Eugene Clyde La Rue Papers, 1909-1949

Summary

Abstract:

This collection consists of papers and 876 maps of Southern California hydraulic engineer Eugene C. La Rue (1879-1947) related to irrigation projects in the western United States, as well as diaries of La Rue's Colorado River trips from 1921, 1922, and 1924.

Extent:

27.51 Linear Feet (36 boxes)

Language:

English.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. Eugene Clyde La Rue Papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection consists of letters and documents (including 8 volumes) and 876 maps related to irrigation projects in the western United States. There are correspondence, reports, etc. regarding Colorado River projects (including the Colorado River-Los Angeles Gravity Flow Aqueduct); the Klamath Lake Project in Oregon; the Merced Irrigation District in California; the San Juan River, Little Colorado, and Verde projects in Arizona; and many others. Of note in the collection are diaries of La Rue's Colorado River trips from 1921, 1922, and 1924, and maps of western areas.

Biographical / historical:

Eugene Clyde La Rue (1879-1947), a Los Angeles hydraulic engineer, was born in Riverside, California, and graduated from the University of California in 1904. He was employed by the U.S. Geological Survey making field examinations for power sites and reporting on irrigation projects, first as district engineer for the Great Basin District headquartered in Salt Lake City (1907-11), and then in the Water Resources Branch (1911-27). After this time La Rue entered a private civil engineering partnership in Los Angeles.

Acquisition information:

Gift of Mrs. E. C. La Rue, 1950-1955.

5 boxes of addenda were added January 25, 1972.

Arrangement:

Arranged in the following 5 series:

1. Correspondence
2. Reports, etc., relating to various hydraulic engineering projects
3. Biographical information, trips, and personal and business papers
4. Maps
5. Addendum - Reports

Rules or conventions:

Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Related resources

Separated material:

Photographs Transferred to the Photograph Department (photCL 136)

1. I. Photographs
2. A. Stereos - 65 (2 boxes: one of pictures, one of negatives)
3. B. Folders (7)
4. 1. 1910s (58 pictures, including 10 of the Snake River in 1905 and 2 of Idaho in 1906)
5. 2. 1920s (84 pictures, including 1925 winter scenes, 1921 views of Boulder Canyon, 18 pictures of a pump belt drive [1926], and views of the Lafayette Dam in 1928)
6. 3. 1930s (72 pictures, including 15 of Owens Valley in 1931, ten of the March 2, 1938, Altadena Flood, and 17 of the lower Colorado River in 1938)
7. 4. 1940s (20 pictures)
8. 5. No Date (229 pictures)
9. 6. No Date (80 pictures)
10. 7. (Addition) Photo collection of Lewis R. Freeman (33)
11. C. Small Envelopes (4)
12. 1. Colorado River (ca. 20)
13. 2. Modoc Lava Beds - Tule Lake outlet test pits, June 1920(16)
14. 3. Miscellaneous (14)
15. 4. Miscellaneous (18 - found in envelope with daily weather maps, dated November 25-27, 1926)
16. D. Large Envelopes (3) - Folder 1 (11); Folder 2 (95); Folder 3 (3).
17. II. Negatives
18. A. Small envelopes (5) Includes an envelope containing negatives of 1921 pictures and an envelope containing negatives of Powell's second expedition.
19. B. Large envelope

Indexed terms

Subjects:

Aqueducts -- California
Aqueducts -- West (U.S.)
Hydraulic engineers -- California -- Los Angeles -- Archives
Hydraulic engineers -- Colorado River Watershed (Colo.-Mexico) -- Archives
Hydraulic engineers -- West (U.S.) -- Archives
Irrigation -- California, Southern
Irrigation -- Colorado River Watershed (Colo.-Mexico)
Irrigation -- West (U.S.)
Irrigation engineering -- California, Southern
Irrigation engineering -- Colorado River Watershed (Colo.-Mexico)
Irrigation engineering -- West (U.S.)
Irrigation engineers -- California -- Archives
Irrigation engineers -- West (U.S.)
Water resources development -- California, Southern
Water resources development -- Colorado River Watershed (Colo.-Mexico)
Water resources development -- West (U.S.)
Letters (correspondence) -- West (U.S.) -- 20th century
Maps -- West (U.S.) -- 20th century

Places:

Arizona -- Maps
California -- Maps
Colorado -- Maps
Colorado River (Colo.-Mexico) -- Maps
Colorado River Watershed (Colo.-Mexico) -- Maps
Idaho -- Maps
Los Angeles (Calif.) -- Maps
Los Angeles County (Calif.) -- Maps
Montana -- Maps
New Mexico -- Maps
Oregon -- Maps
Utah -- Maps
Washington (State) -- Maps

Restrictions:

Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more information

Terms of access:

The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. Eugene Clyde La Rue Papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Location of this collection:

Huntington Library, Manuscript Collections

1151 Oxford Road

San Marino, CA 91108, US

Contact:

(626) 405-2191

reference@huntington.org

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