Seattle Municipal Archives
Overview of Photographic Images
The online photographs database makes available 51,000 photographic images from the Seattle Municipal Archives but there are over one million are photographic images in the Archives. This document provides an overview of collections of photographic images in the Seattle Municipal Archives, most of which are not available online. The photographs in the Archives come from a variety of Departments within the City. Please contact the Archives staff for assistance: archives@seattle.gov
Engineering Department
Seattle Engineering Department, 1910-1994. Records Series 2613-07
The largest collection of negatives in the Archives, negatives shot by the Seattle Engineering Department photographers document public works, municipal Facilities. The collection includes images of the Cedar River Watershed, Skagit River power development, bridge construction, sanitary landfills, Seattle's waterfront, and pipeline construction, among other topics. Please note that only Engineering Department images through the early 1950s are online. Please consult with the archives staff for information about and access to about images after this date.
Department of Streets and Sewers, 1916-1936. Record Series 2625-10
Incorporated into the Engineering Department in 1936, images from the Department of Streets and Sewers, numbering close to 2,000, date primarily from 1916 through 1936. The images document public works projects, including sewer construction, and document a large number of landslides within the City.
Engineering Department Glass Lantern Slides, 1910-1960. Record Series 2613-06
Over 1,000 images dating from 1910 to 1960 relating to public works projects, designs and reports. Includes paving, bridge maintenance, landslides, water supply, and Public Utility Department materials. Also includes images from the Municipal Plans Commission "Bogue Plan" and a tour of Egypt to study irrigation.
Engineering Department Slides, 1888-1990. Record Series 2613-08
Consisting of over 7,000 images, not currently available online, the slides document Engineering Department projects and miscellaneous slides produced from historical photographs, frequently from sources other than the Municipal Archives. This series documents construction of the West Seattle Freeway Bridge, and a large body of images of the Tolt River Project construction and damage and repair work on the Ravenna water pipeline break.
Engineering Department Aerial Photographs, 1954-1975. Record Series 2613-12
Measuring 3.4 cubic feet, these images were taken by commercial aerial surveyors and include images from 22 separate flights. These images are not represented in the online digital database.
Parks Department Photographs include several different collections of images, not all of which are represented in the digital database.
Don Sherwood Parks History Collection Photographs, Record Series 5801-01, constitute over 2,500 Parks Department images documenting Seattle parks and associated recreational programs from the 1890s through the 1970s. All images from this collection are available online.
The Ben Evans Recreational Program Photographs, Records Series 5801-02, number over 300 and document recreational programs in Seattle parks from the 1930s through the 1980s. All images from this collection are available online.
Other Parks Department visual materials are available for research but not yet available online. These materials include:
Department of Parks and Recreation Slides, Record Series 5802-09, consisting of over 2,500 images dating from 1967 to 1990, documenting facilities, projects, and recreation programs.
Bumbershoot Festival Records, Record Series 5807-05, includes 150 color slides from 1972 to 1976 of Bumbershoot artists and activities.
Forward Thrust Photography, Records Series 5804-04, includes prints, negatives and slides dating from 1968-1970 relating to Forward Thrust planning and projects.
Municipal Golf Course Statistics, Records Series 5807-02, includes photographs of golf courses in Seattle dating from 1968 to 1977.
The Dance Advisory Council Records, Records Series 5807-03, includes photographs dating from 1981 to 1984 documenting the Discover Dance series at the Opera House.
Water Department Negatives, 1900-1930. Record Series 8200-13
Over 4,200 images documenting Water Department property and projects, including the Cedar River Watershed development, pipeline construction and repair, reservoir and water tank maintenance, and supplies and equipment. All of the images in this record group are online.
Seattle City Light images consist of several different collections, only a small portion of which are online. Please consult with the archives staff for more information regarding City Light images.
City Light Negatives, Record Series 1204-01
Includes over 150,000 images dating from 1914 to 1995. The negatives document the development of Seattle's public electric utility. Includes photos of dam construction in the Cedar River Watershed and the Skagit, and the Boundary Project; transmission lines, substations; City Light facilities; and employees. The largest groups of images relate to Boundary Dam, Gorge High Dam, and Ross Dam. Other generating facilities depicted are Cedar Falls, Diablo Dam, Lake Union and Georgetown Steam plants, and the Newhalem hydroelectric plant.
City Light Photographic Prints, Record Series 1204-02
Includes over 12,000 images dating from 1914 to 1995. This series is comprised primarily of prints of City Light negatives (1204-01) and documents the development and growth of the City's public electric utility. Also included are unidentified images without corresponding negatives.
City Light Glass Lantern Slides, Record Series 1204-03
Includes 200 images dating from 1903 to 1945 relating to the development of public power in Seattle. Includes landscapes at Cedar Falls and the Skagit; promotional materials comparing City Light facilities to private companies; examples of electrical appliances and applications of electricity; and views of Diablo Dam, the Skagit River Railway, Cedar Falls Power Plant, and the Denny Hill Regrade.
City Light Slides, Record Group 1204-04
Include over 20,000 images documenting the development of City Light's public power facilities including dams, power houses, transmission lines, substations, and methods of wiring. Among the sites covered are Cedar Falls Power Plant, Newhalem, Diablo Dam, Ross Dam, and Boundary Dam. None of the images in this record group are currently online.
Department of Community Development
Pike Place Market Visual Images, 1894-1987. Record Series 1628-02
Photographs, slides, and film documenting the history of Pike Place Market. All of the photographs and slides are available in digitally in the online photograph database. The vast majority of visual images relate to urban renewal activities in the Market neighborhood. The collection includes over 2500 photographs and over 4500 slides. The slides document conditions of Market structures before, during, and after rehabilitation and construction; and Market activities and celebrations.
Aerial Photographs, 1951-1960. Record Series 1650-11
Aerial photographs commissioned by the Planning Commission, they measure 1.0 cubic foot.
Although images are continually being added to the online database, the majority of images in the Archives that are not yet available online. Researchers should contact the Archives staff if they do not find what they are looking for.