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Morris (Samuel Brooks) Papers
mssMorris, Samuel papers  
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Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • 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:
    1. Consulting (Boxes 1-63, Boxes 156-160, and 175)
    2. Employee (Boxes 64-83, Boxes 158, 161-162)
    3. Financial Data (Boxes 84-86)
    4. Legislative (Boxes 87-93)
    5. Memberships (Boxes 94-123, 132, 163, and 176)
    6. Professor (Boxes 124-127)
    7. Speeches (Boxes 128-129)
    8. Technical Data and Papers (Boxes 130-140, and 177)
    9. Personal (Boxes 143-152)
    10. 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