O. J. (Oliver Julian) Todd papers, 1899-1973

Collection context

Summary

Creators:
Todd, O. J. (Oliver Julian)
Abstract:
Diaries, speeches and writings, correspondence, reports, memoranda, and photographs relating to engineering projects in China, especially river engineering and flood control; famines and relief work in China; and social, economic and political conditions in China. Digital copies of select records also available at https://digitalcollections.hoover.org.
Extent:
68 manuscript boxes, 22 oversize boxes, 1 small object box, 3 oversize folders (31.2 Linear Feet)
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Oliver Julian Todd papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Background

Scope and content:

Diaries, speeches and writings, correspondence, reports, memoranda, and photographs relating to engineering projects in China, especially river engineering and flood control; famines and relief work in China; and social, economic and political conditions in China.

Biographical / historical:
Date Event
1880 Nov. 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 Asia Development Company
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, to the American Advisory Board of Shanghai, to the Shantung Government on the Yellow River, to the Yellow River Commission, and to 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.S. 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 Jan. 13
Died, Palo Alto, California
Physical location:
Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Microfilm use only except Boxes 58, 60-63, 76-91. Boxes 58, 62, 76-91 may not be used without permission of the Archivist. The remainder of the collection is open for research; materials must be requested in advance via our reservation system. If there are audiovisual or digital media material in the collection, they must be reformatted before providing access.

Terms of access:

For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Oliver Julian Todd papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Location of this collection:
Hoover Institution Library & Archives, Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-6003, US
Contact:
(650) 723-3563