Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
David Dexter Clarke papers, 1864-1961
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Clarke, D. D. (David Dexter)
- Title
- David Dexter Clarke papers
- Dates
- 1864-1961 (inclusive)18641961
1864-1922 (bulk)18641922 - Quantity
- 0.3 cubic feet, (1 document case, 1 reel microfilm)
- Collection Number
- Mss 1056
- Summary
- The collection consists of narratives written by David Dexter Clarke concerning his professional experiences and personal history, along with notes and some items of correspondence. Clarke (1844-1923) emigrated to Oregon in 1864, and worked as a surveyor and civil engineer in the Pacific Northwest for 53 years. From 1893 until his retirement in 1917, he worked for the water bureau in Portland, Oregon, serving as the head of the department for most of that time.
- Repository
-
Oregon Historical Society Research Library
1200 SW Park Avenue
Portland, OR
97205
Telephone: 503-306-5240
Fax: 503-219-2040
libreference@ohs.org - Access Restrictions
-
Collection is open for research.
- Languages
- English
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
David Dexter Clarke was born in South Hadley, Massachusetts, in 1844. His family was descended from early New England settlers. In 1864, he left school to come to Oregon via the Isthmus of Panama. In the Pacific Northwest, he became involved in surveying and civil engineering, a profession he continued in for 53 years. He went to work for the City of Portland and Multnomah County surveyor when he reached Oregon. After that, he worked as a surveyor and engineer for the Oregon & California Railroad, the United States Surveyor General's Office in Olympia, the Northern Pacific Railroad, and the Tacoma Land Co. He operated his own contracting and engineering business, Clarke and Gray Co., in South Bend, Washington, from 1890 to 1893.
In 1893, he became an assistant to the chief engineer of the Portland, Oregon, water bureau. He became head of the department upon the death of the chief engineer in 1897, and he continued the construction and implementation of the Bull Run water system. He retired due to ill health in 1917.
Clarke married Sarah Eleanor Huntington of Olympia, Washington (then the Washington Territory) in 1875. They had five sons: William Dexter, Ralph Huntington, Irving, Alfred Henry, and Herbert Houghton. Clarke died in 1923.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The collection consists of several narratives written by David Dexter Clarke. One is a journal of his 1864 trip from Amherst, Massachusetts, to San Francisco, California, crossing the Isthmus of Panama on the way. Another is a history of the development of the water supply system for Portland, Oregon. The longest narrative is a memoir of his professional life, including descriptions of many of the other engineers he worked with.
Also in the collection is a biographical narrative in response to a questionnaire, and the notes used to write it. In addition, there is a small quantity of correspondence with the American Society of Engineers, the Portland Water Supply Committee, and the Oregon Historical Society. Portions of the collection are also available on microfilm.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Preferred Citation
David Dexter Clarke papers, Mss 1056, Oregon Historical Society Research Library
Restrictions on 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 InformationReturn to Top
Acquisition Information
David Dexter Clarke sent the bulk of the collection to George H. Himes at the Oregon Historical Society in 1920, according to a letter in the collection. Additional materials were apparently donated by Clarke's widow after his death in 1923.
Processing Note
Collection guide was revised in August 2023 to correct errors and conform to current standard.
Bibliography
The collection was used as the basis for a book: "David D. Clarke, Narratives of a surveyor and engineer in the Pacific Northwest, 1864-1920," by Jerry C. Olson, published in 1995.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 1 | 1 | Account of journey from Amherst to San Francisco
Includes both original journal and edited version begun by D.D. Clarke.
|
1864 |
| 1 | 2 | Biographical and historical notes | 1916-circa 1920 |
| 1 | 3 | Biographical notes, miscellaneous | 1874-1961 |
| 1 | 4 | Correspondence with American Society of Civil Engineers, Oregon Historical Society, and Water Supply Committee, Portland, Oregon | 1882-1920 |
| 1 | 5 | History, "Development of the Water Supply of the City of Portland, Oregon, 1857-1920"; documents related to Water Department expenditures | circa 1917-circa 1920 |
| 1 | 6 | A letter to "Our Dear Children" | 1922 |
| 1 | 7 | Memoir, "Personal Experiences of a Surveyor and Civil Engineer in the States of Oregon and Washington, 1864-1920" (pages 1-49) | circa 1920-1922 |
| 1 | 8 | Memoir, "Personal Experiences of a Surveyor and Civil Engineer in the States of Oregon and Washington, 1864-1920" (pages 50-99) | circa 1920-1922 |
| 1 | 9 | Memoir, "Personal Experiences of a Surveyor and Civil Engineer in the States of Oregon and Washington, 1864-1920" (pages 100-155) | circa 1920-1922 |
| 1 | 10 | Memoir, "Personal Experiences of a Surveyor and Civil Engineer in the States of Oregon and Washington, 1864-1920" - addendum on professional colleagues | circa 1920-1922 |
| 1 | 11 | Document titled "The Struggle for Water in the Great Cities of the United States" | undated |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Engineers--Northwest, Pacific--Biography
- Public utilities--Oregon--Portland
- Surveying--Northwest, Pacific--History
- Surveyors--Northwest, Pacific--Biography
- Water-supply--Oregon--Portland
Personal Names
- Clarke, D. D. (David Dexter)
Form or Genre Terms
- correspondence
- diaries
- local histories
- memoirs
