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.

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.

20 boxes and 3 oversize boxes (11.5 linear feet)

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.

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