Favorite Archival Object: Commission for Improved Employment Photographs, 1932

An inside look at Seattle's Great Depression relief depots

3/16/20233:43

In this installment, Seattle Municipal Archives' City Archivist Anne Frantilla presents photographs of the relief depots established by the Commission for Improved Employment following the 1929 stock market crash to assist Seattle residents with finding jobs, food, and clothing.

View more from the "Favorite Archival Object" series here.

Seattle Municipal Archives MATERIAL CITATIONS:
– Report of Mayor's Commission for Improved Employment (January 18, 1932), Clerk File 134309, Record Series 1802-D9: Reports and Studies
– [Men loading supplies at relief depot at Twelfth and Yesler. Supplies will be sent to various district depots.] (1931), Item 193915, Record Series 1802-0P: Comptroller/Clerk File Photographs; 1802-D9: Reports and Studies
– [Mrs C. S. Sapp, Greenwood PTA worker, volunteers in the clothing department of the Northeast Relief Depot, 1304 East 45th.] (1931), Item 193925, Record Series 1802-0P: Comptroller/Clerk File Photographs; 1802-D9: Reports and Studies
– [Women workers sort, repair and clean clothing at Northeast Relief Depot, 1304 East 45th.] (1931), Item 193923, Record Series 1802-0P: Comptroller/Clerk File Photographs; 1802-D9: Reports and Studies
– [Roy Carson, volunteer, and Mrs. K. S. Beattie, chairman of the food committee, wrap and check groceries for two men at the Northeast Relief Depot, 1304 East 45th.] (1931), Item 193924, Record Series 1802-0P: Comptroller/Clerk File Photographs; 1802-D9: Reports and Studies
– [Northeast Relief Depot, 1304 East 45th. Woman receiving supplies from manager A D Shirreff and volunteer Ed Parsonage.] (1931), Item 193918, Record Series 1802-0P: Comptroller/Clerk File Photographs; 1802-D9: Reports and Studies
– [Northeast Relief Depot, 1304 East 45th] (1931), Item 193917, Record Series 1802-0P: Comptroller/Clerk File Photographs; 1802-D9: Reports and Studies
– [Raymond Peters (l) and John B. Gough (r) repair shoes in Northwest Relief Depot, 5419 Ballard Avenue.] (1931), Item 193922, Record Series 1802-0P: Comptroller/Clerk File Photographs; 1802-D9: Reports and Studies
– [Cobbler shop in clothing department at Twelfth and Yesler Depot.] (1931), Item 193920, Record Series 1802-0P: Comptroller/Clerk File Photographs; 1802-D9: Reports and Studies
– [Family receiving shoes and clothing at Rainier Relief Depot at 3805 Edmunds Street.] (1931), Item 193914, Record Series 1802-0P: Comptroller/Clerk File Photographs; 1802-D9: Reports and Studies
– [Men lined up at the North Central Relief Depot, 3122 Elliott Avenue, receiving a week's provisions for their families.] (1931), Item 193916, Record Series 1802-0P: Comptroller/Clerk File Photographs; 1802-D9: Reports and Studies
– Georgetown relief depot (1932), Item 64764, Record Series 1802-0P: Comptroller/Clerk File Photographs; 1802-D9: Reports and Studies
– [Hooverville on tideflats - foot of S. Atlantic St. near the Skinner and Eddy Shipyards] (February 7, 1933), Item191875, Record Series 2613-07: Engineering Department

Negatives
– Mayor John F. Dore (October 30, 1936), Item 11119, Record Series 2613-07: Engineering Department Negatives
– Mayor Bertha Knight Landes, Item 12285, Record Series 2613-07: Engineering Department Negatives
– Mayor Robert H. Harlin, Item 12287, Record Series 2613-07: Engineering Department Negatives NEWSPAPER ARTICLES
– “Councilmen to See Relief Work.” Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Two Star edition, 6 April 1932, p. 5.
– “Women Given Jobs by Relief Commission.” Seattle Post-Intelligencer, One Star edition, 15 April 1932, p. 16.
– “New Regime Will Abolish Food Depots.” Seattle Post-Intelligencer, One Star edition, 28 January 1933, p. 3.

All of the videos from the "Favorite Archival Object" series feature the following:
– Footage in introduction titles: Seattle Channel, Item cs_112119_3071924V
– Music: "The Plan's Working" by Cooper Cannellis from YouTube's Audio Library (Creative Commons)

7022312