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Posts tagged with Handwriting Archives - Primary Sources

Annual Reports

August 21, 2026

Did you know SMA holds annual reports from multiple city departments, some going back to the late 1800s? They can be excellent sources for researching departmental projects and priorities over time, revealing the successes and struggles of city work as Seattle grew year by year.  One unique early example is… [ Keep reading ]

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Handwritten Records in the Archives

January 23, 2026

Happy National Handwriting Day! SMA holds many handwritten records, from individual letters and petitions to large, heavy volumes documenting official actions and reports. All of them give us valuable insights into the workings of city government over time and the issues that were important to Seattle. We’ve recently digitized two… [ Keep reading ]

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