Eugene Clyde La Rue Papers: Finding Aid mssLa Rue papers
Processed by The Huntington Library staff; supplementary encoding and revision supplied by Brooke Dykman Dockter and Diann
Benti.
The Huntington Library
2000
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Business Number: (626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
Note
Finding aid last updated on August 1, 2023 by Kelly Kress.
Contributing Institution:
The Huntington Library
Title: Eugene Clyde La Rue Papers
Identifier/Call Number: mssLa Rue papers
Physical Description:
27.51 Linear Feet
(36 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1909-1949
Abstract: This collection consists of papers and 876 maps of Southern California hydraulic engineer Eugene C. La Rue (1879-1947) related
to irrigation projects in the western United States, as well as diaries of La Rue's Colorado River trips from 1921, 1922,
and 1924.
Language of Material: English.
Conditions Governing Access
Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more
information
Conditions Governing Use
The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material,
nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and
obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item]. Eugene Clyde La Rue Papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Mrs. E. C. La Rue, 1950-1955.
5 boxes of addenda were added January 25, 1972.
Separated Materials
Photographs Transferred to the Photograph Department (photCL 136)
- I. Photographs
- A. Stereos - 65 (2 boxes: one of pictures, one of negatives)
- B. Folders (7)
- 1. 1910s (58 pictures, including 10 of the Snake River in 1905 and 2 of Idaho in 1906)
- 2. 1920s (84 pictures, including 1925 winter scenes, 1921 views of Boulder Canyon, 18 pictures of a pump belt drive [1926],
and views of the Lafayette Dam in 1928)
- 3. 1930s (72 pictures, including 15 of Owens Valley in 1931, ten of the March 2, 1938, Altadena Flood, and 17 of the lower
Colorado River in 1938)
- 4. 1940s (20 pictures)
- 5. No Date (229 pictures)
- 6. No Date (80 pictures)
- 7. (Addition) Photo collection of Lewis R. Freeman (33)
- C. Small Envelopes (4)
- 1. Colorado River (ca. 20)
- 2. Modoc Lava Beds - Tule Lake outlet test pits, June 1920(16)
- 3. Miscellaneous (14)
- 4. Miscellaneous (18 - found in envelope with daily weather maps, dated November 25-27, 1926)
- D. Large Envelopes (3) - Folder 1 (11); Folder 2 (95); Folder 3 (3).
- II. Negatives
- A. Small envelopes (5) Includes an envelope containing negatives of 1921 pictures and an envelope containing negatives of
Powell's second expedition.
- B. Large envelope
Biographical / Historical
Eugene Clyde La Rue (1879-1947), a Los Angeles hydraulic engineer, was born in Riverside, California, and graduated from the
University of California in 1904. He was employed by the U.S. Geological Survey making field examinations for power sites
and reporting on irrigation projects, first as district engineer for the Great Basin District headquartered in Salt Lake City
(1907-11), and then in the Water Resources Branch (1911-27). After this time La Rue entered a private civil engineering partnership
in Los Angeles.
Scope and Contents
This collection consists of letters and documents (including 8 volumes) and 876 maps related to irrigation projects in the
western United States. There are correspondence, reports, etc. regarding Colorado River projects (including the Colorado River-Los
Angeles Gravity Flow Aqueduct); the Klamath Lake Project in Oregon; the Merced Irrigation District in California; the San
Juan River, Little Colorado, and Verde projects in Arizona; and many others. Of note in the collection are diaries of La Rue's
Colorado River trips from 1921, 1922, and 1924, and maps of western areas.
Arrangement
Arranged in the following 5 series:
- Correspondence
- Reports, etc., relating to various hydraulic engineering projects
- Biographical information, trips, and personal and business papers
- Maps
- Addendum - Reports
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Aqueducts -- California
Aqueducts -- West (U.S.)
Hydraulic engineers -- California -- Los Angeles -- Archives
Hydraulic engineers -- Colorado River Watershed (Colo.-Mexico) -- Archives
Hydraulic engineers -- West (U.S.) -- Archives
Irrigation -- California, Southern
Irrigation -- Colorado River Watershed (Colo.-Mexico)
Irrigation -- West (U.S.)
Irrigation engineering -- California, Southern
Irrigation engineering -- Colorado River Watershed (Colo.-Mexico)
Irrigation engineering -- West (U.S.)
