George Clinton Ward papers: Finding Aid mssWard
Finding aid prepared by Jessica Bremmer, November 18, 2009.
The Huntington Library
© 2009
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Business Number: (626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
Note
Last updated by Brooke M. Black in April 2024.
Contributing Institution:
The Huntington Library
Title: George Clinton Ward papers
Creator:
Ward, George Clinton.
Identifier/Call Number: mssWard
Physical Description:
1.4 Linear Feet
(3 boxes, 1 volume)
Date (inclusive): 1847-1948
Date (bulk): 1927-1936
Abstract: This collection contains the papers of engineer and California utility company executive George Ward Clinton (1863-1933).
Subject matter includes Ward's life in New York (1887-1900), two trips to the High Sierra in the area of Huntington Lake in
1922 and 1923, and Ward's work with the Big Creek hydro-electric generating project.
Language of Material: English.
Access
Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader
Services.
Publication Rights
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]. George Clinton Ward papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
Provenance
Gifts of Mrs. Louise Ward Watkins, September 10 and 16, 1946, February 25 and June 30, 1948, August 18, 1953, and December
13, 1954.
Biographical Note
George Clinton Ward (1863-1933), engineer and California utility company executive, was a native of New York, were his first
work was in the construction of iron bridges and in railroad engineering. He was chief engineer for the Racquette lake Railroad
in NY, owned by Collis P. Huntington. In 1905 Henry E. Huntington persuaded Ward to come to California. Ward became general
manager first for the Huntington Land and Improvement Company and then for the Pacific Light and Power Company, where he was
in charge of the Big Creek hyrdo-electric generating project. He was made vice-president of the Southern California Edison
Company in 1917 and then president in 1932.
Scope and Content
This collection contains the papers of engineer and California utility company executive George Ward Clinton (1863-1933).
Subject matter includes Ward's life in New York (1887-1900), two trips to the High Sierra in the area of Huntington Lake in
1922 and 1923, and Ward's work with the Big Creek hydro-electric generating project. The alphabetically-arranged collection,
the bulk of which is correspondence, is arranged into the following series: The correspondence includes condolence letters,
letters by and about Henry E. Huntington and Collis P. Huntington, letters related to Ward's honorary degrees, posthumous
requests for biographical information about Ward, and letters related to the Ward Memorial dedication ceremony. The manuscripts
feature Ward's personal diaries, biographical accounts written by and about Ward, two journals about trips to the Sierra mountains
that were written by John B. Miller and that contain references to Ward, and miscellaneous manuscripts. The clippings are
primarily about Ward's death (these folders also contain clippings about an accident just prior to his death, funeral services,
and the filing of his will), his honorary degrees, and the Ward Memorial dedication ceremony. The documents relate to Ward's
business and financial matters and the Ward Memorial dedication. The ephemera feature an engineers' notebook belonging to
Squire Whipple, who was famous for his iron bridge work, various items related to Ward's honorary degree from Oberlin College,
guest lists for the Ward Memorial dedication, and seven miscellaneous photographs. There is also an oversize scrapbook containing
various clippings, manuscripts, correspondence, documents, and photographs related to Ward's engineering work. Each subject
listed in the index can be found in the oversize scrapbook.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in the following 5 series: Series 1. Correspondence; Series 2. Manuscripts; Series 3. Clippings;
Series 4. Documents; Series 5. Ephemera.
General
Former call number: mssWard papers.
Separated Materials
Approximately 350 photographs were transferred to the Photo Archives: photPF 5640-5729 and photPF 8580-8797.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Engineers -- California -- Archives
Engineers -- New York (State) -- Archives
Hydroelectric power plants -- California
Hydroelectric power plants -- Colorado.
Big Creek (Calif.) -- History -- Sources
Boulder Canyon (Colo.) -- Photographs
Huntington Lake (Calif.) -- History -- Sources
Sierra Nevada (Calif. and Nev.) -- Description and travel
Sierra Nevada (Calif. and Nev.) -- History -- Sources
Washington Court House (Ohio)
Clippings -- United States.
Diaries -- United States.
Letters (correspondence) -- United States.
Professional papers -- United States.
Scrapbooks -- United States
Huntington, Collis Potter, 1821-1900
Huntington, Henry Edwards, 1850-1927
Webb, William Seward.
Whipple, Squire, 1804-1888
Erie Railroad Company
Huntington Land and Improvement Company
Huntington Memorial Hospital (Pasadena, Calif.)
