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Inventory of the Arthur Powell Davis papers, circa 1865-1974

University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.

Email: ahcref@uwyo.edu
URL: http://ahc.uwyo.edu/

The creation of the EAD-version of this finding aid was made possible through a grant from the National Historic Publications and Records Commission.

"©" 2006

University of Wyoming


Collection Summary

Title Arthur Powell Davis papers
Dates (Inclusive) circa 1865-1974
Creator Davis, Arthur Powell, 1861-1933
Abstract The Arthur Powell Davis papers include various project files, correspondence, articles by and about him, bibliographic information (including memoirs and diaries), a few photographs, and project maps. Also included are audiotapes of reminiscences by Douglas Powell Davis, Arthur Powell Davis' nephew.
Collection Number 01366
Size 10 cubic ft. (16 document boxes, 2 slim document boxes, 1 F41 box, 1 card file box)
Repository University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.
Language(s) English

Biography of Arthur Powell Davis

Arthur Powell Davis (1861-1933), nephew of John Wesley Powell, was one of the foremost hydraulic engineers in the world in the early twentieth century. Davis was one of a growing group of government professionals associated with the conservation movement that arose in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries who were proponents of public service through professionalization that utilized scientific accuracy and precision.

Davis was born and raised in Indiana. He graduated from George Washington University in 1882 and received his first job as a typographer with the United States Geological Survey. In 1894 he left the U.S.G.S. and was the Hydrographer in Charge of Stream Measurements until 1897. From 1897 to 1901 he was the Hydrographer in Charge of Examination of Hydrologic Work for Interoceanic Canals in Nicaragua and Panama. In 1902 Davis joined the newly created Reclamation Service as Assistant Chief Engineer. In 1907 he became Chief Engineer and in 1914 became Chief engineer and Director of the Reclamation Service.

After the reorganization of the Reclamation Service into the Bureau of Reclamation in 1923 Davis worked for the East Bay Municipal District in California. In 1929 he left the country for the Soviet Union where he was Chief Consultant for Irrigation in Turkestan and Transcaucasia.

He returned to the United States in 1931 and was named a Consulting Engineer for the Boulder (later renamed Hoover) Dam project in 1933. He died shortly thereafter.

Davis was involved with the Colorado River Compact during the 1920s, the All-American Canal and Imperial Valley, and has been called the father of Hoover Dam.

Davis was named Doctor of Sciences from George Washingtion University in 1917, and Doctor of Engineering from Iowa State College in 1920. He married Elizabeth Brown in 1888 and they had four daughters. Elizabeth died in 1917 and he later married Marie MacNaughton.

Scope and Content

The Arthur Powell Davis papers include various project files, correspondence, articles by and about him, bibliographic information (including memoirs and diaries), a few photographs, and project maps. Also included are audiotapes of reminiscences by Douglas Powell Davis, Arthur Powell Davis' nephew. The collection documents the career and public life of Davis well after 1908 including his work with Bureau of Reclamation projects, the Soviet Republic, the East Bay Municipal District, and other projects. Box 10 contains diaries from 1901 to 1933. Series VI, the Reclamation Service files, include information about the reorganization of the Reclamation Service in the Bureau of Reclamation and Davis' dismissal. There is limited information before 1908 to document Davis' involvement with John Wesley Powell's Geographic survey, the Salt River negotiations, and his association with the building of the Panama Canal. Information regarding the development of the Colorado River is also limited.

Restrictions

Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the collection is open to the public.

Copyright Information

The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

Preferred Citation

Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Arthur Powell Davis papers, circa 1865-1974, Collection Number 01366, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

Processing Information

The collection was processed by Daniel Davis in August 1995. Revised by D.C. Thompson in January 2002. The material has been arranged into eight subject series. Printed material of 0.5 cubic feet was removed from the collection, and recommended for cataloging to Coe Library.

Acquisition Information

The Arthur Powell Davis papers were donated to the American Heritage Center in 1964 by Mrs. Dorothy Stumpf. Additional material was received in 1974 from Mr. Douglas Powell Davis.

Related Materials

There are no other known archival collections created by Arthur Powell Davis at the date of processing.

Access Terms

Canals--Nicaragua.

Canals--Panama.

Dams--United States.

Diaries.

Geological Survey (U.S.)

Hydraulic engineers.

Irrigation engineers.

Irrigation--Soviet Union.

Irrigation--United States.

Maps.

