Human Services Department Director's Records
Scope and Contents note
Files of the Director of the Human Services Department, including records of some other staff from the Director's office such as deputy directors and public information officers. Files include correspondence, subject files, reports, budget files, audits, grant files, organizational charts, conference materials and photographs concerning the Department’s efforts to provide social services, assistance and advocacy for Seattle residents, especially children, youth, elderly, veterans, immigrants, homeless, low-income, and disadvantaged citizens. Topics include racial discrimination, housing, education, Head Start, youth employment, weatherization assistance, community development block grants, community service centers, homelessness, food programs, public health, and the Seattle Veteran's Action Center. Topics related to HSD's internal functions are part of the series as well, including contract monitoring, communications, and employee surveys. Also included are files of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund and other Chicano organizations in which Director Theresa Aragon Valdez took an active role.
Directors’ records for 1990 through 1993 are missing.
Dates
- Creation: 1971-2010
Creator
- Seattle (Wash.). Human Services Dept. (Organization)
Conditions Governing Access note
Records are open to the public.
Historical Note
An Office of Human Resources was established in 1971 in the Executive Department to develop, implement, and manage social services for low-income and disadvantaged residents of Seattle. In 1973 it was replaced by the Department of Human Resources. DHR administered family and youth services programs, senior citizen services, community service activities, the Seattle Veterans Action Center, and the Comprehensive Residential Weatherization Program. Federal, state, and local grants comprised two-thirds of the department's operating budget. Passage of the 1986 Low Income Housing Levy increased the City's funding and policy role in housing issues. In 1991, the agency name was changed to the Department of Human Services. A year later, the Department of Housing and Human Services was created, incorporating the City housing programs and Community Development Block Grant administration from the recently abolished Department of Community Development. DHHS programs included aging services, family and youth services, housing and community services, human services, and the City's education office. In 1999, the Office of Housing was established as an independent agency and DHHS was reorganized as the Human Services Department.
Full Extent
49.2 Cubic Feet (123 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Director's records, concerning the delivery of social services to Seattle children, youth, elderly, veterans, immigrants, homeless, low-income, and disadvantaged citizens.
Directors
Department Directors
- Edward S. Singler, 1973-1974
- Curtis M. Green 1974-1977
- Donald T. Dudley, 1978-1980
- Theresa Aragon Valdez, 1981-1985
- Dorothy Hollingsworth, 1985
- David R. Okimoto, 1985-1990
- Jerry Agen, 1990
- Pamela S. Hyde, 1991-1992
- Frank J. Jose, 1992-1993
- Venerria L. Knox, 1994-2003
- Patricia McInturff, 2003-2008
- Alan Painter, 2008-2009
- Kip Tokuda, 2010
- Dannette R. Smith, 2010-2013
- Catherine Lester, 2013-2018
- Jason Johnson, 2018-2020
- Helen Howell, 2020-2021
Subject
- Valentine, Joe (Person)
- Shepro, Theresa Aragon de (Person)
- Seattle (Wash.). Dept. of Housing & Human Services (Organization)
- Dudley, Donald T. (Person)
- Knox, Venerria L. (Person)
- Okimoto, David R. (Person)
Geographic
Topical
- African Americans -- Washington (State) -- Seattle
- Asian Americans -- Washington (State) -- Seattle
- Block grants -- Washington (State) -- Seattle
- Children -- Washington (State) -- Seattle
- Gang prevention -- Washington (State) -- Seattle
- Head Start programs -- Washington (State) -- Seattle
- Hispanic Americans -- Washington (State) -- Seattle
- Homelessness -- Washington (State) -- Seattle
- Human services -- Washington (State) -- Seattle
- Hunger -- Washington (State) -- Seattle
- Low-Income Housing
- Older people -- Washington (State) -- Seattle
- Public health -- Washington (State) -- Seattle
- Schools -- Washington (State) -- Seattle
- Veterans -- Services for -- Washington (State) -- Seattle
- Weatherization
- Youth employment -- Washington (State) -- Seattle
- Title
- Guide to the Seattle Human Services Department Director's Records 1971-2004
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Janet Ness
- Date
- © 2010
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
- Sponsor
- Funding for processing this record series was provided through a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.
- EAD Location
- http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv75531
Repository Details
Part of the Seattle Municipal Archives Repository