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Guide to the Archives of the City of Seattle
Record Group 5200
Office of the Mayor
The Mayor is the chief executive officer of the City with responsibilities for law enforcement, appointing department heads, administering City departments and programs, and preparing and executing the City budget. Seattle's original Charter (1869) created the position of Mayor who served as ex-officio President of the Common Council. The 1875 Charter gave the Mayor a vote on Council. That was amended in 1886 to provide for a tie-breaking vote only. The 1890 Charter completely separated the Executive and Legislative branches. Mayoral terms were set at 4 years by the 1946 City Charter.
5200-01
Adjudication Committee Minutes
1892-1911
1 volume
Proceedings of a three member committee hearing protests, claims, and offers regarding adjustments of assessment taxes for local improvements. Includes meeting minutes, resolutions, and determinations.
SMA
5200-02
Audio Recordings
1974-1978
0.2 cubic foot
23 audio recordings of Mayor Uhlman's press conferences, radio appearances, and community meetings. Recordings are indexed in the online Audio Database.
SMA
5200-04
Seattle Municipal Reports
1889-1894
Four volumes
Messages for the Mayor and Reports of City Officers for the fiscal years ending May 31, 1889 and May 31, 1890 are bound into one volume. The City Officers include: City clerk, Health, City Surveyor, City Attorney, Building Inspector, Chief of Police and Fire Cheif. Included in this volume are comptroller annual reports for the years 1891-1894.
Three additional bound volumes for the years 1891 to 1893 include Mayor's messages and annual report of various city offices including: Comptroller, Finance Committee, Board of Public Works, City Engineer, Superintendent of Water Works, Street Commissioner, Superintendent of Sewers, Superintendent of Buildings, Bridges, and Wharves, Board of Fire Commissioners, Police, Board of Health, Library Commission, Park Commissioners, and Port Warden. Harbor Master, License Inspector and Law Department are included for some years as well.
SMA
5210-01
Records of the Office of the Mayor
1956-1970
65.4 cubic feet
Records from the Seattle Mayor's Office mainly from the files of Dorm Braman and Gordon Clinton, but also including material from Floyd Miller's brief term, as well as a small amount from the beginning of Wes Uhlman's time in office. The records reflect a wide variety of issues of public interest in the 1960s. Concerns relating to discrimination, open housing, and civil rights are documented at length. Transportation is another topic covered in depth, including the transit system and METRO, parking issues downtown, I-5, the Lake Washington bridges, I-90, the R.H. Thomson Expressway, and downtown transportation planning. The Century 21 World's Fair in 1962, as well as Seattle Center's transition into a civic campus, is represented as well. The records cover a number of other topics, including urban renewal, environmental issues, civil defense, police actions and complaints, charter amendments, airline service, youth programs, and engineering projects. The files contain a good deal of citizen correspondence reflecting the public's views on a wide variety of issues. There is a small series of other media that includes audio and photographs.
SMA
Folder List
5210-02
Post-War Public Works and Improvements Advisory Committee Final Report
1945
0.2 cubic foot
The Advisory Committee was created by City Council Resolution 13527 in April 1943 and originally consisted of the Mayor, City Council President, Chair of the City Council's Streets and Sewers Committee, chair of the Board of Public Works, the City Engineer, chair of the City Planning Commission, and president of the Park Board. Soon thereafter, the size of the Committee was increased by adding three additional City Council members.
The Committee's task was to provide for the preparation plans for a comprehensive series of public works projects and improvements to be undertaken following World War II. Two overriding purposes were to be served by this planning. First, labor shortages and the inability to obtain certain materials during the War meant that civic improvements had to be deferred, thus creating an inventory of much needed work, especially on the City's infrastructure. Second, was the realization that returning military personnel would need work immediately to bridge the gap to normal employment and it was going to take some time for American factories to be reconditioned from war production to peace-time production.
The Committee's final report lists 318 identified projects comprising 11 million worker-hours and an estimated cost of nearly 52 million dollars. The report includes project sheets for each recommendation organized by City agency or function. They include project name, a priority rating, estimated costs, the status of planning for the project, a justification for the proposed project, and various maps and charts related to agency projects.