Nicaragua Canal (Nicaragua).

Panama Canal (Panama).

Scrapbooks.

Soviet Union--History--1917-

United States Reclamation Service.

Water resources development--Nicaragua.

Water resources development--Panama.

Water resources development--Soviet Union.

Water resources development--United States.

West (U.S.)--History.

Container List

Series I. 
Project Files,  1906-1933

Size  (5 document boxes)

Arranged chronologically. Correspondence, maps, reports on various Reclamation Service projects and on consulting work for East Bay Municipal District, the Soviet Union, Boulder Dam, and others.

Description Container

PANAMA CANAL,  1906-1909

reports, correspondence, cost estimates, Gatun Dam reports, clippings
Box 1 Folder 1

PANAMA CANAL,  1909-1915

articles on Panama Canal, Isthmian Canal Commission reports
Box 1 Folder 2

AUSTIN TEXAS DAM,  1908

correspondence, reports, maps, clippings
Box 1 Folder 3

PUERTO RICO,  1909

reports, maps, field notes
Box 1 Folder 4

YAQUI RIVER, MEXICO,  1909

report, map
Box 1 Folder 5

SOUTH GILA PROJECT,  1909

maps, reports, correspondence, discharge measurements
Box 1 Folder 6

FEATHER RIVER, BIG BEND,  1909

map, report with pictures, correspondence
Box 1 Folder 7

OKANOGON PROJECT, SALMON CREEK,  1909-1914

pictures, report, Conconully Dam, correspondence, map
Box 1 Folder 8

SANTA MARIE VALLEY PROJECT,  1910

reports, correspondence, San Luis Ranch
Box 1 Folder 9

CZARIST RUSSIA,  1911

memoirs, reports, Irrigation in Turkestan, correspondence
Box 1 Folder 10

CZARIST RUSSIA,  1911-1912

correspondence with John Hays Hammond, maps
Box 2 Folder 1

SALT RIVER PROJECT,  1911-1918

maps, clippings, Size of Farms Report
Box 2 Folder 2

SPAULDING DAM/SOUTH YUBA,  1911-1919

correspondence with F.G. Baum, telegrams, report with pictures
Box 2 Folder 3

STRAWBERRY PROJECT,  1912
Box 2 Folder 4

SALMON CREEK, ALASKA,  1912-1913

clippings, report, correspondence, pictures, articles, maps
Box 2 Folder 5

UNCOMPAHGRE PROJECT/GUNNISON TUNNEL,  1912-1915
Box 2 Folder 6

BRITISH AMERICAN ARBITRATION, ELEPHANT BUTTE,  1912-1923

telegrams, correspondence, reports, sand cement tests, blueprints, report on Rio Grande Project
Box 2 Folder 7

YAKIMA PROJECT,  1912-1924

pictures, correspondence, maps, articles, reports
Box 2 Folder 8

PERU, BREITUNG AND CO.,  1913-1915

contract between Peruvian government and Breitung and Co., correspondence
Box 2 Folder 9

RED CROSS IN CHINA,  1914

articles, correspondence, memoirs, telegraphs, map, reports, clippings
Box 2 Folder 10

RED CROSS IN CHINA,  1914-1925
Box 3 Folder 1

WYOMING,  1914-1922
Box 3 Folder 2

REPORT ON THE CALAVERAS DAM AND SPILLWAY,  1917
Box 3 Folder 3

YUMA PROJECT,  1917-1918

correspondence, report, map
Box 3 Folder 4

PAUPACK RIVER, PENNSYLVANIA,  1920-1921

correspondence, reports, maps, telegram, receipt
Box 3 Folder 5

SKAGIT RIVER, CITY OF SEATTLE,  1920-1921

correspondence, reports, maps, telegram, receipt
Box 3 Folder 6

COLORADO RIVER COMPACT,  1920-1927

Delph Carpenter, congressional reports, hearings, correspondence, clippings
Box 3 Folder 7