Irrigation engineers -- California -- Archives
Irrigation engineers -- West (U.S.)
Water resources development -- California, Southern
Water resources development -- Colorado River Watershed (Colo.-Mexico)
Water resources development -- West (U.S.)
Arizona -- Maps
California -- Maps
Colorado -- Maps
Colorado River (Colo.-Mexico) -- Maps
Colorado River Watershed (Colo.-Mexico) -- Maps
Idaho -- Maps
Los Angeles (Calif.) -- Maps
Los Angeles County (Calif.) -- Maps
Montana -- Maps
New Mexico -- Maps
Oregon -- Maps
Utah -- Maps
Washington (State) -- Maps
Letters (correspondence) -- West (U.S.) -- 20th century
Maps -- West (U.S.) -- 20th century
Box 1
Correspondence, 1909-1922
Box 2
Correspondence, 1923-1928
Box 3
Correspondence, 1929-1949
Reports, etc., relating to various hydraulic engineering projects
Box 4
Colorado River Projects (general)
Colorado River Basin (general material).
1921-1927
Physical Description: 27 pieces
Colorado River Compact & Commission.
1921-1928
Physical Description: 8 pieces
Colorado River-Los Angeles Gravity Flow Aqueduct.
1928-1941
Physical Description: 33 pieces
Boulder Canyon.
1921-1928
Physical Description: 3 pieces
Glen Canyon.
1922
Physical Description: 28 pieces
Lower Colorado River Development.
1921-1924
Physical Description: 11 pieces
Lee's Ferry (Diamond core drilling).
1923-1938
Physical Description: 15 pieces
Marble Gorge.
1927
Physical Description: 3 pieces
Other projects (listed geographically)
Report for Arizona Engineering Commission on Reconnaissance Investigation of Arizona Land Irrigable from the Colorado River.
1922-1923
Physical Description: 12 pieces
Buttes Reservoir and Irrigation Project.
1928
Physical Description: 3 pieces
Date Creek.
1932
Physical Description: 3 pieces
Hassayampa River.
1938
Physical Description: 1 piece
San Juan River.
1915-1926
Physical Description: 18 pieces
Little Colorado and Verde River Project for United Verde Copper Co.
1917-1929
Physical Description: 24 pieces
Salt River Project.
1929
Physical Description: 7 pieces
Santa Cruz and Sonoita Rivers.
1937
Physical Description: 1 piece
Virgin River Project
Physical Description: 1 piece
Los Angeles County, miscellaneous reports, etc.
1927-1936
Physical Description: 5 pieces
Merced Irrigation District.
1920-1921
Physical Description: 15 pieces
Owens Valley.
1930
Physical Description: 6 pieces
Pit River and Fall River Projects.
1912 & 1920
Physical Description: 2 pieces
Santa Maria River.
1937
Physical Description: 2 pieces
Ventura River.
1938
Physical Description: 1 piece
Box 9
Colorado-Utah, Monticello Wheat Lands, Mexico
Colorado - Arkansas River Valley Project.
1913
Physical Description: 1 piece
Idaho - Minidoka Power Plant.
1908-1911
Physical Description: 7 pieces
Oregon - Klamath Lake Projects.
1906-1920
Physical Description: 30 pieces
Utah - Power Resources for Salt Lake City, etc.
1914
Physical Description: 1 piece
Monticello Wheat Lands.
1917
Physical Description: 1 piece
Mexico - Nogales (Sonora) Project.
1931
Physical Description: 1 piece
Biographical information, trips, and personal and business papers
Box 10
Biographical information and trips
Biographical information including lists of trips.
Physical Description: 8 pieces
trip - Sellew's reports.
1914
Physical Description: 2 pieces
Trip - Cataract Canyon diary and related material.
1921
Physical Description: 5 pieces
Trip - Accounts and bills, correspondence [2 volumes and 3 letters].
1922
Physical Description: 50 pieces
Trip - Grand Canyon diary (typewritten copy) & maps.
1923
Physical Description: 6 pieces
Trip - Lower Grand Canyon to Needles, diary of Colorado River Dam Site Investigation (typewritten copy); report by H. W. Dennis;
accounts.