SMA
Folder List
Braman served on the Seattle City Council from 1954 to 1964, when he was elected Mayor. He remained in this office until 1969 when he resigned to become Assistant Secretary of Urban Systems and Environment in the United States Department of Transportation. During his term as mayor, he oversaw the city's involvement in the federal Model Cities program and the acquisition of Fort Lawton. He supported the Forward Thrust program and advocated for rapid transit. One notable accomplishment during this period of racial tensions was the passage of Seattle's open housing bill in 1968.
Mayoral Records
See 5210-01
Clinton served two terms as Mayor of Seattle from 1956 to 1964. He oversaw the development of the Seattle Center site and presided over the city's festivities during the 1962 World's Fair. He created the Human Rights Commission to promote equality and understanding among Seattle residents, and actively supported the formation of Metro in 1958. He also initiated Seattle's sister city program, one of the first of its kind.
Mayoral Records
See 5210-01
5219-01
Mayoral Records
1953-1964
48.0 cubic feet
Correspondence, reports, and studies, financial papers, minutes, speeches, notes and memoranda, newspaper clippings, and ephemera relating to Clinton's term as mayor. Includes departmental files and correspondence with agencies and individuals outside City government. Arranged alphabetically for each year.
UW
5219-04
Photographs
1959
0.4 cubic foot
Black and white photographs commemorating Mayor Clinton's official visits to Kobe, Japan; Taipei, Republic of China; and Manila, Philippines in November 1959. Included are photographs of tourist activities, ceremonial events, and officials. Images from Kobe include an album documenting Clinton's visit to the Mitsubishi site and shipyard.
SMA
5219-05
Election Scrapbooks
1956-1960
2 volumes
Two scrapbooks containing materials relating to Gordon Clinton's mayoral races in 1956 and 1960. Volume 1 contains clippings and advertising about Clinton's opponents in the 1956 election, including William Goodloe, Bob Odman, and incumbent mayor Allan Pomeroy. Includes advertisements, newspaper articles, campaign brochures, and mailings. Appears to have been compiled by the Honig-Cooper advertising firm. Volume 2 is mainly materials from Clinton's 1960 reelection campaign, including fact sheets, mailings, photographs, advertisements, television ad scripts, and newspaper clippings. Also contains some material about opponents Gordon Newell and Bob Odman.
SMA
Volume List
Miller served as Acting Mayor for nine months in 1969 after Dorm Braman went to work for the Department of Transportation in Washington, DC. Miller was City Council President at the time of his appointment. In his brief time as mayor, he oversaw the City's responses to riots in the University District, the murder of civil rights leader Edwin Pratt, and corruption in the Police Department. Miller served until Wes Uhlman took office in December 1969.
Mayoral Records
See 5210-01
5252-00: William Earl Millikin
William Earl Millikin was elected Mayor at a special election in 1941 to fill the vacancy left when Arthur Langlie became Governor. Millikin served 15 months. His mayoral records are a small portion of a larger collection of personal papers located at the University of Washington.
5252-01
Mayoral Records
1941-1942
1.8 cubic foot
Correspondence, reports, studies and speeches relating to Millikin's term as Mayor. Subjects include national defense, censorship, wartime housing, shacktowns, and wartime labor relations. There are also records related to the internment of Japanese citizens and aliens during World War II.
UW
Inventory
5252-02
Subject Files
1941-1942
0.4 cubic foot
Correspondence, reports, and studies relating to Millikin's term as Mayor. Subjects include national defense, censorship, housing, and streets. Arranged alphabetically by subject.
UW
Inventory
Moran served two one-year terms as Mayor of Seattle from 1888-1890. He was Mayor during the Great Fire of 1889. This small collection, located at the University of Washington, post-dates the fire.
5255-01
Correspondence
1889-1890
0.2 cubic foot
Mayoral correspondence dealing especially with fire protection services and equipment. Moran was mayor during and immediately after the fire that destroyed Seattle's commercial district in 1889.
UW
Rice was elected mayor of Seattle for the term beginning January 1, 1990 and served two full terms. He was the first African-American mayor in Seattle's history. Prior to his election as mayor, Rice served eleven years on City Council, including a term as Council President. Rice received his college education at the University of Washington. Before entering City government, he worked at KOMO-TV News, the Seattle Urban League, the Puget Sound Council of Governments, and Rainier National Bank.
