Guide to the Cyrus Grandison Baldwin Papers, Water Resources Collection
Finding aid created by Russell Michalak, 2009
Special Collections, Honnold/Mudd Library, Claremont University Consortium
2009
Libraries of The Claremont Colleges
800 N. Dartmouth Avenue
Claremont, CA 91711
Phone: (909) 607-3977
Fax: (909) 621-8681
Email: spcoll@libraries.claremont.edu
URL: http://libraries.claremont.edu/sc/default.html
© 2009
Claremont University Consortium. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Cyrus Grandison Baldwin Papers
creator:
Baldwin, Cyrus Grandison
Dates: 1891-1955
Abstract: This collection contains documents about Cyrus Grandison Baldwin's involvement with water issues in the Pomona Valley and
San Bernardino Mountains from 1897-1937.
Extent: 1 box
Repository:
Claremont Colleges. Honnold/Mudd Library.
800 N. Dartmouth Avenue
Special Collections, Honnold/Mudd Library
Claremont University Consortium
Claremont, California 91711
Collection Number: h19xx.0498
Languages: Languages represented in the collection: English
Physical Location: Special Collections, Honnold/Mudd Library. Claremont University Consortium.
Information for Researchers
Restrictions on Access
This collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
For permissions to reproduce or to publish, please contact Special Collections Library staff.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Cyrus Grandison Baldwin Papers, Water Resources Collection. Special Collections, Honnold Mudd Library,
Claremont University Consortium.
Acquisition Information
Unknown.
Processing Information
Arranged and Processed by Russell Michalak, 2009
Accruals
No additions to the collection is anticipated.
Biographical Note
Cyrus Grandison Baldwin: Pioneer Developer of Electric Power in the Pomona Valley by Dr. E. Wilson Lyon, President, Pomona College.
Cyrus Grandison Baldwin was first president of Pomona College from 1890-1897. He graduated from Oberlin College, and from
that institution he brought to the newly established Congregational college in California . . high academic standards and
the principles.
He had some knowledge of the growing use of electric power, both in Europe and in the eastern part of the United States, and
he began to think of lighting the Pomona valley and the region as far away as San Bernardino by using the water power of the
San Antonio Canyon, [in the San Bernardino Mts.]
His enthusiasm was contagious and a group of men in Pomona, some of whom had joined in founding the new college, united with
him to establish a company to convert the power of the water into electricity and to bring it to the homes and offices of
the new Anglo-Saxon community which was replacing the Spanish ranchos of earlier California. From their efforts the San Antonio
Light and Power Company was born in 1891. The company planned to bore a tunnel through the Hogsback at the upper level, thereby
establishing a steep flume which would give a drop of nearly 400 feet to the power house below. The power would then be distributed
by high voltage transmission to the valley, This practice, a common-place today, had never before been undertaken in California.
President Baldwin and his associates were therefore proposing to establish the first hydroelectric installation for high voltage
transmission in our state.
Series Arrangement
Series 1 Water rights and Water use in San Bernardino County, California
Subseries 1.1 Publications
Subseries 1.2 Exhibits with correspondence and reports about water rights and water supply in California
Subseries 1.3 Microfilm
Subject Headings
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection
Baldwin, Cyrus Grandison
Pomona College
Southern California History -- 1900 - 1960
California. Division of Water Rights
California--Water-supply.
Western Americana -- 1900-1960
Series 1
Water rights and Water use in San Bernardino County, California,
1891-1955
Subseries 1.1
Publications,
1937-1955
box 1, folder 2
"State Historical Landmark no. 514 Pomona Valley Water power Plant",
1955
box 1, folder 3
Claremont Courier, Sept. 1937. "Claremont Pioneers Noted in history of Resort Area.",
1937
box 1, folder 4
Claremont Courier, Sept. 17, 1937. "Hydro Electric Power Plant",
1937
box 1, folder 10
San Antonio Light and Power Co., Prospectus,
1891
box 1, folder 12
Consolidated Abstract and Title Guaranty of San Bernardino, Calif. ,
1899-1902
Subseries 1.2
Exhibits with correspondence and reports about water use and water supplying California,
1897-1913
box 1, folder 1
Transcription of contents in Notebook Exhibits 1-9. [Notebook was disassembled],
1908
Note
The document in this collection were removed from a notebook called exhibits. Below is a transcription of the list. There
are 9 exhibits.
Scope and Content Note
Relating to Los Angeles, water powers, Baldwin, Cyrus G., Conduits 8/1/08.
(1) Reports of Dr. Winders of Columbus who has the reputation of being the diagnostician. in that city, doing nothing else,
and after an examination occupying most of one day. Of Dr. Stoughton of Claremont, CA.
(2) Letters relating to facts of first filing first work on rights.
(3) U.S. Regulations which the rights were first acquired and in conformity with which we incurred large expense before present
policy was adopted and under which present policy was adopted and under which present policy no such loss as now threatens
us could have been incurred.
(4) Some papers and reports the "Mt. San Bernardino Power Company" of Los Angeles, filed to show the thorough organization
and large amount of bona fide work undertaken and accomplished.
(5) Irrigators' stipulation and friendly agreement with C. G. Baldwin and their letter to Riverside to hinder sale to that
City.
(6) Correspondence with the Department of Forestry as to the sale to the Edison Company.
(7) Riverside Reports and Contracts showing the large amount of work involved and justifying the large expense reported as
involved in that work which failed at last.
(8?) Papers relating to Riverside and Redlands options during past year.
(9?) Present Condition of negotiation with Edison Company under its new management.
box 1, folder 5
Correspondence and legal agreements about Mount San Bernardino Power Plant and San Gabriel Electric Company,
1901-1912
box 1, folder 6
Correspondence from/to United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Department and Baldwin at Angeles, Water and
Power about Mill Creek, San Bernardino County,
1909-1913
box 1, folder 7
Bear Valley Water Co. - Mill Creek, etc.
1898-1913
box 1, folder 8
Electricity in Southern California by Cyrus Grandison Baldwin,
1898
box 1, folder 9
Photos-Mill Creek, Falls Creek near Dobbs' Cabin, Lost Creek Falls, Summer P. Hunt and family, Alder Creek [San Bernardino
Mountains],
1898-1913
Subseries 1.3
Microfilm,
1897-1913
box 1, folder 11
Microfilm copy of Baldwin Papers,
1898-1913
Note
The microfilm supplements this collection of papers.