1924
Physical Description: 10 pieces
Trip - Bray-Pathe trip, notes of Valentine Woodbury, list of pictures, account book, etc.
1927
Physical Description: 7 pieces
Trip - Diamond Creek to Boulder Dam, accounts.
1935
Physical Description: 4 pieces
Box 11
Personal and business papers; Account books; Notebooks
Personal and business papers.
1907-1935
Physical Description: 17 pieces
Account books.
Physical Description: 2 pieces
Notebooks.
Physical Description: 6 pieces
Box 35
Scrapbooks and profiles
1907-1935
Box 36
Scrapbooks and profiles
1907-1935
Maps
Scope and Contents
Collection of maps belonging to E. C. La Rue, presented to the Huntington Library, December 1950.
1. Arizona (state): topographic map by U.S. Geological survey.
1923.
Physical Description: 1 piece
2. Cataract Canyon and vicinty.
Physical Description: 1 piece
3. Central Arizona.
Physical Description: 1 piece
4. Coconina National Forest
Physical Description: 2 pieces
5. Colorado River Indian Reservation.
Physical Description: 1 piece
6. Live Stock Reports
Physical Description: 51 pieces
7. Mohave Desert dam site
Physical Description: 7 pieces
8. Pecos National Forest
Physical Description: 1 piece
9. Salt River
Physical Description: 3 pieces
10. Township maps: West Gila, Salt River Meridian.
Physical Description: 130 pieces
11. Verde
Physical Description: 1 piece
12. White Mountain Indian Reservation
Physical Description: 2 pieces
13. Yuma: Bird's Eye View
Box 13, Box 14, Box 15, Box 16, Box 17, Box 18, Box 19
1. Chimehueui Valley Indian Reservation
Physical Description: 1 piece
2. Colorado - Arizona Indian Reservation
Physical Description: 10 pieces
3. Kern River Profile
Physical Description: 3 pieces
a. Angel Flight Incline Railroad
Physical Description: 6 pieces
b. Beverly Hills and Vicinity
Physical Description: 7 pieces
c. Beverly Mont: Lay-out plans of Beverly Terrace
Physical Description: 1 piece
d. El Monte Blvd Tract
Physical Description: 1 piece
e. Elysian Garden Tract
Physical Description: 1 piece
f. Fox, William - Studio site
Physical Description: 1 piece
g. Garvanza addition
Physical Description: 1 piece
h. Griffith Park
Physical Description: 1 piece
i. Hacienda Park
Physical Description: 1 piece
j. Hancock Survey
Physical Description: 1 piece
k. Highland Park
Physical Description: 12 pieces
L. Investment Securities Co. property and Delta Investment Co. in San Rafael Rancho
Physical Description: 1 piece
m. Los Angeles Country Club
Physical Description: 3 pieces
n. Los Angeles and Colorado River gravity aqueduct
Physical Description: 14 pieces
o. Los Angeles Land and Water subdivisions
Physical Description: 4 pieces
p. Los Angeles Pressed Brick Co. gauge sheets
Physical Description: 5 pieces
q. Los Angeles real estate
Physical Description: 70 pieces
r. Los Angeles survey of city.
1919
Physical Description: 1 piece
s. Mateo Street
Physical Description: 1 piece
t. Pacific Terminal Tract
Physical Description: 1 piece
u. Roseland Acres
Physical Description: 1 piece
v. Rosedale Cemetery
Physical Description: 5 pieces
w. Sweetzer Ave. and Sunset Blvd.
Physical Description: 4 pieces
x. Wanda Park: Benedict Canyon
Physical Description: 1 piece
y. Western Wilshire Heights
Physical Description: 1 piece
z. Westlake Park
Physical Description: 1 piece
a. Alondra Park
Physical Description: 1 piece
b. Arnaz Rancho
Physical Description: 1 piece
c. Artesia
Physical Description: 1 piece
d. Colorado River bridge
Physical Description: 4 pieces
e. Compton
Physical Description: 1 piece
f. Garvonza lots
Physical Description: 3 pieces
g. Hutten locher estate, being portion of Rancho San Rafael
Physical Description: 1 piece
h. Inglewood: Redondo
Physical Description: 1 piece
i. Los Angeles and a part of Orange counties
Physical Description: 1 piece
j. Los Angeles and San Diego counties
Physical Description: 17 pieces
k. McCloud River power projects
Physical Description: 1 piece
L. McKinley Tract.
1930
Physical Description: 1 piece
m. Malibu
Physical Description: 2 pieces
n. Pacific Petroleum Co. and West Coast Oil Co.: Well location of leases
Physical Description: 1 piece
o. Picto Rancho.
