Guide to the Wallace D. Mersereau San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) District Real Estate Records, 1956-2016, SFH 472

Finding aid created by Tami J. Suzuki using RecordEXPRESS.
San Francisco Public Library, San Francisco History Center
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, California 94102
(415) 557-4567
sfhistory@sfpl.org
http://sfpl.org/sfhistory
2017


Descriptive Summary

Title: Wallace D. Mersereau San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) District Real Estate Records
Dates: 1956-2016
Date (bulk): 1963-1973
Collection Number: SFH 472
Creator/Collector: Mersereau, Wallace D. San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (Calif.)
Extent: 1.5 cubic feet (2 boxes)
Contributing Institution: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 557-4567
sfhistory@sfpl.org
Abstract: Mainly reports published by BART or its consultants, documenting land acquisition as well as initial construction and operation.
Language of Material: English

Access

The collection is available for use during San Francisco History Center hours.

Publication Rights

All requests for permission or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the City Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the San Francisco Public Library as the owner of the physical items.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Wallace D. Mersereau San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) District Real Estate Records, San Francisco Public Library, San Francisco History Center.

Acquisition Information

Donated by Wallace D. Mersereau on Feb. 3, 2016.

Biography/Administrative History

Wallace D. Mersereau joined BART in 1963, heading the appraisal section as one of its first right-of-way agents. The construction of the interstate highway system had been launched in the mid-1950s by President Eisenhower, and this program was fully underway in late 1963 when BART began to form its real estate department. BART's first real estate manager, John S. Daniels, had been responsible for all Bay Area real estate activities of the California Division of Highways (DOH). Daniels hired two senior right-of-way agents from the DOH to run negotiations and acquisitions, and to oversee appraisal operations. Haskel O. Meredith was in charge of appraisals. He hired Mersereau, also from the DOH. Originally hired for three years, his career with the agency spanned ten years, and culminated with his appointment as Director of Real Estate in 1971. During its early days, the Real Estate Department was the largest BART deparment. However, with no extensions of the system, the department shrank. The right-of-way program for BART's initial system was virtually complete by late 1973, when Mersereau left to take a position with the Port of Oakland.

Scope and Content of Collection

Consists mainly of reports published by BART or its consultants, documenting land acquisition as well as initial construction and operation. This period began with the successful passage of the BART bond measure in November, 1962. Design and construction was dependent on acquisition of rights of way, which was carried out by the Real Estate Department. Includes an unpublished article by the collection creator on the Real Estate Department's work.

Indexing Terms

Local transit -- California -- San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (Calif.)
Mersereau, Wallace D.

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