Guide to the Otay Flood Relief Expedition Records
MS 264
Finding aid prepared by Samantha Mills
Collection processed as part of grant project supported by the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) with generous
funding from The Andrew Mellon Foundation.
San Diego History Center Document Collection
1649 El Prado, Suite 3
San Diego, CA, 92101
619-232-6203
April 4, 2012
Title: Otay Flood Relief Expedition Records
Identifier/Call Number: MS 264
Contributing Institution:
San Diego History Center Document Collection
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
0.25 Linear feet
(1 box)
Date (inclusive): 1916-1988
Abstract: This collection consists of records pertaining to a flood relief expedition led by US Navy Lt. Willis W. Bradley Jr. after
the 1916 Lower Otay Dam failure.
creator:
United States. Navy.
Arrangement
Items in the collection are arranged by subject.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
The San Diego History Center (SDHC) holds the copyright to any unpublished materials. SDHC Library regulations do apply.
Preferred Citation
Otay Flood Relief Expedition Records, MS 264, San Diego History Center Document Collection, San Diego, CA.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Samantha Mills on April 4, 2012.
Collection processed as part of grant project supported by the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) with generous
funding from The Andrew Mellon Foundation.
Biographical / Historical Notes
In January 1916, severe storms hit San Diego, California, lasting several days. The Lower Otay Dam lacked an adequate spillway
for excessive overfilling, and on January 27, the dam collapsed. Billions of gallons of water swept through Otay Valley, leaving
at least 20 dead and much of the rest of the population homeless.
Admiral William F. Fullam, commander-in-chief of the Pacific Fleet, immediately sent in a flood relief expedition under Lt.
Willis W. Bradley, Jr., then commanding officer of the USS Lawrence. This party consisted of eight officers and 85 enlisted
men from the Navy and Marine Corps. For two weeks they provided all police and medical attention for the flooded district,
which included Otay, Palm City, Nestor, San Ysidro, and the Tijuana border area. They initially distributed food and clothing
to about 500 people, decreasing to about 200 people at the end, at which point the operation was turned over to local authorities.
Lt. Willis W. Bradley, Jr. was born June 28, 1884 in Ransomville, New York. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy
in 1906 and served until his retirement in 1946. During that time he served in World War I and World War II, and acted as
Governor of Guam from 1929-1931. In 1946 he was elected to Congress as a representative of L.A. County districts 69, 70, and
71. He died August 7, 1954.
Scope and Content
This collection consists of records pertaining to a flood relief expedition led by US Navy Lt. Willis W. Bradley Jr. after
the 1916 Lower Otay Dam failure. Correspondence includes orders establishing the expedition, daily reports made throughout
the expedition, and orders withdrawing the Navy’s forces. Other records include itemized bills for supplies, correspondence
surrounding the investigation of several civilian complaints, and letters of commendation. Additionally, there are biographical
excerpts about Lt. Bradley as well as a photograph of him.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Accession number 890722.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Bradley (Ship).
Bradley, Willis W.
Fullam, William F. (William Freeland), 1855-1926
Lawrence (Ship).
Milwaukee (Ship).
Oregon (Battleship).
Reserve Torpedo Division.
South Dakota (Ship).
Dam failures
Flood damage
Floods -- California
Lower Otay Lake (Calif.)
Military orders
Nestor (Calif.)
Otay Mesa (San Diego, Calif.)
Palm City (Calif.)
San Diego (Calif.)
San Ysidro (San Diego, Calif.)
Tijuana (Baja California, Mexico)
Box-folder 1:1
Correspondence: establishment of expedition,
1916 January 28-January 30
Box-folder 1:2
Correspondence: duration of expedition,
1916 January 29-February 7 and undated
Box-folder 1:3
Correspondence and reports: expedition withdrawal,
1916 February 4–February 25 and undated
Includes:
Final reports written up by several members of the expedition
Box-folder 1:4
Bills and equipment,
1916 February 1–April 7
Includes:
Correspondence about particular bills and missing equipment, as well as itemized supply lists
Box-folder 1:5
Complaints and investigations,
1916 February 2–April 25 and undated
Includes:
Search warrant for the premises of “John Doe, Richard Doe, and Jack Doe”
Box-folder 1:6
Commendations and official thanks,
1916 January 31–April 7
Box-folder 1:7
Willis W. Bradley Jr.,
1948 May 19–1988 September 29 and undated
Includes:
Several biographies of Lt. Bradley
Pamphlet from decommissioning ceremony of the USS Bradley
Photograph of Lt. Bradley
