Conditions Governing Access
Conditions Governing Use
Preferred Citation
Acquisition Information
Biographical Note
Scope and Contents
Processing Information
Arrangement
Contributing Institution:
The Huntington Library
Title: Samuel Brooks Morris papers
Identifier/Call Number: mssMorris, Samuel papers
Physical Description:
76.14 Linear Feet
(180 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1910-1962
Abstract: This collection contains the papers of Samuel Brooks Morris (1890-1962), a Southern California civil engineer specializing
in water issues, who worked for the Pasadena Water Department (1912-1934), as a Stanford University Professor (1935-1944),
and for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (1944-1955). The collection includes correspondence, speeches, technical
papers, and other material from his work and professional life.
Language of Material: The records are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more
information.
Conditions Governing Use
The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material,
nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and
obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Samuel Brooks Morris papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
Acquisition Information
Gift of John Morris, 1993-1999.
Biographical Note
Samuel Brooks Morris (1890-1962) was born in Los Angeles, California. Upon graduating from Stanford University in 1911 with
a degree in civil engineering, Morris took a job as a field engineer with the North Pasadena Land and Water Company in Pasadena,
California. This company was one of the private water companies that were purchased and merged to form the Pasadena Water
Department (PWD). He was an Assistant Engineer in the PWD in 1912, and became Chief Engineer in 1913. He remained with the
PWD until 1935. While at the PWD, he designed and built the Pine Canyon Dam, later renamed in his honor as Morris Dam. The
Morris Dam was made of reinforced concrete poured 328 feet high and was dedicated by Herbert Hoover in 1934.
Morris was appointed to a civil engineering professorship at Stanford University in September 1935. In May 1936, he became
the Dean of the School of Engineering. In October 1944, Morris was appointed the General Manager and Chief Engineer of the
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LA DWP). Morris worked for LA DWP until his retirement in October 1955.
One of Morris' duties as General Manager of LA DWP was to serve on the Colorado River Board. Near the end of his tenure at
LA DWP, President Dwight Eisenhower offered Morris the position of Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley
Authority. Morris refused the position. After his retirement from LA DWP, Morris continued to consult on engineering projects
until his death on March 6, 1962.
Scope and Contents
This collection contains the papers of Samuel Brooks Morris (1890-1962), a Southern California civil engineer specializing
in water issues. The collection deals primarily with Pasadena and Los Angeles engineering concerns, in addition to some California
and national issues, largely related to water reclamation, dams, hydrogeology, water litigation, and a wide range of related
technical publications. The material consists of a highly diverse mix of manuscripts and printed materials, including correspondence,
maps, notes, charts, fliers, and brochures, often interspersed within each folder. The correspondence is primarily to and
from colleagues, but also includes discussion with government officials at all levels. The collection includes a small number
of photographs.
Processing Information
Processed by Huntington Library staff. In 2000, Douglas B. Nickerson created a finding aid. In 2024, 1 Linear feet of duplicate
publications was removed by Kelly Kress.
Arrangement
Arranged in the following series:
- Consulting (Boxes 1-63, Boxes 156-160, and 175)
- Employee (Boxes 64-83, Boxes 158, 161-162)
- Financial Data (Boxes 84-86)
- Legislative (Boxes 87-93)
- Memberships (Boxes 94-123, 132, 163, and 176)
- Professor (Boxes 124-127)
- Speeches (Boxes 128-129)
- Technical Data and Papers (Boxes 130-140, and 177)
- Personal (Boxes 143-152)
- Miscellaneous Items, Maps and Charts (Boxes 152-155, 164-172-174, 178-180)
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Tennessee Valley Authority
Civil engineering -- California -- Los Angeles County
Civil engineers -- California -- Archives
Water -- California, Southern -- Supply
Water resources development -- California
Water resources development -- United States
California -- History -- 20th century -- Sources
Colorado River Aqueduct
Los Angeles County (Calif.) -- History -- 20th century -- Sources
Pasadena (Calif.) -- History -- 20th century -- Sources
Charts-- United States -- 20th century
Ephemera-- United States -- 20th century
Letters (correspondence) -- United States -- 20th century
Manuscripts-- United States -- 20th century
Maps-- United States -- 20th century
Notes-- United States -- 20th century
Photographs-- United States -- 20th century
Reports-- United States -- 20th century
Speeches-- United States -- 20th century
Technical reports-- United States -- 20th century