Description
The collection consists of primary and secondary
source materials collected by William Helbush in his position as engineer for the
San Francisco Department of Public Works. The collection contains project records,
including reports, contracts, notes, specifications, plans, blueprints, and site
photographs, as well as administrative records, financial records, and reference
material related to the design and construction of various water projects, most
notably the Hetch Hetchy water supply project, the enlargement of O'Shaughnessy Dam,
and the Richmond-Sunset sewage treatment plant and reservoir for the San Francisco
Water Department. Many of the records collected by Helbush were created by or for
Michael M. O'Shaughnessy, City Engineer for San Francisco and Chief Engineer of the
Hetch Hetchy Project; and Ray L. Allin and Paul J. Ost, engineers for the San
Francisco Department of Public Works. A small number of Helbush's personal papers
can be found in the collection.
Background
William W. Helbush (circa 1895-1965) served as an engineer for the San Francisco
Department of Public Works. During the 1930s he worked on the Hetch Hetchy project
(1914-1934) and the enlargement of O'Shaughnessy Dam in Yosemite Valley (1934-1938).
Among his known accomplishments was the design of the radial gates of the new
spillway at the south abutment of O’Shaughnessy Dam. Helbush collected reference
materials, notes, and records for a number of water projects, but the extent of his
role in the plan and design of projects represented in the collection is
unknown.
Extent
20 boxes and 3 oversize boxes
(11.5 linear feet)
Restrictions
All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from or otherwise use collection materials
must be submitted in writing to the Director of Library and Archives, North Baker
Research Library, California Historical Society, 678 Mission Street, San Francisco,
CA 94105. Consent is given on behalf of the California Historical Society as the
owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission from
the copyright owner. Such permission must be obtained from the copyright owner.
Restrictions also apply to digital representations of the original materials. Use of
digital files is restricted to research and educational purposes.
Availability
CHS is not taking appointments for research at this time. Please check the Library's website updates: https://californiahistoricalsociety.org/collections/north-baker-research-library/