COLORADO RIVER COMPACT,  1922

report on Imperial Valley (2 copies, annotated)
Box 3 Folder 8

ALL-AMERICAN CANAL,  1920-1926
Box 3 Folder 9

CITY OF DENVER,  1921

correspondence, report
Box 3 Folder 10

SAN GABRIEL RIVER,  1921
Box 3 Folder 11

CITY OF SAN DIEGO,  1921-1929

maps, correspondence, report, telegram
Box 3 Folder 12

EAST BAY MUNICIPAL DISTRICT,  1921-1929

newspaper clippings
Box 3 Folder 13

EAST BAY MUNICIPAL DISTRICT,  undated

newspaper clippings
Box 4 Folder 1

EAST BAY MUNICIPAL DISTRICT,  1923-1929

correspondence, reports, telegrams, receipts
Box 4 Folder 2

EXCHEQUER DAM,  1922-1923

map, report
Box 4 Folder 3

BOULDER DAM,  undated

newspaper clippings
Box 4 Folder 4

BOULDER DAM,  1922-1935

bill for Hoover Dam, correspondence, articles reports
Box 4 Folder 5

BOULDER DAM,  1928-1933

articles, reports
Box 4 Folder 6

LYMAN LECTURES AT YALE,  1923-1925

correspondence
Box 4 Folder 7

SECRETARY HOWARD WORK,  1923-1925

a year's record, correspondence, clippings, memo
Box 4 Folder 8

DIX RIVER, DAM,  1923-1925

blueprints, maps, correspondence, pictures
Box 5 Folder 1

MOKELUMNE PROJECT, PARDEE DAM,  1926-1930

brochures, reports, correspondence
Box 5 Folder 2

ESSAYS ON RUSSIA,  1929-1931

economic results of two years in Turkestan, irrigation in Turkestan, late A.P. Davis in Turkestan
Box 5 Folder 3

SOVIET RUSSIA,  1929-1931

correspondence, reports, pictures
Box 5 Folder 4

SOVIET RUSSIA,  1931-1932

clippings, reports, correspondence, cost estimates, articles
Box 5 Folder 5

N.Y. POWER AUTHORITY,  1931

report, correspondence
Box 5 Folder 6

Series II. 
Correspondence,  1899-1952

Size  (3 document boxes)

Arranged chronologically. Divided into two sub-series, personal and miscellaneous correspondence. Much of the personal correspondence is with other engineers.

Description Container

S.O. HARPER,  1908-1924
Box 5 Folder 7

FRANCIS R. MAYER,  1909-1912
Box 5 Folder 8

ENGINEERING NEWS,  1909-1923
Box 5 Folder 9

AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS,  1909-1932
Box 6 Folder 1

J.R. FREEMAN,  1909-1932
Box 6 Folder 2

FREDERICK HAYS NEWELL,  1910-1932
Box 6 Folder 3

WILLIAM MULHOLLAND,  1912-1924
Box 6 Folder 4

GIFFORD PINCHOT,  1912-1931
Box 6 Folder 5

J.B. LIPPINCOTT,  1913-1932
Box 6 Folder 6

F.E. WEYMOUTH,  1914-1934
Box 6 Folder 7

W.A. RYAN,  1915
Box 6 Folder 8

DANIEL MEAD,  1915
Box 6 Folder 9

ELWOOD MEAD,  1915-1923
Box 6 Folder 10

ALUMINUM COMPANY OF AMERICA,  1915-1932
Box 6 Folder 11

MORRIS BIEN,  1915-1932
Box 6 Folder 12

APPLICATION FOR MAJOR OF ENGINEERS,  1917
Box 6 Folder 13

WALTER W. DAVIS,  1917-1923
Box 7 Folder 1

AMERICAN ENGINEERING COUNCIL,  1919-1920
Box 7 Folder 2

ENGINEERING ABSTRACT JOURNAL,  1919-1923
Box 7 Folder 3

WILLIAM E. SMYTHE,  1920-1921
Box 7 Folder 4

J.W. REAGON,  1920-1921
Box 7 Folder 5

HAZIN MEMORIAL,  1920-1922
Box 7 Folder 6

ADDISON T. SMITH,  1920-1923
Box 7 Folder 7

JOHN FRITZ MEDAL,  1920-1934
Box 7 Folder 8

DISMISSAL CORRESPONDENCE,  1921-1923
Box 7 Folder 9

J.B. BEADLE,  1921-1934
Box 7 Folder 10

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF ENGINEERS,  1923
Box 7 Folder 11

BARRY DIBBLE,  1923
Box 7 Folder 12

BOULDER DAM APPOINTMENT CONGRATULATIONS,  1933
Box 7 Folder 13

MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE,  1899-1920
Box 7 Folder 14

MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE,  1920-1952
Box 8 Folders 1-7

Series III. 
Biography,  1896-1974, undated

Size  (2.5 document boxes)

Arranged alphabetically. Includes biographical sketches, memoirs of Reclamation Service, parts of Davis' autobiography, diaries, family information, audiotapes, and information on Davis Dam.

