 Central Business District Development 1963 1/31 Charles Street Traffic Engineering Building: Landscape Recommendations 1964-1966 1/32 Chief Sealth Statue: Report on Relocation 1957 1/33 Citations, Awards, and Resolutions 1961-1962 1/34 City Council 1966 1/35 City Building Signs 1965 1/36 City Flag 1965 2/1 City Light 1962-1964 2/2 City Light: Pine Street Substation (Drawing) 1965 2/3 Civic Arts Account: Donated Art Works 1961 2/4 Civic Arts Account: Donated Art Works 1962 2/5 Civic Arts Fund 1965-1966 2/6 Civic Arts Fund 1967-1969 2/7 Civic Center: International Fountain Design and Competition 1960-1962 2/8 Civic Center Survey n.d. 2/9 Design Review and Recommendations 1966-1968 2/10 Engineering Department: General 1965-1966 2/11 Public Financing for Public Art Works 1966 2/12 Fire Station Number 8 1963 2/13 Fire Station Number 22: Preservation 1963-1966 2/14 Fire Station Number 23: Disposition 1965 2/15 Fire Station Number 40 1964 2/16 Freeway Landscaping and Highway Aesthetics 1959-1964 2/17 Fortson Square 1966 2/18 Gerber Memorial Park: Children's Fountain - George Tsutakawa 1968 2/19 Gray, Maxine Cushing: "The Argus" 1965-1966 2/20 Historic Sites in Seattle 1960-1966 2/21 Historic Sites in Seattle: Suggested Consultants 1965 2/21 Historic Sites: Suggested Consultants 1965 2/22 Holiday Dance Concert 1963 2/22 Holiday Dance Concert 1963 2/23 Interdepartmental Seattle Beautiful Committee 1966 2/24 Instructions to Architects: Design Review 1965 2/25 Ivar Haglund Fountain 1966 2/26 Joshua Green Fountain: George Tsutakawa Insurance Issues 1965-1967 2/27 Kerry Park: Doris Totten Chase Sculpture 1968 2/27 Kerry Park: Doris Totten Chase Sculpture 1968 2/28 Landscape Architect Licensing 1966-1967 2/29 Nominating Committee 1956-1968 2/29 Lake Union Development 1963-1967 2/30 Lake Washington Bridge 1963 3/1 Lake Washington Boulevard at Hillside Drive: Viewpoint Proposed Improvement - Frederick J. Blanchett Foundation 1965-1966 3/2 Legislative Department: City Council 1965 3/3 Library and Library Branches 1963-1967 3/4 Lighting Fixtures for Restaurant Annex A, Civic Center: Seattle Lighting Company (includes drawing and photographs) 1964 3/5 Mark Tobey Mural Cards: Journey of the Opera Star 1965-1966 3/6 Messenger Memorial: United Parcel Service 1966 3/7 Municipal Building 1963-1968 3/8 Municipality of Metropolitan Seattle (METRO) 1965-1966 3/9 Northwest Craft Center 1965-1967 3/10 Northwest Dance Theater 1965 3/11 Old Public Safety Building (Yesler Building) 1966 3/12 Overpasses 1962-1965 3/13 Parking Garages and Parking Lots 1963-1967 3/13 Parking Lots and Parking Garages 1963-1967 3/14 Parking: Suggested Modifications to Parking Lot Criteria in New Zoning Ordinance n.d. 3/14 Parking: Suggested Modifications to Parking Lot Criteria in the New Zoning Ordinance n.d. 3/15 Parks Department: General 1964-1966 3/16 Pedestrian Overpasses 1959-1964 3/17 Performing Arts Program for Youth: Grant Proposal to Ford Foundation - Central Area Motivation Program 1967 3/18 Pike Place Market 1964-1968 3/19 Pioneer Square 1964-1968 3/20 Planning Commission 1966 3/21 Plaques for Donated Works of Art 1962-1967 3/22 Playgrounds and Playfields 1963-1966 3/23 Plymouth Congregational Church Columns 1966-1967 3/24 Post Office: Curb-Side Mailboxes 1965-1966 3/25 Queen City Yacht Club 1963 3/26 Requests for Information 1965-1966 3/27 R.H. Thomson Freeway 1965 3/28 Robert Joffrey Ballet Company: Proposed Summer Residency 1965-1967 3/29 Seattle Center: General 1963-1968 3/30 Seattle Center: International Fountain 1965 3/30 Seattle Center: International Fountain 1965 3/31 Seattle Center: Kobe Bell Building and Grounds 1964-1966 3/31 Seattle Center: Kobe Bell Building and Grounds 1964-1966 3/32 Seattle Center: Marine Park and Aquarium Proposal 1966 3/33 Seattle Center: Opera House 1963-1966 3/34 Seattle Center: Opera House - Cecilia Schultz Music Room Dedication 1965 3/35 Seattle Center Permanent Works of Art and Items of Interest 1965-1966 3/35 Seattle Center: Permanent Works of Art and Items of Interest 1965-1966 3/36 Seattle Center: Playhouse Questionnaire 1965 3/37 Seattle Center: Repertory Theatre 1964 4/1 Seattle Housing Authority 1966 4/2 Seattle Public Library: General 1965-1966 4/2 Seattle Public Library: General 1965-1966 4/3 Seattle Repertory Theatre Tickets 1965-1966 4/3 Seattle Repertory Theatre Tickets 1965-1966 4/4 Service Pins for City Employees 1966 4/5 Sewage Treatment Plants: Landscaping and Design 1963 4/6 Seward Park: Torii 1962-1963 4/6 Seward Park: Torii 1962-1963 4/7 Sign and Billboard Regulation 1955-1958 4/8 Sign and Billboard Regulation 1959 4/9 Sign and Billboard Regulation 1960 4/10 Sign and Billboard Regulation 1961-1962 4/10 Sign and Billboard Regulation 1961-1963 4/11 Sign and Billboard Regulation 1963-1964 4/11 Sign and Billboard Regulation 1963-1964 4/12 Sign and Billboard Regulation 1965-1967 4/12 Sign and Billboard Regulation 1965-1967 4/13 Spring and Seneca Streets and Sixth Avenue Triangle 1965-1966 4/14 Stewart Street Landscaping and Lighting 1965 4/15 Street Furniture 1966 4/16 Street Lighting 1964-1965 4/17 Street Tree Planting Program: A Report on Current and Future Stree Tree Planting Programs 1966 4/18 Street Trees: Planting and Pruning 1963-1968 4/19 Trash Receptacles 1965-1966 4/20 Title III: Supplementary Education Planning 1966 4/21 Underground Wiring 1963-1968 4/22 Urban Design Board 1965 4/23 Victoria (B.C.) Light Standards 1965 4/24 Washington Bird Sculpture 1965-1966 4/25 Washington State Arts Commission 1965 4/26 Washington State Coliseum 1963 4/27 Westlake Mall 1963-1965 4/28 Westlake Square Fountain (Drawing) 1964-1967 4/29 Will Rodgers Memorial 1966 4/30 Winter Leaves by Morris Graves 1963 4/31 Woodland Park Zoo 1964