Allen Library BOX 352900 Seattle, Washington 98195-2900 Business Number: 206-543-1929 speccoll@uw.edu http://www.lib.washington.edu/specialcollections/

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2026-03-23. Description is written in: Undetermined, Code for undetermined script script. Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard), 2nd Edition. Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries George Hammer papers Hammer, George, 1950- 6276 1.28 cubic feet 1 box 1957-1995 1975-1981 Papers of a Seattle City Light lineworker Collection materials are in English.

George Hammer was a lineworker for Seattle City Light who, when working as apprenticeship coordinator, developed improvements to City Light training programs in the the early 1980s. Hammer had spent almost two years getting reconstructive surgery after a 1978 accident that caused severe burns to his hands. He then had to fight to regain a skilled job with City Light. Hammer eventually went into the Safety Department, and then became secretary to the apprenticeship committee. By 1981, Hammer had been assigned to come up with specific recommendations for City Light's apprenticeship program. He researched and developed apprenticeship training methods that overcame some of the biases common in training methods in effect at the time, and which had the effect of making it extremely difficult for women to qualify. These methods were later adopted by the utility.

Apprenticeship Committee minutes, correspondence, training course outlines, and training materials related to Seattle City Light's skilled trades apprenticeship program.

Forms part of the Labor Archives of Washington

No restrictions on access.

Request at UW

Creator's copyrights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries Special Collections.

This was donated by Helen Gilbert of Radical Women along with the Clara Fraser v. City Light and Heidi Durham papers

Special Collections holds similar materials in the following collections:

Heidi Durham papers, 1937-2017 (6264)

Clara Fraser papers, 1905-1998 (3187)

Megan Cornish papers, 1970-2003 (6259) Wikidata is available for this collection

Hammer, George, 1950---Archives Seattle City Light--Employees--Archives Seattle City Light--History--Archives Labor Archives of Washington (University of Washington) Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington) Electric industry workers--Washington (State)--Seattle--Archives Electric industry workers--Training of--Washington (State)--Seattle Apprenticeship programs--Washington (State)--Seattle Sex discrimination in employment--Washington (State)--Seattle--History Affirmative action programs--Washington (State)--Seattle--History Labor--Washington (State)--Seattle Labor History Labor Unions Seattle Business correspondence Minutes (Records) Instructional and educational works Ephemera Records (Documents) Series 1, Program administration records 1975-1995 Electrical Crafts Apprenticeship Committee minutes 1975-1977 6276-001 Box 1 1 Electrical Crafts Apprenticeship Committee minutes 1978-1979 6276-001 Box 1 2 Electrical Crafts Apprenticeship Committee minutes 1980 6276-001 Box 1 3 Apprenticeship coordinator position 1980 6276-001 Box 1 4 Electrical Crafts Apprenticeship Committee 1976-1981 6276-001 Box 1 5 City of Seattle job postings 1977-1981 6276-001 Box 1 6 Certified registers 1980 6276-001 Box 1 7 Roster information 1980 6276-001 Box 1 8 Safety program 1980 6276-001 Box 1 9 Proposal to expand electrical apprentice program 1979 6276-001 Box 1 10 Setting up apprenticeship program 1980 6276-001 Box 1 11 Snohomish Public Utility District apprenticeship programs 1980 6276-001 Box 1 12 Seattle City Light administrative instructions 1988-1995 6276-001 Box 1 13 Billing rates 1979 6276-001 Box 1 14 Correspondence 1980 6276-001 Box 1 15 Series 2, Training materials 1957-1980 Distribution design guide 1977 6276-001 Box 1 16 J.A.T.C. Northwest Line Construction Industry. Transformer work book Approximately 1970-1980 6276-001 Box 1 17 Seattle City Light. Street lighting circuits and relays 1967 6276-001 Box 1 18 Miscellaneous content for apprenticeships 1980 6276-001 Box 1 19 Seattle City Light. Lineworker electrician-constructor apprenticeship 1980 6276-001 Box 1 20 Seattle City Light. Lineworker electrician-constructor apprenticeship -- instructor's copy 1980 6276-001 Box 1 21 Lineworker apprenticeship checklist Approximately 1980 6276-001 Box 1 22 Seattle City Light. Apprenticeship evaluation Approximately 1980 6276-001 Box 1 23 Electrician-constructor apprenticeship checklist Approximately 1980 6276-001 Box 1 24 City of Seattle, Washington -- apprenticeship standards 1957 6276-001 Box 1 25 City of Seattle, Washington, apprenticeship standards 1978 6276-001 Box 1 26 Apprenticeship lesson outline 1980 6276-001 Box 1 27 Apprenticeship course materials 1980 6276-001 Box 1 28 Course outlines years 1-4 Approximately 1980 6276-001 Box 1 29