The Seattle City Council created the position of City Health Officer in 1877. The Health Officer had the responsibility to abate nuisances affecting the public health and to prevent the spread of contagious disease, especially smallpox. Between 1877 and 1890, ten different local doctors served in the role. An amended City Charter in 1908 replaced the Board of Health with a new Department of Health, with a Commissioner of Health appointed by the Mayor.

This image of the Health Office on Yesler Way was taken about 1900, before the department moved to City Hall. The population of Seattle in 1900 was about 80,700, although that tripled in the next 10 years. Health concerns of the time included preventing the spread of contagious disease, especially smallpox, typhoid, and cholera. The Seattle Department of Health continued in this form until 1951, when it merged with the King County Department of Health.

Caption on image: W&S.
Typed on verso: King County Hospital about 1900. In Georgetown which was a suburb of Seattle. It has since become a part of Seattle.
SHS category: Hospitals