Description Container

AUTOBIOGRAPHY, 1861-1894,  undated
Box 9 Folder 1

AUTOBIOGRAPHY, 1896-1912,  undated

anecdotes on Isthmian Canal, Taft's conservation policy
Box 9 Folder 2

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES,  1908-1934

qualifications, memorials, correspondence
Box 9 Folder 3

DAVIS DAM,  1941-1953
Box 9 Folder 4

DEVELOPMENT OF RECLAMATION,  1923
Box 9 Folder 5

DIARIES,  1896, 1898-1900
Box 9 Folder 6

DIARIES,  1896, 1898-1900

Transcripts
Box 9 Folder 7

DIARIES,  1901-1905
Box 9 Folder 8

DIARIES,  1901-1905

Transcripts
Box 9 Folder 9

DIARIES,  1906-1909
Box 9 Folder 10

DIARIES,  1906-1909

Transcripts
Box 9 Folder 11

DIARIES,  1910-1913, 1915
Box 10 Folder 1

DIARIES,  1910-1913, 1915

Transcripts
Box 10 Folder 2

DIARIES,  1916-1918
Box 10 Folder 3

DIARIES,  1916-1918

Transcripts
Box 10 Folder 4

DIARIES,  1921
Box 10 Folder 5

DIARIES,  1921

Transcripts
Box 10 Folder 6

DIARIES,  1924-1926
Box 10 Folder 7

DIARIES,  1924-1926

Transcripts
Box 10 Folder 8

DIARIES,  1927-1929
Box 11 Folder 1

DIARIES,  1927-1929

Transcripts
Box 11 Folder 2

DIARIES,  1931-1933
Box 11 Folder 3

DIARIES,  1931-1933

Transcripts
Box 11 Folder 4

FAMILY BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION,  undated

John Davis, Martha Powell Davis, John W. Powell
Box 11 Folder 5

FIELD NOTES,  1908, 1911, undated

Truckee Carson Project; Peshe Kara Kum; La Prele
Box 11 Folder 6

ORAL HISTORY TAPES,  1974

Reminiscences of Arthur Powell Davis and Davis Family by Douglas Powell Davis (transferred to audio-visual area)
Box 11  

RADIO PROGRAM SCRIPT,  undated
Box 11 Folder 7

Series IV. 
Miscellaneous Files,  1896-1935, undated

Size  (9 folders)

Various articles and reports by Arthur Powell Davis, and miscellaneous data.

Description Container

REPORT OF PROGRESS OF STREAM MEASUREMENTS,  1896

book by A.P. Davis, 417 pages
Box 11 Folder 8

SINGLE TAX, TAXATION,  1897-1932
Box 11 Folder 9

MISCELLANEOUS REPORTS AND ARTICLES BY A.P. DAVIS,  1901-1932

Gunnison Tunnel, Caljalco Reservoir, others
Box 12 Folder 1

MISCELLANEOUS,  1907-1935

certificates, reports, comparative costs of items, statement about dismissal, correspondence, Congressional Record, Universal Services, Sacramento Valley Development, appropriations for Army
Box 12 Folder 2

RECLAMATION AND RETURNING VETERANS,  1918
Box 12 Folder 3

MISCELLANEOUS REPORTS AND ARTICLES, NOT BY DAVIS,  undated
Box 12 Folder 4

MISCELLANEOUS REPORTS AND ARTICLES BY A.P. DAVIS,  undated

opening a coal mine, twenty years with Reclamation Service
Box 12 Folder 5

MISCELLANEOUS REPORTS AND ARTICLES BY DAVIS,  undated
Box 12 Folder 6

MISCELLANEOUS ,  undated
Box 12 Folder 7

Series V. 
Photographs,  circa 1865-1930

Size  (1 partial document box, 1 slim document box, partial card file box)

Includes family and personal, Panama Canal, and other projects.