1918.
Physical Description: 1 piece
p. Rancho Cienga O'Paso de la Tijera
Physical Description: 2 pieces
q. Rancho La Brea being portion of Rancho La Ciengas.
1908.
Physical Description: 1 piece
r. Rancho Los Coyotes
Physical Description: 4 pieces
s. Rancho Rodeo de los Agnas
Physical Description: 9 pieces
t. Rancho San Antonio
Physical Description: 3 pieces
u. Rancho San Pedro
Physical Description: 1 piece
v. Rancho San Jose de Buenos Ayres
Physical Description: 1 piece
w. Rancho Santa Anita: A.B. Chapman property.
1912
Physical Description: 1 piece
x. Reservoir site
Physical Description: 2 pieces
y. Rolling Hills: Palos Verdes
Physical Description: 2 pieces
z. San Gabriel Reservoir dam site
Physical Description: 3 pieces
aa. San Gabriel tract
Physical Description: 6 pieces
bb. Santa Monica highway: Mulholland Drive.
1927
Physical Description: 1 piece
cc. Stough Rancho
Physical Description: 6 pieces
dd. Sunnyslope Estate.
1911
Physical Description: 1 piece
ee. Tract 429
Physical Description: 3 pieces
ff. Tract 701
Physical Description: 3 pieces
gg. Victor Beaudnys Mtns.
Physical Description: 2 pieces
6. Merced District
Physical Description: 1 piece
a. Mono Basin
Physical Description: 1 piece
b. Eaton Land and Cattle Co.: Long Valley Lands
Physical Description: 1 piece
c. Mono National Forest
Physical Description: 1 piece
a. Fullerton
Physical Description: 2 pieces
a. Desert Queen Copper Mines
Physical Description: 1 piece
b. Mayflower Consolidated Mines
10. Salt Lake Oil Fields
Physical Description: 1 piece
11. Salton Sea: Capacity curves.
Physical Description: 3 pieces
12. San Bernardino County
a. Gold Park Consolidated Mine
Physical Description: 9 pieces
b. Lytle Creek Canyon
Physical Description: 1 piece
c. Muscovy Water Co. property.
1904
Physical Description: 1 piece
d. San Bernardino County
Physical Description: 11 pieces
a. San Lucas Rancho
Physical Description: 1 piece
14. Sierra Nevada Mts.: proposed flood water and storage
Physical Description: 1 piece
1. Pine River Indian Reservation
Lower California (Mexico)
1. Ensenada
Physical Description: 1 piece
2. Rancho del Rosano Baja
Physical Description: 3 pieces
1. Arkansas River
Physical Description: 2 pieces
2. Arkansas Valley
Physical Description: 4 pieces
3. Bear Creek dam site: Animas River
Physical Description: 1 piece
4. Bear River: canal and reservoit system, Rio Blanco and Routt counties
Physical Description: 1 piece
a. Basin: flood control
Physical Description: 7 pieces
b. Boulder Canyon Dam sites
Physical Description: 4 pieces
c. Colorado bridge dam sites
Physical Description: 1 piece
d. Colorado River at Lee's Ferry
Physical Description: 6 pieces
e. Colorado River at Hardysville, Ariz. Mass curves.
1902-14.
Physical Description: 1 piece
f. Colorado River at Yuma: hydrograph
Physical Description: 3 pieces
h. Colorado, Green and Grande rivers: profile
Physical Description: 5 pieces
i. Colorado River showing diversion to Great Basin, Utah.
