National Archives and Records Administration
Pacific Alaska Region, Seattle
"Primarily Teaching" - Teaching with Documents Summer Institute
Topic Selection Guide
NOTE: Because it is important for the sake of the culminating assignment to actually handle and analyze original documents, please select a topic that relates to one or more of the agencies for which we hold original records. The list below is intended to assist you in that selection. A federal agency list for the Seattle facility can also be found at http://www.archives.gov/pacific-alaska/seattle/holdings/.
RG is the abbreviation for "Record Group," a number that helps us identify the agency in question. Documents are primarily from Washington, Oregon, and Idaho, covering the time period roughly from 1870-1970.
- Army Air Forces (RG 18)
Spruce Division - Logging to supply lumber to
build US Army airplanes during World War I.
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US District Courts (RG 21)
- Civil and criminal court cases about civil rights, conservation, sedition, land issues, naturalization and other subjects. Files are roughly in chronological order. (It is helpful to know which court jurisdiction, case number, plaintiff, and/or defendant.)
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US Fish and Wildlife Service (RG 22)
- American Indian fishing rights (Boldt decision), conservation, fishing and fisheries, wildlife refuges in the Pacific Northwest, and ecology.
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US Coast Guard (RG) 26)/ US Customs Service (RG 36)/ Bureau of Marine Inspection and Navigation (RG 41)
- World War II in the Pacific Northwest, lifesaving stations, histories of coast guard units, shipwrecks off Oregon and Washington coast.
- Bureau of Public Roads (RG 30)
- Road construction in the Pacific Northwest (including some interstate highway information).
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International Conferences, Commissions and Expositions (RG 43)
- Seattle Worlds Fair (US Science Exhibit only).
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Office of the Secretary of the Interior (RG 48)
- American Indian fishing rights, land management issues, special projects including North Cascades National Park, Pacific North West Fishing Council, and specific environmental issues.
- Bureau of Land Management (RG 49)
- Early settlement in the Pacific Northwest, land use in the Pacific Northwest, Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC).
- Department of Treasury (RG 56)
- Prohibition enforcement.
- US Geological Survey (RG 57)
- Water use in the Pacific Northwest.
- Bureau of Indian Affairs (RG 75)
- American Indian affairs, including fishing rights,health issues, individual American Indian records, Indian reservations (Civilian Conservation Corps, forestry, land use, and land ownership),distribution of resources (including annuities, heirship, and accounts).
- Office of Chief of Engineers (US Army Corps of
Engineers) (RG 77)
- Construction of waterways, harbors, locks, and dams; flood control, including the Vanport flood and others; scientific data collection; Japanese balloon bombs during World War II.
- National Park Service (RG 79)
- Mount Rainier National Park, Crater Lake National Park,and the Oregon Caves National Monument.
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Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization (RG 85)
- Chinese Exclusion Act case files.
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US Forest Service (RG 95)
- Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), forestry (WA, OR, ID, and MT), Japanese balloon bombs during World War II, and land and forest use.
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Farmers Home Administration (RG 96)
- Depression-era agricultural development.
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US Mint (RG 104)
- Gold, silver and other precious metals received in the assay office in Seattle and Boise (1898-1955).
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Soil Conservation Service (RG 114)
- Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), conservation, natural resources, and drought relief.
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Bureau of Prisons (RG 129)
- McNeil Island Penitentiary records.
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Selective Service System (RG 147)
- Aliens during World War II.
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War Department General and Special Staffs (RG 165)
- International Workers of the World (IWW).
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Office of Civilian Defense (RG 171)
- Civilian defense during World War II in the Pacific Northwest.
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Naval Districts and Shore Establishments (RG 181)
- Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Japanese balloon bombs during World War II, and the Navy in the Pacific Northwest.
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National Resources Planning Board (RG 187)
- Planning of projects such as the Bonneville Dam, Grand Coulee Dam, and the Columbia Basin Project.
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Petroleum Administrative Board (RG 232)
- Depression era gasoline pricing.
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General Services Administration (RG 269)
- Disposal of federal lands and buildings in ID, WA, OR, and MT.
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War Assets Administration (RG 270)
- Disposal of World War II property to the general public.
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Bonneville Power Administration (RG 305)
- Construction, public relations, financial issues, and operations of the Bonneville Dam.
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National Agricultural Statistics Service (RG 355)
- Farm statistics from the Pacific Northwest (1918-1966).
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Environmental Protection Agency (RG 412)
- Ecology, public reaction to 1970-era environmental movements.
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Mine Safety and Health Administration (RG 433)
- Sunshine mine disaster (Kellogg, Idaho).
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Indian Arts and Crafts Board (RG 435)
- American Indian arts program of the 1970's.
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