Oberlin College
Pacific Light and Power Company
Southern California Edison Company
University of Southern California.
Zamorano Club.
Box 1, Folder 1
Condolence Letters (1933). 86 items.
Box 1, Folder 2
Condolence Letters (1933). 98 items.
Box 1, Folder 3
Condolence Letters [undated]. 38 items.
Box 1, Folder 4
Huntington, Collis Potter, 1821-1900 (1899-1929). 7 items.
Box 1, Folder 5
Huntington, Henry Edwards, 1850-1927 (1903-1948). 12 items.
Box 1, Folder 6
Miscellaneous (1901-1934). 33 items.
Box 1, Folder 7
Oberlin College Honorary Degree; Physics Building (1928-1942). 13 items.
Box 1, Folder 8
Posthumous Requests for Ward Biographical Information (1933-1934). 16 items.
Box 1, Folder 9
Southern California Edison Promotions (1928-1932). 21 items.
Box 1, Folder 10
University of Southern California Honorary Degree (1927). 49 items.
Box 1, Folder 11
University of Southern California Honorary Degree (1927). 69 items.
Box 1, Folder 12
Ward Memorial Dedication (1934-1936). 79 items.
Box 1, Folder 13
Ward Memorial Dedication (1936). 91 items.
Box 1, Folder 14
Ward Memorial Dedication [undated]. 22 items.
Box 2, Folder 1
Biographical Accounts (1934). 8 items.
Box 2, Folder 2
Diary of George Clinton Ward (1887). 1 item.
Box 2, Folder 3
Diary of George Clinton Ward (1888). 1 item.
Box 2, Folder 4
Diary of George Clinton Ward (1897). 1 item.
Box 2, Folder 5
Diary of George Clinton Ward (1898). 1 item.
Box 2, Folder 6
Diary of George Clinton Ward (1900). 1 item.
Box 2, Folder 7
Journal of Blaney Meadows Trip (1923). 3 items. Also includes George Clinton Ward's resume and calling card.
Box 2, Folder 8
Log of Jack Ass Meadows Camp (1922). 1 item.
Box 2, Folder 9
Memorandum regarding Big Creek Project [undated]. 1 item.
Box 2, Folder 10
Minutes of Called Meeting of the Trustees of the Collis P. and Howard Huntington Memorial Hospital (1933). 1 item.
Box 2, Folder 11
Miscellaneous (1926-1933). 3 items.
Box 2, Folder 12
Oberlin College Honorary Degree (1928). 1 item.
Clippings, Documents, and Ephemera
Box 3
Clippings, Documents, and Ephemera
Box 3, Folder 1
Clippings: Boulder Dam Project (1925). 6 items.
Box 3, Folder 2
Clippings: Florence Lake Tunnel Commemoration (1925). 3 items.
Box 3, Folder 3
Clippings: Miscellaneous (1925-1933). 15 items.
Box 3, Folder 4
Clippings: Notices of Death (1933). 67 items.
Box 3, Folder 5
Clippings: Notices of Death [undated]. 14 items.
Box 3, Folder 6
Clippings: Oberlin College Honorary Degree (1928). 4 items.
Box 3, Folder 7
Clippings: University of Southern California Honorary Degree (1927). 2 items.
Box 3, Folder 8
Clippings: Ward Memorial Dedication [1936]. 1 item.
Box 3, Folder 9
Documents: Business and Financial (1929-1932). 26 items.
Box 3, Folder 10
Documents: Ward Memorial Dedication Application (1934). 1 item.
Box 3, Folder 11
Ephemera: Engineers' and Mechanics' Pocket-Book, Whipple, Squire, 1804-1888 (1847). 1 item.
Box 3, Folder 12
Ephemera: Miscellaneous (1873-1934). 23 items.
Box 3, Folder 13
Ephemera: Oberlin College Honorary Degree (1927-1928). 9 items.
Box 3, Folder 14
Ephemera: Photographs (1921-1925). 8 items. Includes card from Lloyd William Taylor.
Box 3, Folder 15
Ephemera: Ward Memorial Dedication (1935-1936). 23 items.
Volume Oversize volume 1
Glimpses of the Engineering Work of G.C. Ward as shown in Contemporary Newspapers and Magazines (1871-1929). 1 item.
Scope and Contents
Note: Scrapbook measures 56 cm. and the cover is detached. Contains loose newspaper clippings and photographs.