Physical Description: 1 piece
j. Grand Canyon
Physical Description: 6 pieces
k. Grande County reservoir
Physical Description: 1 piece
L. Little Colorado River: profile
Physical Description: 4 pieces
m. Lower Colorado River
Physical Description: 1 piece
n. Riverside Irrigation District: Weld and Morgan counties
Physical Description: 2 pieces
o. San Juan River Basin
Physical Description: 61 pieces
p. San Miguel canal system, San Miguel and Montrose counties
Physical Description: 1 piece
q. Townships
Physical Description: 11 pieces
1. Boise project: U.S. Reclamation service
Physical Description: 7 pieces
2. Coachello Valley, Salton Sea, Imperial Valley and Colorado River profile
Physical Description: 1 piece
3. Fort Hall Indian Reservation
Physical Description: 13 pieces
4. Minidoka project
Physical Description: 1 piece
5. Port Neuf Valley project
Physical Description: 3 pieces
6. Salmon River
Physical Description: 11 pieces
7. Salmon River profile
Physical Description: 8 pieces
8. Snake River
Physical Description: 15 pieces
10. Irrigation Co. project
Physical Description: 7 pieces
11. Snake River: proposed section power dam
Physical Description: 1 piece
12. Snake River: Lake Walcott
Physical Description: 5 pieces
13. Snake River Valley Reservoir system
Physical Description: 3 pieces
14. Twin Falls county.
1929.
Physical Description: 1 piece
1. Flat Head Lake
Physical Description: 5 pieces
2. Flat Head River and tributaries
Physical Description: 16 pieces
3. U.S. Missouri River Power company transmission lines
Physical Description: 10 pieces
1. Headquarters Ranch: Wylie Farm and Live Stock Chavez co.
Physical Description: 1 piece
2. Jones project: Preston-Beck grant, upper Pecos
Physical Description: 6 pieces
3. Pecos River Basin
Physical Description: 2 pieces
4. Townships 32 and 34
Physical Description: 6 pieces
5. Township no. 37
Physical Description: 37 pieces
6. Urton Lake project.
Physical Description: 2 pieces
7. U.S. Weather Bureau: annual precipitation
Physical Description: 1 piece
1. Brewster Valley Reservoir site
Physical Description: 2 pieces
2. Canby canal reservoir site
Physical Description: 4 pieces
3. Columbia River: Portland
Physical Description: 11 pieces
4. Coquilla River: profile.
1919
Physical Description: 1 piece
5. Crater Lake National Park
Physical Description: 1 piece
6. Fairview and Brewster Valley: Coquilla River
Physical Description: 1 piece
7. Grande Ronde River
Physical Description: 2 pieces
8. Grant lands of the Oregon and California Railroad Company, Douglas County
Physical Description: 1 piece
9. Klamath County
Physical Description: 10 pieces
10. Klamath River Basin
Physical Description: 2 pieces
11. Kickitat Power Project.
1909.
Physical Description: 4 pieces
12. McKenzie River.
1903
Physical Description: 1 piece
13. Medford Crater Lake Highway
Physical Description: 1 piece
14. Rogue River basin
Physical Description: 1 piece
15. Rogue River: Howard profile
Physical Description: 3 pieces
16. Rogue River traverse
Physical Description: 3 pieces
17. Salmon River: profile
Physical Description: 1 piece
18. Umpqua River power project
Physical Description: 1 piece
19. Weather Bureau Station Records
Physical Description: 2 pieces
20. Willamette River basin
Physical Description: 1 piece
1. Ashley Creek: profile
Physical Description: 1 piece
2. Great Salt Lake
Physical Description: 16 pieces
3. Hatch town irrigation project, Garfield county
Physical Description: 1 piece
4. New Castle Reclamation Company
Physical Description: 1 piece
5. Ouray Reservoir site on Green River
Physical Description: 1 piece
6. Resource map of southern Utah
Physical Description: 1 piece
7. Sevier River
Physical Description: 1 piece
8. Wasatch and Uinta counties
Physical Description: 1 piece
9. Weber and Provo Rivers.(very bad condition)
1915
Physical Description: 1 piece
1. Washington and Oregon
Physical Description: 1 piece
2. Washington, Oregon and Idaho
Physical Description: 5 pieces
3. Kickitat River drainage basins
Physical Description: 5 pieces
1. Green River canals
Physical Description: 1 piece
1. Big Lost River
Physical Description: 1 piece
2. Eldorado Consolidated mines: profile of pipe line surveys.
1905
Physical Description: 1 piece
3. Oro Mining and Milling Co.: profile.
Physical Description: 1 piece
4. Triangle Lake
Physical Description: 1 piece
Addenda - reports
1907-1935