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Explore stories in Northwest history through highlights from MOHAI’s collections. Search by keyword below or browse the entire online collection by entering the asterisk symbol (*). Filter your search by type of materials.

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506 results for: Government and Public Services

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Image of McKee's Correct Road Map of Seattle and Vicinity, 1894
Cartographic material

McKee's Correct Road Map of Seattle and Vicinity, 1894

Redick H. McKee (1864-1949) was born in Louisiana and spent his childhood in Washington, D.C. As a young man, Mr. McKee entered the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and was sent to the Sierra Nevadas and other parts of California. In 1892, McKee established the USGS office in Seattle, and remained a resident of the city until his death.The map…
ID Number:2019.3.12
Date:1894
Image of Seattle, Washington, Postal delivery section map, circa 1950
Cartographic material

Seattle, Washington, Postal delivery section map, circa 1950

In 1903 Carl Albert Kroll (1882-1982) immigrated from Germany to the U. S., finding work as a drafting technician at the Moran Brothers shipbuilding company. By 1910 Kroll was the manager at O. P. Anderson Map & Blue Print Company. The following year he acquired both the Anderson Map Company and the Washington Map and Blueprint Company and merged them…
ID Number:2019.3.15
Date:Circa 1950
Image of Seattle (X-1) Sectional Aeronautical Chart, April 14, 1955
Cartographic material

Seattle (X-1) Sectional Aeronautical Chart, April 14, 1955

Sectional Aeronautical Charts are used by aircraft pilots for navigating with Visual Flight Rules (often noted as VFR). The charts, first published in the 1930s, show important topographical and group features, along with other information such as traffic control areas, airspace classes, radio frequencies, and navigation routes. These charts, now published by the Federal Aviation Administration, were originally produced by…
ID Number:2019.3.16
Date:1955
Image of City of Seattle Harbor Department Map of Central Waterfront District, August 1916
Cartographic material

City of Seattle Harbor Department Map of Central Waterfront District, August 1916

Maritime trade was crucial to the city's economic development, and Seattle continues to be defined and supported by the harbor that has become one of the busiest ports in the U. S. This 1916 map of Elliott Bay depicts wharves and businesses along the waterfront, as well as and water depths (soundings) along piers and in Elliott Bay. Each street,…
ID Number:2019.3.17
Date:1916
Image of Boston Heights Supplemental Addition to the City of Seattle, February 25, 1890
Cartographic material

Boston Heights Supplemental Addition to the City of Seattle, February 25, 1890

Thomas Rock (1846-1908) immigrated to the U. S. from Ireland about 1870. By 1877 he was living in Seattle, and married another Irish immigrant, Mary Ann (Graham) Rock (1853-1932), and started a family. The Rocks owned property in Seattle, probably from a donation land claim granted by the U. S. government, that was platted as the Boston Heights Supplemental Addition…
ID Number:2019.3.20
Date:1890
Image of Seattle Sewerage Skeleton Map, July 1891
Cartographic material

Seattle Sewerage Skeleton Map, July 1891

This 1891 map shows the proposed design for the Seattle Sewer System by Benezette Williams, a nationally renowned civil engineer who was called in by the City of Seattle to design its first municipal water system. After the Great Seattle fire in June of 1889, Seattle was forced to rethink and rebuild its water supply and fire prevention systems. Mayor…
ID Number:2019.3.27
Date:1891
Image of Local Aeronautical Chart, Seattle, October 21, 1954
Cartographic material

Local Aeronautical Chart, Seattle, October 21, 1954

Until 1958, when the Federal Aviation Administration was founded, the United States Coast & Geodetic Survey published aeronautical charts for flight navigation. These were published in various scales to show different information and were updated every six months. The most detailed are the local charts for airports, like this one showing the area around Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. In addition to…
ID Number:2019.3.29
Date:1954
Image of Supplemental Plat of Block 27 to Bell & Denny's First Add. to the City of Seattle, November 4, 1887
Cartographic material

Supplemental Plat of Block 27 to Bell & Denny's First Add. to the City of Seattle, November 4, 1887

William Nathaniel Bell (1817-1887) and his wife, Sarah Ann (Peter) Bell (1819-1856), were members of the pioneering Denny Party, helping to establish the settlement that became Seattle in 1852, and settling in what was then north of downtown in "Belltown." Virginia and Olive streets are named for two of Bell's daughters, and Stewart Street honors Olive's husband, Joseph H. Stewart.…
ID Number:2019.3.31
Date:1887
Image of Register Now! poster, Seattle, 1944
Poster

Register Now! poster, Seattle, 1944

The Municipal League of Seattle (now of King County) was founded in 1910 to encourage Progressive reforms. Over the years the organization has supported the creation of a municipal civil service system, spearheaded efforts to reform the King County Charter, established the Municipality of Metropolitan Seattle (known as Metro), funded infrastructure in the region, and promoted disclosure of campaign finances.This…
ID Number:2019.3.40
Date:1944
Image of Seattle Star front page, February 7, 1919
Serial

Seattle Star front page, February 7, 1919

The Seattle General Strike was a work stoppage by more than 65,000 workers in Seattle from February 6-11, 1919. The strike began in shipyards when workers were refused pay increases after two years of World War I wage controls. Most of the city's 110 local unions, including members of the American Federation of Labor (AFL) and the Industrial Workers of…
ID Number:2019.3.52
Date:1919
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MOHAI stands on the historic and contemporary lands and shores of the Duwamish, Suquamish, Muckleshoot, and other Coast Salish Nations. We acknowledge the forced displacement of Native Communities from this land while honoring the endurance of the Duwamish people who still live here.
Address: 860 Terry Ave N, Seattle WA, 98109
Phone: 206 324 1126
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