Guide to the Richard Sterling Finnie Papers M0694
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
2016 ; revised 2023
Green Library
557 Escondido Mall
Stanford 94305-6064
specialcollections@stanford.edu
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
Title: Richard Sterling Finnie papers
Identifier/Call Number: M0694
Physical Description:
27 Linear Feet
(24 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1950-1967
Abstract: Photographs, films, and audio recordings relating to Bechtel Corporation's development projects, especially pipe line construction,
all by company historian and film producer Richard Finnie.
Scope and Contents
The Richard Finnie Collection contains films, audio recordings, and photographs by Richard Sterling Finnie (1906-1987), a
documentary filmmaker, photographer, ethnographer, and historian. Finnie worked for the international engineering company
Bechtel Corporation for 25 years. As a producer for Bechtel's industrial film division, Finnie made over 60 promotional films
touting Bechtel's pipeline and other development projects around the world, including such titles as
Oil Across Sumatra,
More Power to Korea,
Exploring Libya, and
Bechtel in Europe. Finnie also recorded Bechtel meetings and speeches, as well the sounds and music used in film soundtracks.
Preferred Citation
Richard Sterling Finnie Papers. M0694. Dept. of Special Collections, Stanford Libraries, Stanford, Calif.
Conditions Governing Use
While Special Collections is the owner of the physical and digital items, permission to examine collection materials is not
an authorization to publish. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. Any transmission
or reproduction beyond that allowed by fair use requires permission from the owners of rights, heir(s) or assigns.
Conditions Governing Access
Open for research. Note that material must be requested at least 36 hours in advance of intended use. Audiovisual materials
are not available in original format, and must be reformatted to a digital use copy.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Anne A. Finnie, 1987; accession 1987-059. Transfer from Archives, 2000, accession 2000-347.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Engineering.
Phonotapes.
motion pictures (visual works)
Photoprints.
Gas industry -- History
Petroleum industry and trade -- History
Bechtel Corporation.
Box 24, Item 1
Minas - Duri 26" pipeline, Sumatra
1958
Box 24, Item 2
B. P.'s Aden Refinery
1957
Box 24, Item 3
Tangin-Ri Power Plant, Republic of Korea
1956
Box 24, Item 4
Aramco Administration Building, Dhahran
1957
Box 24, Item 6
Babco Refinety, Babrain
1957
Box 24, Item 7
Damrriam Pier, Saudi Arabia
1957
Box 24, Item 8
Benjamin F. Fairless with George Colley at Puerto Orday
February 1953
Box 24, Item 11
Oil Loading Jetty, Mina al Ahmadi, Kuwait
1957
Box 24, Item 12
Electrification of Riyadh
Box 24, Item 13
Donkey well, Saudi Arabia
undated
Box 24, Item 14
Bapco Oil Loading Pier, Bahrain
1957
Box 24, Item 15
Surf Club, Ras Tanura
1957
Box 24, Item 16
Dammam Pier, Saudi Arabia
1957
Box 24, Item 17
Oil Loading Piers, Ras Tanura
1957
Box 24, Item 19
[Lakehead Pipeline Extension, Straits of Mackinac crossing] 6 men, standing
1958
Box 24, Item 20
Desulfurizer, Ras Tanura
1957
Box 24, Item 22
Hangar in construction, Jidda
1950
Box 1, reel 1
GCOS Dedication 9/30 1967 (Sept. 30) Part I
1967
Scope and Contents note
1. Bill Dunlop: "0 Canada" ; 2. Rev. P.G. Harris ; 3 . Kenneth F. Heddon, Pres . Sun Oil Co. ; 4 . Clarence H. mayer, Pres
. GCOS ; 5 . S . D. Bechtel , Sr. ;
Box 1, reel 2
Dr. Mortimer J. Adler: "World Peace and the Human Mind"
1958
Scope and Contents note
Industrial Indemnity lecture, San Francisco, 24 Nov. 1958 Excerpts Intro, Conclusion w/clipping, invitation in box
Box 1, reel 3
Pipeline Equipment Euro tests Aug. 14-15
1955
Scope and Contents note
S . P. Project Finnie for Engineering Management Inc. ;
Box 1, reel 4
GCOS dedication Roll 3 30 Sept. 1967
Scope and Contents note
Robert G. Dunlop, Pres. Sun Oil Company ;
Box 1, reel 5
GCOS Dedication Roll 2 30 Sept. 1967 and clipping, Oct. 1969 about Winters ' death ; S.D. Bechtel Sr. concluded, Clarence
Thayer, Harold Rea, Robert Winters (runs out)
1967
Box 1, reel 6
(Reel 7) Monterey Seminar - Feb. 1957 R.M. Dorman, chairman
1957
Scope and Contents note
Dr. Douglas Kelly, UoC Psychologist, on Communication: Canalization, Prejudice, as, etc. (Same lecture as on Reel 6 with minor
variation.)
