Todd (O.J.) Materials on the Yellow River Dam Project China, 1947 and undated

Collection context

Summary

Title:
O.J. Todd Materials on the Yellow River Dam Project, China
Dates:
1947 and undated
Creators:
Todd, O. J. (Oliver Julian)
Abstract:
Collection contains materials assembled by O.J. (Oliver Julian) Todd while he was Advisor to the Yellow River Project of the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration in China. Materials include business documents, correspondence, newspaper clippings, and photographs.
Extent:
1.2 Linear Feet (1 flat box, 1 document box)
Language:
Languages represented in the collection: English .
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], O.J. Todd Materials on the Yellow River Dam Project, China (H.Mss.0902). Special Collections and Archives, The Claremont Colleges Library, The Claremont Colleges Services, Claremont, California.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection consists of business documents, newspaper clippings, correspondence and photographs.

Biographical / historical:
O.J. (Oliver Julian) Todd's Life Events
Date Event
1880 November 1
Born in Colon, Michigan.
1908
B.S. degree in Civil Engineering, University of Michigan.
1909-1917
Field Assistant, Chief Hydrographer, and Assistant Engineer for the City of San Francisco; Worked on the Hetch Hetchy water supply system and the Twin Peaks Tunnel.
1917-1919
Captain in the Engineering Corps, U.S. Army.
1919-1921
Principal Assistant Engineer for the Chinese government's Grand Canal Improvement Board.
1921
Field Manager and Chief Engineer for American National Red Cross in Shantung (4 months).
1921-1923
Chief Engineer for the China International Famine Relief Commission.
1923-1935
Chief Engineer for the China International Famine Relief Commission.
1927
Married Dr. Lois Pendelton.
1935-1938
Consulting Engineer to the China International Famine Relief Commission, American Advisory Board of Shanghai, Shantung Government on the Yellow River, Yellow River Commission, and the Friendship Fund of New York City.
1938 April
Returned to the United States and settled in Palo Alto, California.
1940-1942
Engineer for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.
1942-1945
Regional Engineer, Area Engineer, and Senior Engineer with the United States Army Engineers in Arizona.
1945-1947
Advisor to the Yellow River Project of the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration in China.
1948
Democratic candidate for U.A. Congress in the 8th District.
1949-1951
Chief of the Irrigation Engineering Division of the Joint Commission on Rural Reconstruction in China.
1973
Author, The China That I Knew.
1974 January 13
Died, Palo Alto, California.
Acquisition information:
Collection acquired from an anonymous donor.
Processing information:

Arranged and processed by Special Collections staff.

Arrangement:

This collection has been organized into the following series and subseries:

  • Series 1: Photographs, undated
  • Series 2: Documents and correspondence, 1947 and undated
  • Series 3: Newspaper clippings, 1947
Accruals:

No additions to the collection are anticipated.

Physical location:
Please consult repository.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Special Collections staff and Sean Stanley
Date Prepared:
© 2025
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2025-03-18 15:08:16 -0700 .

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection open for research.

Terms of access:

All requests for permission to reproduce or to publish must be submitted in writing to Special Collections.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], O.J. Todd Materials on the Yellow River Dam Project, China (H.Mss.0902). Special Collections and Archives, The Claremont Colleges Library, The Claremont Colleges Services, Claremont, California.

Location of this collection:
800 N. Dartmouth Ave.
Claremont, CA 91711, US
Contact:
(909) 607‑3977