Guide to the Archives of the City of Seattle

Record Group 0600
Board of Public Works

The Board of Public Works was created to coordinate public works projects, to award construction contracts on behalf of the City, and to approve contractor's bills. The Board also ensured that prevailing wages were paid on City projects. The Board was originally establish by the 1890 City Charter as a citizen group. The Charter of 1896 reorganized the Board and thereafter its members included the superintendents of City departments directly involved in public works. The Board was abolished by City Charter amendment in 1992 and its functions were assumed by the Department of Administrative Services.

0600-01
Minutes
1894-1991
28 volumes

Proceedings of the Board of Public Works. Includes date, members present, Board actions, correspondence and reports filed for Board action, and discussion.

SMA

0601-01
Miscellaneous Subject Files
1896-1977
13.4 cubic feet

Correspondence, reports, applications, permits, petitions, and contracts relating to construction, condemnations, street use, franchises, and rights of way. This series is an artificial collection arranged alphabetically by subject.

SMA
Container List

0601-02
Requests for Legal Opinions and Advice
1899-1900
1 volume

Requests from the Board to the Corporation Council for legal opinions. Includes description of issue.

SMA

0601-03
Scrapbooks
1944-1968
8 volumes

Newspaper clippings relating to construction and improvement projects, city planning, and downtown development. Especially interesting is information relating to post-World War II housing and economic development.

SMA

0603-01
Cedar River Water Supply Correspondence
1897-1903
1 volume

Correspondence, bid tabulations, notices of bid openings, and invoices concerning construction on the Cedar River Water Supply project.

SMA

0603-02
Miscellaneous Communications and Receipts
1895-1901
1 volume

Correspondence to departments and contractors especially regarding awards of contracts. Indexed by correspondent.

SMA