Box 1, reel 7
Feb. 14, 1957 Roll 2 Thurs. afternoon
1957
Scope and Contents note
List of names in box, 4 pp.
Box 1, reel 8
Roll 2 Feb. 7 . Thurs . PM. Exposed (1957 Monterey Seminar)
1957
Box 1, reel 9
Fri. AM Roll 4 Monterey Seminar Feb. 1957
Scope and Contents note
1 p. list of names
Box 1, reel 10
Fri. Feb. 15, 1957 Roll 5, list enclosed
1957
Box 1, reel 11
Roll 8, Sat. AM 1957 (Feb. 16)
1957
Scope and Contents note
Kelly, Phelan, Swanson, O'Connell
Box 1, reel 12
Cerro Bolivar - Spanish, part 2
1954
Scope and Contents note
Eduardo Zavraga - Spanish narration "Iron Ore from Cerro Bolivar, 1954, Caracas
Box 1, reel 13
Cerro Bolivar - Spanish, part 1
1954
Box 1, reel 14
Oct. 5, 1960 S .D. Bechtel - NDTA, New Orleans
1960
Box 2, reel 15
Sound Effects and running commentary: steel making and pipe fabrication. For Richard Finnie's film "Southern Pacific Pipeline,
Aug 3-6, 1955
1955
Box 2, reel 16
Fri. afternoon Speech Instructor Roll 6 Feb. 15
1957
Box 2, reel 17
Bechtel Management Monterey Seminar Feb. 1957 Roll 5 11 : 3OAM - 4 PM Friday the 15th
1957
Scope and Contents note
Discussion of hypothetical job - personality situation followed by role playing by paiticipants Dr. Gerry Phelan lectures
on conference conducting list enclosed
Box 2, reel 18
Roll 1, 1957 Thurs. AM after coffee break - Feb. 14, 1957
Scope and Contents note
list enclosed
Box 2, reel 19
Sirbica Pipeline - Arabic narration voice: Issa Belkheir 17 Feb. 1965
Box 2, reel 20
Seminar - Roll 6 - Fred Stripp - Prof. of Forensics, UoC, Douglas Kelley, Psychologist, UoC
1957
Box 2, reel 21
Roll 3, list end. Seminar Feb. 57
1957
Box 2, reel 22
1st seminar, Roll 1, Roll 8
1957
Box 2, reel 23
Roll 4 2nd Conf.
1957
Scope and Contents note
list enclosed
Box 2, reel 24
Sirtica Pipeline - Arabic narration, voice: Issa Belkheir, Tripoli, Libya, 17 Feb. 1965, original
1957
Box 2, reel 25
US Steel - Mr. Fairless speech 1/25/54
1954
Scope and Contents note
Jan. 10 , 1954 Benjamin F. Fairless at Fairless Works dockside for unloading of first iron ore from Cerro Bolivar
Box 2, reel 26
Panama Refinery Film "Petroleum Pioneering in Panama"
1963
Scope and Contents note
Narration for Spanish version: Precursores del Petroler en Panama" voice: Arguimedes Fernandez - 1 June 1963
Box 2, reel 27
Navy 's recording of Mr. Bechtel ' Speech and part of the presentation speech of Dr. Germane
1960
Scope and Contents note
N.D.TA speech - New Orleans, 1960
Box 2, reel 28
Seminar - Gerry Phelan, Win. Swanson, J. Perry Yates Roll 9
1957
Box 3, reel 29
17 Nov. 1966 Jr. & Sr. Bechtel , Yates-Bechtel Film Dialogue
1966
Box 3, reel 30
Economics Dr. Homan - 12/29/69 ~ Discussion of mid-term Kiely Speech Rehearsal 15 Sept. 1967
1969
Box 6, reel 1
A Visit to Venezuela
Container Summary: color, sound 16mm 36 min.
Box 7, reel 2
A Visit to Venezuela. Personal No. 19
Container Summary: color, sound l6mm 35 min.
Box 7, reel 3
A Visit to Venezuela. S.F. Office Print
Container Summary: color, sound 16mm 36 min
Box 8, reel 4
Builders for Industry - Portrait of a Business Family
1953
Container Summary: color, sound 16mm 38 min
Box 9, reel 5
Oil Across Arabia (The Tapline Project). Documentary film in color and sound produced by Richard Finnie. Edited 20 minute
version
Container Summary: color, sound 20 min.
Box 9, reel 6
Oil Across Arabia. 1068 nm 30-31. Trans-Arabia pipeline System from the oil fields of Saudi Arabia to the Mediterranean Sea
1951
Container Summary: color,sound 44 min.