5272-01
Departmental Correspondence
1990-1997
57.6 cubic feet
Records include correspondence, memoranda, reports, studies, and briefing materials to and from City agencies regarding the full range of municipal government activities during Rice's terms as mayor. Topics include municipal facilities, arts and culture, planning, budget and financial issues, and schools and education, among others. Records are arranged chronologically and then by major departments within City government. Constituent correspondence is included in this record series.
SMA
Folder List
5272-02
Subject Files
1990-1991
4.6 cubic feet
Correspondence, memoranda, reports, studies, and other materials to and from non-city government agencies, businesses, associations, and the general public during Rice's first two years as mayor. Topics generally cover matters outside the direct jurisdiction of City departments. Included are constituent correspondence; county, state, and federal correspondence, and proclamations.
SMA
Folder List
5272-04
Weekly Department Reports
1990-1991
5.0 cubic feet
Activity reports filed with the Mayor each week by Executive Department directors and superintendents. The reports include items needing the attention of the Mayor, and progress reports on departmental and mayoral work program goals. The records are useful in establishing a chronology of departmental activities and for identifying high profile news events involving City agencies. The reports are arranged chronologically and then by City department. Reports exist only for the first two years of Rice's terms as mayor.
SMA
5272-05
Mayoral Proclamations
1990-1997
3.2 cubic feet
Ceremonial documents issued by the Mayor honoring individuals or organizations, or declaring the City's support for issues outside the City's governance. Records are arranged chronologically and without an index.
SMA
5272-07
Photographs
1990-1997
1.2 cubic feet
Photographs documenting Rice's tenure as Mayor. Included are photographs of family, political campaigns, City celebrations and events, meetings and conferences, visits by dignitaries to Seattle, Sister City travel and activities, and portraits. The images are primarily informal and are mostly in color.
SMA
Folder List
5272-08
Central Files
1982-2001
8.8 cubic feet
Correspondence, memoranda, reports, studies, and other materials related to issues addressed by the Mayor's Office during the Rice administration. Included are some records from the Charles Royer (1978-1989) and Paul Schell (1998-2001) administrations. Unlike the bulk of Mayor Rice's records which are arranged alphabetically within a single year, this series is alphabetical for a span of 20 years with the majority of records covering 1992-1997.
SMA
Folder List
Royer served as Mayor of Seattle from 1978 to 1989, encompassing three terms. He chose not to run for a fourth term. Prior to serving as Mayor, Royer was a local television newscaster.
5274-01
Departmental Correspondence
1978-1989
78.0 cubic feet
Correspondence, memoranda, and reports relating to City departmental activities and programs. Arranged alphabetically for each year.
SMA
Folder List
5274-02
Subject Correspondence
1978-1989
43.8 cubic feet
Correspondence, memoranda, reports, and studies maintained by Mayor Royer's office. Arranged alphabetically by subject for each year.
SMA/UW
Folder List
5274-03
Legal Subject Files
1968-1988
13.8 cubic feet
Correspondence, memoranda, reports, copies of legislation, and City Attorney opinions relating to City-involved litigation, ordinances and codes, and subjects of a legal nature. Also included are some records from Mayor Wes Uhlman's legal staff. Primarily the records of Hugh Spitzer.
SMA
Folder List
5274-04
Mayor's Messages
1978-1989
3.4 cubic feet
Proclamations, vetoes, directives, executive orders, and other official messages of Mayor Charles Royer.
SMA
Container List
5274-05
Department Weekly Reports
1978-1989
18.0 cubic feet
Weekly program and project progress and activity reports to the mayor from executive department heads.
SMA
Container List
5274-06
Communications and Public Information Records
1977-1986
4.2 cubic feet
Correspondence, newspaper clippings, notes, and reports of Mayor Royer's public information staff.
SMA
Folder List
5274-07
Department Director Search Records
1978-1988
3.8 cubic feet
Correspondence, resumes, and evaluations of individuals interviewed for department director positions.
SMA
Container List
5274-08
Speeches
1978-1990
1.2 cubic feet
Speeches delivered to local, regional, national, and international conferences, seminars, colloquia, and special meetings. Primarily speeches given during the 1978-1982 period; also includes budget messages and State of the City speeches from 1978-1990.
