Collection Guide
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Guide to the Navy Public Works Collection
MS 249
MS 249
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Table of contents
Title: Navy Public Works Collection
Identifier/Call Number: MS 249
Contributing Institution:
San Diego History Center Document Collection
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
2.0 Linear feet
(3 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1931-1960
Abstract: The collection contains records from the Navy Public Works Office in San Diego, including projects throughout Southern California.
creator:
Navy Public Works Center (San Diego, Calif.) .
Biographical / Historical Notes
In order to spur development in San Diego following post-World War I, leaders looked to the United States Navy (USN) as a
way to secure a steady supply of contracts, revenue, and development. The USN’s earlier commitment to San Diego had been inconsistent,
despite efforts by General Pendleton and others. In January 1920, Rear Admiral Roger Welles assumed the newly created position
of Commandant, Naval Base San Diego, in charge of all San Diego naval commands. On 26 January 1921, the 11th Naval District
was created encompassing San Diego and five other counties stretching from California to New Mexico. The Public Works Department,
11th Naval District, was also established, with the District Public Works Officer serving on the 11th Naval District staff
headquartered in San Diego. The Navy Public Works Department is responsible for design, construction, and maintenance of naval
facilities and installations.
Eldon Waymire served as a Civil Engineer for Navy Public Works from 1931 to 1960. His various projects included surveying
and reporting on various sites to be used as airfields and bombing ranges, as well as mapping sites connected to other military
bases and projects.
The collection includes correspondence, charts, maps, survey data, and instruction manuals for projects undertaken in Southern
California by the Public Works Office for the 11th Naval District. Projects range from San Diego and Imperial counties to
Twenty-Nine Palms, as far north as Lompoc, California, and west to San Clemente Island, covering the development of airfields,
bombing ranges, and other military facilities.
Collection is arranged into five series:
Series I: Correspondence
Series II: Projects
Series III: Surveys and Data
Series IV: Reports
Series V: Reference Book
Items within each series are arranged by subject.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Accession number 841016A.
This collection is open for research.
The San Diego History Center (SDHC) holds the copyright to any unpublished materials. SDHC Library regulations do apply.
Navy Public Works Collection, MS 249, San Diego History Center Document Collection, San Diego, CA.
Collection processed by Sandra Kirkwood on March 7, 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.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Navy Public Works Center (San Diego, Calif.) .
San Diego Chamber of Commerce.
U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey.
United States. Bureau of Yards and Docks.
United States. Dept. of Commerce.
United States. Dept. of the Interior.
United States. Naval Facilities Engineering Command. Southwestern Division.
United States. Navy -- Facilities.
United States. Navy -- History.
United States. Navy Dept.
United States. Navy. Naval District, 11th.
United States. Navy.
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park (Calif.)
Bench-marks
Borrego Springs (Calif.)
Geography
Imperial County (Calif.)
Lompoc (Calif.)
Naval Station San Diego (Calif.)
Otay Mesa (San Diego, Calif.)
Salton Sea (Calif.)
San Clemente Island (Calif.)
San Diego (Calif.)
Twentynine Palms (Calif.)
Ventura (Calif.)