John L. Bacon papers

Finding aid prepared by Special Collections Processing Archivist Andrew Lippert
Special Collections & University Archives
The UCR Library
P.O. Box 5900
University of California
Riverside, California 92517-5900
Phone: 951-827-3233
Fax: 951-827-4673
Email: specialcollections@ucr.edu
URL: http://library.ucr.edu/libraries/special-collections-university-archives
© October 2023
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.


Descriptive Summary

Title: John L. Bacon papers
Date (inclusive): 1906-1952
Date (inclusive): bulk: 1927-1932
Collection Number: WRCA 266
Creator: Bacon, John L., 1878-1961
Extent: 3.3 linear feet (3 boxes)
Repository: Rivera Library. Special Collections Department.
Riverside, CA 92517-5900
Abstract: Materials in this collection are from John L. Bacon and are related to his work on the Colorado River Commission, the Boulder dam (aka Hoover dam) project, water supply for California, division of Colorado River water within California, and affiliated matters. The collection includes extensive correspondence with individuals involved in the Boulder dam project.
Languages: English

Access

This collection is open for research.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in the original order in which it was found at the time of processing. Many of the folders had original folder numbers on them; these have been preserved in the current folder titles by a number within parenthesis. All folder titles are copied from the original folder unless noted otherwise.

Biographical note

John L. Bacon (1878-1961) was the Mayor of San Diego from 1921-1927. He also served as the president of the Boulder Dam Association, promoting the construction of the Boulder dam (aka Hoover dam) and as the Chairman for the Colorado River Commission.

Preferred Citation

[identification of item], [date if possible]. John L. Bacon papers (WRCA 266). Water Resources Collections and Archives. Special Collections & University Archives, University of California, Riverside.

Related Materials

See also the Wilbur F. McClure papers (WRCA 265)  and Hiram W. Johnson papers (WRCA 268)  for other collections pertaining to the Colorado River in the early 20th century.

Content Description

The John L. Bacon papers include correspondence, finances, pamphlets, newspaper clippings, maps, published materials from the United States Congress, and other materials related to Bacon's work on the Colorado River Commission and the Boulder dam (aka Hoover dam) project. Other figures he worked and corresponded with include Elwood Mead, Charles B. Ward, John W. Ross, S. C. Evans, Col. William J. Donovan, Congressman Phil D. Swing, Earl C. Pound, F. H. McIver, W. B. Mathews, Ray L. Riley, and Francis C. Wilson, among others. Several notable entities and organizations represented within the collection include U.S. Congress, Federal Bureau of Reclamation, Colorado River Commission, Imperial Irrigation District, and Coachella Valley.

Publication Rights

Copyright Unknown: Some materials in these collections may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). In addition, the reproduction, and/or commercial use, of some materials may be restricted by gift or purchase agreements, donor restrictions, privacy and publicity rights, licensing agreement(s), and/or trademark rights. Distribution or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. To the extent other restrictions apply, permission for distribution or reproduction from the applicable rights holder is also required. Responsibility for obtaining permissions, and for any use rests exclusively with the user.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Subjects

Mead, Elwood, 1858-1936
Ward, Charles B.
Donovan, William J., Colonel
Swing, Philip David, 1884-1963
Johnson, Hiram W., 1866-1945
Wilson, Francis Cushman, 1876-1952
Hoover Dam (Ariz. and Nev.)
Colorado River (Colo.-Mexico)
Colorado River Watershed (Colo.-Mexico)
Colorado River (Colo.-Mexico) -- Water rights


Box 1, Folder 1

Bacon Files - Important References undated

Processing note

No original title on this folder
Box 1, Folder 2

Bacon collection indices undated

Scope and Contents

Indices created at a prior point, likely for Bacon's own use and reference. Indices are for pamphlets, correspondence, and cabinet files.

