Charles Tileston Leeds Papers, 1904-1960

Collection context

Summary

Creators:
Leeds, Charles Tileston, 1879-1960
Abstract:
Charles Tileston Leeds (1879-1960) was a commissioned officer in the Army Corps of Engineers stationed in the Philippines and New Mexico, a member of the California Debris Commission, in charge of the construction of the Colorado River drainage basin and the Los Angeles harbor breakwater. He also assisted in the development of Port Hueneme, California, the naval installations at Seal Beach, and the construction of Vandenburg Air Force Base. The collection consists of correspondence, clippings, photographs, and related printed materials concerning Charles T. Leeds' military career.
Extent:
2 boxes (1.0 linear ft.)
Language:
English.

Background

Scope and content:

Collection consists of correspondence, clippings, photographs, and related printed materials concerning the military career of Charles T. Leeds, a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Biographical / historical:

Leeds was born on May 14, 1879 in Newton, Massachusetts; graduated from the U.S. Military Academy (1903) with a BS from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1906); was commissioned second lieutenant in the Army Corps of Engineers upon graduation from West Point; promoted to captain in 1911 after assignments in the Philippines and New Mexico, and assistant U.S. district engineer and U.S. district engineer and member of the California Debris Commission (1909-12); was in charge of construction of Colorado River drainage basin and the Los Angeles harbor breakwater; formed the partnership of Leeds & Barnard in 1912, and from 1919-60 practiced as a consulting engineer in Los Angeles and from 1930 with the California State Division of Public Works; during World War II, he assisted in the development of Port Hueneme, California as a U.S. Navy shipping point, and worked on the construction of Seal Beach naval installations, and the construction of Vandenburg Air Force Base; at the time of his death, he was vice-president and a director of the engineering firm of Leeds, Hill & Jewett; he died on March 20, 1960.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Amy Leeds, 1961.
Physical location:
Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information.

Access and use

Location of this collection:
A1713 Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575, US
Contact:
(310) 825-4988