Collection Guide
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Irrigation (Department of) Photographs
AR-058
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Table of contents
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
University of California, Davis Library, University Archives
Title: Department of Irrigation Photographs
Creator:
University of California,
Davis. Department of Irrigation
Identifier/Call Number: AR-058
Physical Description:
26.8 linear feet
Date (inclusive): 1895-1959
Abstract: The UC Davis Department of Irrigation Photographs contain images taken
by the department from 1895-1959. Subjects include many topics related to California irrigation including dams, canals,
reservoirs, pumps, wells, preparing land for irrigation, and field and laboratory experiments. Most of the images were taken
in California; however, there are also photographs from other locations in the western United States.
Physical Location: Researchers should contact Archives and Special Collections to request
collections, as many are stored offsite.
The Division of Irrigation of the College of Agriculture was an outgrowth of events that began in the summer of 1900 when
University of California President Benjamin I. Wheeler invited Elwood Mead, head of the United States Department of
Agriculture's irrigation investigations, to organize teaching and research on irrigation in the University.
The early program at Davis included irrigation experiments with alfalfa and field crops, as well as the installation of a
small vineyard to demonstrate contour-furrow irrigation.
Other early division activities includes studies of irrigation and irrigation possibilities in various parts of the state,
the irrigation census in California of 1910 for the Bureau of the Census, a study of irrigation resources of California, and
publication of the first irrigation map of California, for the State Conservation Commission.
In the 1920s members of the Division of Irrigation at Davis helped develop the California Water Plan, and a second
California Irrigation map (1922). The Division became the Department of Irrigation in 1936, with a faculty of ten under the
leadership of Frank Veihmeyer.
The collection contains negatives and prints of images taken by the department from 1895-1959. Subjects include dams,
canals, reservoirs, pumps, wells, preparing land for irrigation and field and laboratory experiments. Most of the images were
taken in California but there are also photographs from the Western United States.
The collection is arranged in two series: 1. Index to images and 2. Negatives and prints.
Collection is open for research.
Sara Gunasekara processed this collection. Data entry assistance was provided by student employees My-Hanh Nguyen and
Carena Leung.
Transferred from the Department of Land, Air, and Water Resources.
[Identification of item], Department of Irrigation Photographs, AR-058, Archives and Special Collections, UC Davis
Library, University of California, Davis.
All applicable copyrights for the collection are protected under chapter 17 of the U.S. Copyright Code. Requests for
permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Collections. Permission
for publication is given on behalf of the Regents of the University of California as the owner of the physical items. It is
not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Irrigation -- California -- History -- Pictorial works
Water resources development -- California -- History -- Pictorial works
Water districts -- California -- History -- Pictorial works
University of California, Davis.
Department of Irrigation -- History -- Pictorial works
Veihmeyer, Frank J.,
1886-1977
Adams, Frank,
1875-1967