Processing note

No original title on this folder
Box 1, Folder 3

Agreement on California Division of Water from Colorado River 1930

Processing note

No original title on this folder
Box 1, Folder 4

(1) Arizona Commission - Correspondence 1927-1931

Box 1, Folder 5, Flat-File-Folder 01

(2) Arizona - General Data - Copy of Norviel Letter re: III(b) Water 1928-1931

Box 1, Folder 6

(3) Bibliography 1926-1930

Box 1, Folder 7

(4) Boulder Canyon Finances 1927-1929

Box 1, Folders 8-9

(5) Boulder Canyon Project Pamphlets - Copies Distributed 1930-1932

Scope and Contents

Includes correspondence requesting copies of reports
Box 1, Folders 10-11, Flat-File-Folder 02

(6) Boulder Dam Association 1923-1932

Box 1, Folder 12, Flat-File-Folder 03

(7) Boulder Dam Celebration - Las Vegas 1930 1930

Box 1, Folder 13, Flat-File-Folder 04

(8) Boulder Dam correspondence 1927-1930 Bulk: 1929

Box 1, Folder 14, Flat-File-Folder 05

(9) Boulder Dam - General Data 1929-1931

Box 1, Folder 15

California Claim to a Reservation of Water 1925

Scope and Contents

Letter from San Diego Mayor John Bacon to Secretary of Commerce Herbert Hoover.
Box 1, Folder 16

(10) California (State) - General 1931-1932

Box 1, Folder 17

(11) California Commission Correspondence 1929-1931

Box 1, Folder 18

(12) California Intra-State Agreements & Conference 1931

Box 1, Folder 19

(13) California Projects - Lands to be irrigated by All-American Canal & Boulder Canyon Project 1930-1931

Box 1, Folder 20

(14) Checks 1929-1931

Box 1, Folders 21-22

(15) Colorado River Commission - Finances & Expense Account 1927-1931

Flat-File-Folder 06

(16) Colorado River Commission - Report of Exam. of Books & Records 1930-1931

Box 1, Folder 23

(17) Conference - 1925 1925

Box 1, Folder 24

(18) Conference - Denver 1927

Box 1, Folder 25

(19) Conference - Ely (re: contracts) 1930

Box 1, Folder 26

(20) Conference - Los Angeles, Van Norden 1929-1930

Box 1, Folder 27

(21) Conferences - Santa Fe 1929

Box 1, Folder 28

(22) Conference Washington, 1929 (Donovan) 1929-1930

Box 1, Folder 29

(23) Documents - Office File 1950

Scope and Contents

This folder was empty aside from the single sheet of paper dated to 1950. The paper says "These pamphlets were removed and cataloged." It is unclear where these pamphlets went.
Box 1, Folder 30

(24) Wm. J. Donovan, Correspondence 1929-1930

Box 2, Folder 1

(25) Expenses & Per Diem - Commission 1929-1930

Box 2, Folder 2

(26) Finance - State 1929-1931

Box 2, Folder 3

(27) General Data - Congressional Record 1923 & Excerpts, Weymouth Report 1924, 1927-1931

Box 2, Folder 4

(28) General Notes 1926-1929

Box 2, Folder 5

(29) Imperial Irrigation District 1927-1931

Box 2, Folder 6

(30) International Water Rights undated

Box 2, Folder 7

(31) Lands - Colorado River - General undated

Box 2, Folder 8

(32) Legal 1927 & 1930

Box 2, Folder 9

(33) Los Angeles City - General 1924-1930

Box 2, Folder 10

(34) Los Angeles City - Public Releases to Press 1929-1931

Box 2, Folder 11

(35 Los Angeles Conference - California Interests 1930

Box 2, Folder 12, Flat-File-Folder 07, Flat-File-Folder 08, Flat-File-Folder 09

(36) Maps and Photographs 1906-1934

Scope and Contents

Folder includes 2 photos of early Hoover/Boulder dam construction as well as a variety of maps and oversized pamphlets pertaining to the following: Merced Irrigation District, Barrett Dam, Lower Colorado River, All-American Canal, Salton Sink, Portland, OR; and the Columbia River, California Lands and Water Requirements (cyanotype).
Box 2, Folder 13