Description Container

ARROW ROCK PROJECT,  undated
Box 12 Folder 8

AUSTIN DAM PROJECT,  circa 1908
Box 12 Folder 9

BULLARDS BAR PROJECT,  1923
Box 12 Folder 10

CATERPILLER TRACTOR COMPANY,  1927-1929

agricultural equipment demonstrations
Box 12 Folder 11

DIX RIVER PROJECT,  1924-1925
Box 12 Folder 12

ELEPHANT BUTTE PROJECT,  1915
Box 12 Folder 13

FRANKLIN CANAL PROJECT,  undated
Box 12 Folder 14

GRAND VALLEY PROJECT,  1914
Box 12 Folder 15

LA PRELE DAM,  undated
Box 12 Folder 16

LANCHA PLANA DAM,  1929
Box 12 Folder 17

PANAMA CANAL,  1915
Box 12A Folder 1

PERSONAL AND FAMILY,  circa 1865-1930
Box 12A Folder 2

RECLAMATION PROJECTS,  1910-1922, undated

miscellaneous and unidentified
Box 12A Folders 3-4

RUSSIA AND TURKESTAN,  1911, undated
Box 12A Folder 5

SALT RIVER PROJECT,  1906
Box 12A Folder 6

SHOSHONE PROJECT,  undated
Box 12A Folder 7

STONEY CREEK PROJECT,  undated
Box 12A Folder 8

STRAWBERRY VALLEY PROJECT,  1918
Box 12A Folder 9

YAKIMA RIVER PROJECT,  1911
Box 12A Folder 10

59 negatives in card file box,  undated
Box 12A  

Series VI. 
Department of the Interior and Reclamation Service Files,  1909-1924

Size  (2 document boxes, 1 slim document box)

Arranged chronologically. Correspondence, memorandums, press releases, news clippings, etc. relating to Davis' career with the Reclamation Service.

Description Container

BALLINGER CONTROVERSY,  1909-1910
Box 13 Folders 1-2

RECLAMATION SERVICE ESTIMATE OF COSTS AND SUMMARY OF RESULTS,  1909-1911
Box 13 Folder 3

SECRETARY LANE CORRESPONDENCE,  1913-1917
Box 13 Folders 4-5

SECRETARY LANE,  1913-1919
Box 13 Folder 6

MEMOIRS OF RECLAMATION SERVICE,  1913-1916
Box 13 Folders 7-9

RECLAMATION SERVICE MEMORANDUMS,  1913-1923
Box 14 Folders 1-3

RECLAMATION SERVICE CORRESPONDENCE,  1915-1924
Box 14 Folders 4-5

DAVIS' DISMISSAL CORRESPONDENCE,  1923-1925
Box 14 Folders 6-7

NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS ABOUT DAVIS' DISMISSAL,  1923-1924
Box 14 Folder 8

MISCELLANEOUS MATERIAL RELATING TO DAVIS' DISMISSAL,  undated
Box 15 Folder 1

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR PRESS RELEASES,  1923
Box 15 Folder 2

DEVELOPMENT OF RECLAMATION,  undated
Box 15 Folder 3

ARTICLES AND REPORTS BY A.P. DAVIS ON ASPECTS OF RECLAMATION SERVICE,  undated
Box 15 Folders 4-5

Series VII. 
Maps and Blueprints,  undated

Size  (1 F41 box)

Most of this material corresponds with projects files.

Description Container

CITY OF SAN DIEGO, TURKESTAN/RUSSIAN IRRIGATION PROJECT,  undated
Box 16 Folder 1

AUSTIN TEXAS DAM, GATUN DAM, SHOSHONE DAM,  undated
Box 16 Folder 2

YAQUI RIVER, FEATHER RIVER, PATHFINDER DAM,  undated
Box 16 Folder 3

LONG-LAKE STATION SPILLWAY DAM DATA, YAKIMA PROJECT, SPAULDING DAM,  undated
Box 16 Folder 4

SKAGIT RIVER PROJECT, SALT RIVER PROJECT,  undated
Box 16 Folder 5

PAUPACK RIVER PROJECT, OKANOGAN PROJECT,  undated
Box 16 Folder 6

ALL-AMERICAN CANAL, EXCHEQUE DAM,  undated
Box 16 Folder 7

MISCELLANEOUS MAPS,  undated
Box 16 Folder 8

INDEX CARDS ALPHABETICALLY LISTING ARTICLES BY AND ABOUT DAVIS,  undated
Box 17  

Series VIII. 
Index Cards and Newspaper Clippings,  undated

Size  (2 document boxes, 1 card file box)

Index cards alphabetically listing articles by and about Arthur Powell Davis.

Description Container

SCRAPBOOKS AND NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS,  undated
Box 18  

NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS,  undated
Box 19  
 
 
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