THE FIRLAND
FOUNDATION: ITS HISTORY,
EVOLUTION, AND MISSION
SLIDESHOW WILL PLAY IN 30 SECONDS
The Firland Foundation traces
its roots to the Firland
Tuberculosis (TB) Sanatorium,
initially a cottage sanatorium
established in North Seattle in
(at left)
The Firland TB
Sanatorium grew into a
modern facility with the
financial support from
the city and county
(under construction at
right)
Firland was one
of many
sanatoria that
were created to
meet the needs
of TB patients
in Washington
State.
Firland is
number 9 on
the map to the
right.
The Firland TB
Sanatorium figured
prominently in the lives
of Seattle area
residents. Life at Firland
(called “The Pines” in
her book) was
immortalized in Betty
McDonald’s non-fictional
account of her treatment
there entitled “The
Plague and I.”
In this era, TB affected 1
out of 5 people and was
considered to be
incurable. The best hope
for many patients was the
strict regimen of rest
therapy, nutrition, and
fresh air provided by
specialized TB sanatoria.
Residence in TB
sanatoria also helped to
prevent spread from
infectious patients to
others in the community.
More rigorous therapies
were provided at Firland
and other TB sanatoria.
The photo at the right
depicts a patient
receiving a therapeutic
pneumothorax at
Firland.
Patients also underwent
thoracoplasty, lung
resection, and other
aggressive procedures
in an attempt to control
their TB.
From the earliest
days, the Firland
TB Sanatorium
incorporated
recreational
therapy into the
treatment regimen.
Patients in the
photo to the left are
working in the Arts
& Crafts Workshop.
Items made were
sold in the Firland
store and used to
support the
program.
The staff at the Firland TB
Sanatorium worked hard (above,
in the laundry) and played hard (at
left, swimming at Echo Lake)
Growing demand
for bed space
exceeded the
capacity of the
original Firland
campus, and the
sanatorium was
moved to the old
naval hospital site
in Shoreline
(shown at left).
Firland continued
to serve as a major
teaching hospital
for the UW.
By the 1960s, new
and improved
medical treatments
for tuberculosis
made prolonged
institutionalization
unnecessary.
In 1973 the last TB
patient left the
Firland Sanatorium
(at left) and the
facility was closed.
Fortunately, the traditions of the Firland Workshop were
carried on—now as the Firland Sheltered Workshop
Foundation, employing handicapped workers in the
construction of aerospace
components.
The Firland Foundation Mission
Part 1
Firland Foundation’s mission is to provide
employment for people with disabilities in the
production and finishing of machined parts, and
to offer its employees the opportunity to be selfsupporting so that they may lead productive and
independent lives.
Workers operating
machine tools at
the Firland
Sheltered
Workshop
Boeing
commercial
airplane
components
produced at the
Firland
Sheltered
Workshop
The Firland Foundation Mission
Part 2
Income from the Workshop provides the
resources for grant making. This funds grants
directed toward research studies, clinical
projects, educational programs, and advocacy
efforts intended to improve the management
and control of tuberculosis and other chronic
respiratory diseases.
Overview of Grants Program
The Firland Foundation awards grants supporting work
related to tuberculosis (TB) and other chronic
respiratory diseases. Our grant activities are focused on
these areas:
•Community-Based Grants
A primary funding focus of the Firland Foundation is
community health projects, education, and advocacy
programs related to TB. Our goal is to support
innovative TB programs that have a direct impact on
those who are underserved and affected by or at risk for
TB infection.
Overview of Grants Program
• Research Grants
The Firland Foundation also supports small
investigator-initiated basic or clinical research
projects in the field of tuberculosis or other chronic
respiratory diseases. Our goal is to support early
phase or pilot research that will in the long-term lead
to a sustainable impact.
• see www.firland.org for more information