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The Commission was a jointly funded Seattle-King County body established in 1975 to provide guidance to communities, organizations, and individuals in planning bicentennial activities. The records, located at the University of Washington, are from the Commission Chair, Robb Weller.

Correspondence, memoranda, reports, and planning files relating to coordination of American Bicentennial activities in Seattle and King County.

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The Commission was created in 1985 to oversee the annual Bumbershoot Festival. The festival began in 1971 and was named Bumbershoot in 1973. It was administered by different City departments over the years, including Seattle Arts Commission and the Seattle Center. Following three straight years of financial losses, a restructuring plan was adopted in 1994 that consolidated the management of the festival with production. The BFC, as constituted since 1985, was abolished. One Reel Vaudeville Productions, the producer of the festival over the previous 14 years, and the BFC members formed a new nonprofit entity that, beginning in 1995, is responsible for the management, cash flow, and financial risk of the festival.

Correspondence, reports, budget materials, audits, contracts, and business plans related to the Bumbershoot Festival and the activities of the Bumbershoot Festival Commission. Includes Commission minutes, appointments of members, reorganization studies, and records related to One Reel Vaudeville Show, the contractor that operates Bumbershoot. The Commission office was closed at the end of 1994 and management of the festival was turned over to a private organization.

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Folder List

Promotional posters for the Bumbershoot Festival. Not all inclusive years are represented. Duplicates exist for 1984, 1987, and 1992, with triplicates for 1988.

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The Civilian War Commission was established in 1941 to coordinate all municipal and private agency defense activities. In 1942, these activities were divided into civilian protection and civilian services units. The latter was a civilian participation program to meet homefront social, economic, and morale needs. The former was set up to protect the civilian population and property. Commission records described below are from the Civilian Protection Division.

Correspondence, minutes, news clippings, scrapbooks, publicity materials, and flyers relating to civilian defense activities during World War II. Haggen was Chief Air Raid Warden with the Civilian Protection Division, Seattle Civilian War Commission.

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Lists of supplies and equipment purchased by the City for the Civilian War Commission and register of materials issued to various agencies. Includes fire fighting equipment, medical supplies and defense materials such as gas masks and helmets.

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Payroll register for the Civilian Protection Division including employee name, occupation, pay rate, amount paid, deductions, balance, and warrant number.

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Register of warrants issued by the Civilian Protection Division of the Commission. Includes date, authorizing ordinance, voucher number, payee, and warrant amount.

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The Board of Eminent Domain Commissioners was created in 1907 to establish the assessed value of real property condemned for public use. The three commissioners were appointed by the Superior Court and were officials of the Court. However, the Board also represented the City in condemnation matters. The Board was abolished in the mid-1950s.

Correspondence, certificates, deeds, petitions, and newspaper clippings relating to the Board of Eminent Domain Commissioners work in condemnation cases.

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Correspondence, statements of cost, petitions, ordinances, maps, and judgments on verdicts relating to property condemned by the City for municipal use. Also includes list of assessment roles filed 1908-1927. Files are arranged numerically from 1-377 and chronologically thereafter.

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Box List and Log

Property title abstracts for parcels condemned by City for municipal use. Includes ownership histories. Arranged numerically. Numbers assigned to abstracts do not correspond to case file numbers.

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Area maps of property condemned by city for municipal use.

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The Board of Freeholders was elected in 1974 to prepare a new City Charter for Seattle. The proposed charter was submitted to the electorate on November 4, 1975 and defeated by a 55-45 percent margin. The Board was not a City agency, but is included in the Guide because of its responsibility for drafting a new governing document for the City.

9331-01
Board of Freeholders Files
1974-1975
13.0 cubic feet

Correspondence, minutes, seminar and workshop materials, press clippings, draft charters, discussion papers, questionnaires, and administrative records relating to the Board's preparation of a new proposed City Charter.

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Container List

Tape recordings of public meetings, discussion groups, and workshops and seminars relating to the Board's Charter writing responsibility.

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The Commission was created by City Charter amendment in 1910 to prepare plans for the "arrangement of the city," to meet future needs in the areas of transportation, parks, highways, and waterfront development. The 21 member commission hired Virgil G. Bogue to direct the planning project. The Commission was disbanded by Charter provision in September 1911 following completion of the plan. The plan was approved by the Commission by an 18-3 margin. However, when submitted to the people in 1912, the plan was overwhelmingly rejected by a vote of 24,966 to 14,406.

Comprehensive plan for the City prepared by Virgil C. Bogue, an engineering consultant from Chicago. Also known as the Bogue Plan, it recommended planning along European boulevard lines, improved transportation system, adoption of the Olmsted Brothers parks plan, relocation of the Civic Center, and development of the Port of Seattle. Approved 18-3 by the Commission, the plan was rejected by Seattle voters in 1912.

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The Seattle 2000 Commission was established in 1972 to draft and present to the Mayor and City Council goals for the City in the year 2000. The Commission created task forces in the issue areas of downtown development, the economy, education, the environment, government and citizen participation, law and justice, recreation, social and health services, social justice and human resources, transportation and utilities, and housing. Its report was issued in May 1973.

Correspondence, reports and studies, staff summaries, minutes, and conference materials relating to the Commission's work in establishing City goals for the year 2000.

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Container List

The five-member Transit Commission was established in 1952 to replace the Seattle Transportation Commission as the administrator of the Seattle Transit System. The Transit Commission was abolished in 1971 when the Transit System was taken over by the newly formed Seattle Department of Transportation. Two years later, jurisdiction was transferred to Metro.

Proceedings of Transit Commission meetings.

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Resolutions relating to creation and compensation of positions in the Seattle transit system; to fares, passes, and promotions; to grant applications; and to policies and procedures.

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The Seattle Transportation Commission was established in 1939 to oversee the operation of the Seattle Transit System. The three-member Commission was appointed by the Mayor. The Commission appointed the manager of the Transit System. It was also responsible for establishing policies and procedures and administering the finances of the System. It was abolished in 1952 and replaced by the Seattle Transit Commission (Record Series 9379).

Proceedings of Seattle Transportation Commission meetings.

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Resolutions relating to the operation of Seattle Transit.

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Bids for various work projects relating to the Reconstruction Finance Corporation funded rehabilitation of the City's transit system.

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Correspondence and contracts let for rehabilitation of the city's transit system.

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Financial and narrative reports to the Reconstruction Finance Corporation regarding progress on the rehabilitation of the transit system in Seattle.

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Appraisals of the value and usability of equipment and facilities following the 1939 rehabilitation of the City's Municipal Street Railway System and subsequent organization of Seattle Transit.

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