U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Portland District architectural records
Scope and Contents
The collection consists of diazo and blueprint copies of plans for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Portland District's projects in Oregon and Washington state. The majority of plans relate to the locks at Willamette Falls in Oregon City, Oregon. These plans illustrate the design of the locks as a whole and of individual components for the lock gates. Other plans in the collection are for modifications to a lock and dam on the Yamhill River near Fayetteville, Oregon; a Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway station and water tower in Plymouth, Washington; and gun emplacements at Fort Stevens, Oregon.
Dates
- 1901-1978
Creator
- United States. Army. Corps of Engineers. Portland District (Organization)
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
The Oregon Historical Society owns the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from copyright owners.
Administrative History
The United States Army Corps of Engineers was established in 1802, and in 1824 it was tasked with improving the navigability of rivers and harbors. In 1868, the Corps began work on deepening the ship channel between Portland, Oregon, and the mouth of the Columbia River. The Corps established an office in Portland in 1871. Since then, the organization has undertaken projects to improve the navigability of rivers and harbors, construct hydroelectric dams, and control flooding. In the 1970s, the Corps, responding to concerns about the environmental impact of its work, began employing nonstructural responses to flood control and shoreline erosion problems, such as restoring wetlands and restricting the development of flood plains.
Extent
0.3 Cubic Feet (3 oversize folders (30x42))
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Blueprint and diazo copies of plans for projects in Oregon and Washington, including the Willamette Falls locks; modifications to a dam and lock on the Yamhill River; gun emplacements at Fort Stevens; and a Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway station and water tower. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is a hybrid military-civilian organization that has played a role in developing Oregon's water infrastructure since the 1860s, and which established an office in Portland, Oregon, in 1871.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Spokane, Portland and Seattle station and water tower plans gift of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Portland District, August 1979 (Lib. Acc. 14870). Willamette Falls locks and Yamhill River lock and dam plans gift of anonymous donor, March 1982 (Lib. Acc. 15876). Fort Stevens plans gift of Governor Vic Atiyeh, April 1985 (RL2022-025-RETRO).
Processing Information
Includes materials previously designated Mss 3111-1, Mss 3111-2, Mss 3111-3, and Mss 3111-4. Collection was titled "U.S. Army Corps of Engineers architectural collection" prior to 2022.
- Architectural Drawings
- Architecture
- Fort Stevens (Or.) -- Buildings, structures, etc. -- Designs and plans
- Locks (Hydraulic engineering) -- Oregon -- Willamette River -- Designs and plans
- Locks (Hydraulic engineering) -- Oregon -- Yamhill River -- Designs and plans
- Military architecture -- Oregon -- Designs and plans
- Railroad stations -- Washington (State) -- Plymouth -- Designs and plans
- Spokane, Portland, and Seattle Railway -- Buildings -- Designs and plans
- Water towers -- Washington (State) -- Plymouth -- Designs and plans
- architectural drawings (visual works)
- blueprints (reprographic copies)
- diazotypes (copies)
Creator
- United States. Army. Corps of Engineers. Portland District (Organization)
- Title
- Guide to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Portland District architectural records
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Revised by Jeffrey A. Hayes
- Date
- 2012; revised 2022
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid is written in English.
Revision Statements
- 2022: Revised to conform to current standards.
Repository Details
Part of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library Repository
1200 SW Park Ave.
Portland OR 97205 United States
5033065204
5033065240
libreference@ohs.org