SMA
Partial Topic Index
5274-10
Bob Royer Records
1977-1981
2.6 cubic feet
Correspondence, memoranda, and reports relating to subjects of concern to Bob Royer during his tenure as Deputy Mayor. Primary subjects include transportation, housing, and energy and regional power issues. Arranged alphabetically.
SMA
Folder List
5274-11
Carol Lewis Records
1978-1987
3.6 cubic feet
These are the files of deputy mayor Carol Lewis. They include correspondence, memoranda, and reports relating especially to housing, land use, and downtown development.
SMA
Folder List
5274-12
Mitchell Baker Records
1982-1989
3.0 cubic feet
Correspondence, memoranda, reports, and studies relating primarily to land use and transportation issues and planning for Seattle Center development.
SMA
Folder List
5274-13
Tom Byers Records
1978-1987
4.2 cubic feet
Correspondence, memoranda, reports, and studies relating primarily to health and human services issues, especially public health concerns and homelessness.
SMA
Folder List
5274-14
Ann Levinson Records
1986-1987
0.4 cubic foot
Correspondence, memoranda, and reports relating to human services issues including welfare reform, youth services, the homeless, and alcoholism and drug abuse.
SMA
Folder List
5274-15
Arlene Oki Records
1978-1982
1.0 cubic foot
Correspondence, memoranda, reports and studies relating primarily to Seattle Public Schools, the International District, and housing and neighborhood development issues.
SMA
Folder List
5274-16
Press Releases
1978-1986
1.0 cubic foot
Press releases from Mayor Royer's communications staff concerning issues, events, and other new items related to City business.
SMA
5274-17
Mayoral Transition Document
1989
0.4 cubic foot
Transition document prepared by the outgoing Mayor's staff for the new administration. It contains a comprehensive snapshot of city government including an overview of the city's organizational structure, significant transition issues, administrative procedures, a review of city-wide financial procedures, a listing of appointments that fall to the mayor, and an overview of the operation of the Executive Department. It provides a comprehensive snapshot (in 1989) of City government organization and issues.
SMA
Table of Contents
Paul Schell was elected Seattle's 50th mayor for the term beginning January 1, 1998. He subsequently was defeated in the primary election in a run for a second term. Schell received a law degree from Columbia University in 1963 and moved to Seattle in 1967. He served as the director of the City's Department of Community Development (1975-1977) before establishing a private development company. He entered the political arena in 1989 when he was elected to the Port of Seattle Commission. From 1992-1995 he was Dean of the College of Architecture and Urban Planning at the University of Washington.
5279-01
Departmental Correspondence
1998-1999
33.8 cubic feet
Correspondence, memoranda, reports, and notes related to all City functions during Mayor Paul Schell's administration. Records are organized by City agency responsible for the specific issue addressed in the correspondence.
SMA
Folder List
5279-04
Mayoral Proclamations
1999-2001
2.0 cubic feet
Ceremonial documents issued by the Mayor honoring individuals and organizations, and celebrating special events. Records include a copy of the proclamation and information about the honoree or the event being celebrated.
SMA
Uhlman served as Mayor from 1969 to 1977, the youngest chief executive in Seattle's history and the first Democrat in almost 30 years. He faced a host of problems ranging from racial tensions and large anti-war demonstrations to a police scandal and the Boeing bust. He responded by overhauling the city bureaucracy, encouraging increased citizen participation in government, and expanding social services. Uhlman was a strong believer in affirmative action, and the percentage of City workers who were minorities doubled during his time in office.
5287-01
Mayoral Records
1954-1977
184 cubic feet
Subject files, departmental correspondence, chronological correspondence, administrative files, and reference materials from Uhlman's two terms as Mayor. Some records pre-date Uhlman's tenure and are from the administrations of Gordon S. Clinton (1956-1964), James Dorm Braman (1964-1969), and Floyd Miller (1969).
SMA
Inventory
See also 5210-01
White was Mayor of Seattle from August 1890 to November 1891. He served only two months of his first term and then stood for election under the newly adopted City Charter of 1890. White resigned after only one year of his term.
5295-01
Mayor's Messages
1890-1891
1 volume
Includes annual message on the state of the City, vetoes, proposed Charter amendments, and various communications to City Council.
SMA