(37) Mead - Boulder Dam policies 1929-1931

Box 2, Folder 14

(38) Metropolitan Water District 1929-1931

Box 2, Folder 15

(39) Mexican Conference and Data 1929

Box 2, Folder 16

(40) Mexican Lands 1922

Box 2, Folder 17

(41) Miscellaneous Correspondence 1930-1932

Box 2, Folder 18

(42) Nevada General 1929

Box 2, Folder 19, Flat-File-Folder 10

(43) Newspaper Clippings re: Boulder Canyon Project 1930

Box 2, Folder 20

(44) Office Equipment & Supplies 1929-1931

Box 2, Folders 21-22

(45) Pamphlets - Boulder Dam 1919-1932

Box 2, Folder 23

(46) Pasadena Meeting 1931

Box 2, Folder 24

(47) Payrolls 1929

Box 2, Folder 25

(48) Personal (Bacon) 1931

Scope and Contents

File includes correspondence and materials related to the Rotary Club of San Diego and the Salvation Army.
Box 2, Folder 26

(49) Phoenix Meeting 1930

Scope and Contents

File includes reports and summaries
Box 2, Folder 27

(50) Power Costs and Data 1928-1930

Box 2, Folder 28, Flat-File-Folder 11

(51) Reno Conference 1930

Box 2, Folder 29

(52) Reports on Boulder Canyon Project & All-American Canal 1924 & 1930

Box 2, Folder 30

(53) Rio Grande 1929

Box 2, Folder 31

(54) Rolph, Governor James, Jr. 1931

Box 2, Folder 32

(55) Scattergood Correspondence 1929-1930

Box 2, Folder 33

(56) Swing, Phil D. - Correspondence 1929-1931

Box 2, Folder 34

United States Rights - Indian Rights 1926

Processing note

This folder title is copied exactly from the original folder as it was labelled by Bacon.
Box 3, Folder 1

(57) U.S. Contracts with Metropolitan Water District 1930

Box 3, Folder 2

(58) Upper Basin States - Correspondence 1929-1930

Scope and Contents

Folder includes correspondence with Francis C. Wilson, representative from New Mexico to the Colorado River Commission.
Box 3, Folder 3, Flat-File-Folder 12

(59) Utah Data 1927-1929

Box 3, Folder 4

Use of Surplus to 1963 1926

Box 3, Folder 5, Flat-File-Folder 13

(60) Washington, D. C. - May & June, 1930 - memos, etc 1930

Box 3, Folder 6

(61) Water - California - Priorities 1925 & 1930

Box 3, Folder 7, Flat-File-Folder 14

(62) Water - Colorado River - General 1922-1930

Scope and Contents

See flat file folder for design diagram of Hoover/Boulder dam
Box 3, Folder 8

(63) Water - Quality of - Salt 1925-1932

Box 3, Folder 9

(64) Wilbur, Hon. Ray Lyman 1929-1930

Box 3, Folder 10

Inventories of materials Received by the late Senator Hiram W. Johnson's Office. Compiled 4-19-47 by E. A. Lowith. 1947

Box 3, Folder 11

Hiram Johnson Remarks in US. Senate, June 4, 1924 undated

Processing note

No original title on this folder
Box 3, Folder 12

Congressional materials undated

Processing note

The materials in this folder were like materials that were loose in the third box and brought together into a single folder.

Scope and Contents

Folder includes copies of Congressional Record and Senate Bill S.395
Box 3, Folder 13

Hearing Before the Committee on Irrigation and Reclamation of the United States Senate on the Boulder Canyon Dam Project 1925

Processing note

No original title on this folder
Box 3, Folder 14

Reciprocal Trade Agreement Speech by Sen Hiram W. Johnson and Congressional Records - Issues May 9, 1934 and June 1, 1936 undated

Processing note

No original title on this folder
Box 3, Folder 15

Congressional Record 1952 1952 (?)

Processing note

No original title on this folder
Box 3, Folders 16-17

Assorted Statements, Reports, Memoranda, etc 1944-1945

Processing note

No original title on this folder

Scope and Contents

Folder contains assorted materials reltaed to the U.S. Congress, Central Valley Project, and Bureau of Reclamation. Some materials credited to Raymond Mathew and Henry Holsinger.
Box 3, Folder 18

Index: Second Swing-Johnson Bill - Hearings Before the House Committee on Irrigation and Reclamation undated

Processing note

No original title on this folder
Box 3, Folder 19

75th Congress 1937-1938 & 1949

Scope and Contents

Folder includes scrapbook of newspapers clippings from 1949