Box 10, reel 7
Bechtel in Arab Lands. Engineering and construction projects in Middle East since 1943. 60 Minute Version
1958
Container Summary: color, sound 60 min.
Box 11, reel 8
New Fuel for New England. Construction of 225 mile natural gas lateral pipelines in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire
for Northeastern Gas and Transmission Company
May-Aug 1952
Container Summary: color, sound 15 min.
Box 11, reel 9
New Fuel for New England. Construction of 225 mile natural gas lateral pipelines in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire
for Northeastern Gas and Transmission Company
May-Aug 1952
Container Summary: color, sound 15 min.
Box 12, reel 10
Chocolate Bayou. Monsanto Chemical Company's Chocolate Bayou petrochemical complex near Alvin, Texas
1963
Container Summary: color, sound l6 mm 20 min.
Box 15, reel 11
More Power to Korea. The engineering and construction of steam-electric power plants for the Republic of Korea
Container Summary: color, sound 40 mm.
Box 16, reel 12
Kirkuk to Banias. Iraq Petroleum Company's 556 mile 26-30-32 crude oil pipeline from Kirkuk, Iraq to Banias, Syria
Container Summary: color, sound 16mm 36 min.
Box 13, reel 13
Bechtel in Europe. Bechtel engineering - management experience and capability in the British Isles and Western Europe
1964
Container Summary: color, sound 40 min.
Box 15, reel 14
More Power to Korea
Container Summary: 40 min.
Box 17, reel 16
Oil from Zarzaitine. Building of the 470 mile pipeline from the Sahara through Tunisia to a new oil loading port on the Mediterranean
1961
Physical Description: color,sound l6mm 40 min.
Box 18, reel 17
Iron Ore from Cerro Bolivar. US Steel's Iron-ore development project in S .E. Venezuela, beginning with early reconnaissance
and ending with the unloading of the let iron ore from Cerro Bolivar at the Fairless Works, near Philadelphia
1954
Container Summary: 38 min
Box 16, reel 18
Kirkuk to Banias. Arabian Bechtel Company 1950-1952. Photographed, written and edited by RSF. Cutting by Dave Butler with
RSF. Live Music (aoud, nye) taped in Beirut by RSF. Dubbing, with supplementary western music, by Forrest Booth. Voice: Dick
Wynne, supervised by RSF
Container Summary: 36 min
Box 19, reel 19
Engineers & Builders for Industry. The background, present-day structure, capabilities and variety of activities of Bechtel
Corp. and its affiliates around the world. Short version
1967
Container Summary: 26 min
Box 19, reel 20
Oil Across Sumatra. A story of petroleum of Sumatra--how, after oil had been found, the problem was solved of moving it from
wells deep in the jungle to the markets of the world
1959
Container Summary: 28 min.
Box 20, reel 21
Challenge of Capricorn. A Joint Ampol-Bechtel film on the buildings of Queensland's first and Australia 's most modern petroleum
refinery near Brisbane
1965
Container Summary: color, sound 16mm 27 min.
Box 21, reel 22
A.U.B. Documentary film on the American University of Beirut, Lebanon
1952
Container Summary: color, sound 28 min.
Box 20, reel 23
Refinery in Aden. The construction of the British Petroleum Company Ltd.'s refinery in Aden [Yemen]
1954
Container Summary: color, sound 16mm 31 min.
Box 22, reel 24
Exploring Libya
Container Summary: color, sound 16mm 29 min.
Box 21, reel 25
A.U.B. [American University of Beirut]
Box 22, reel 26
Southern Pacific Pipeline Engineering & Construction of S.P.'s LA-El Paso refinery products pipeline system
1956
Physical Description: sound, color 28 min.
Box 23, reel 27
Pipeline from the Peace to the Pacific. Westcoast Transmission Company Limited's 650-mile natural gas pipeline from the Peace
River area to Vancouver & the U.S. border
1958
Container Summary: color 34 min.
Box 23, reel 28
The Fabulous Oil Sands. (G.C.O.S.) Scenes Removed For Corporate Film
Series 4. Printed material
Box 25, Item 1
Tapline, The Story of the World's Biggest Oil Pipe Line (Trans-Arabian Pipe Line Co. 1951) with enclosed photograph by Finnie
Box 25, Item 2-3
Focus by the National Geographical Society
1952-1955
Box 25, Item 4
The Shell Magazine
September 1954
Box 25, Item 5
Etude sur le Transport du Petrole brut Saharien Pipeline Zarzaitine-Mediterranee (Bechtel Corporation 1957)
Box 25, Item 6
A Primer of Pipe Line Construction (University of Texas Petroleum Extension Service 1952)