Robert F. Herdman papers

Robert F. Herdman papers, 1905-1972 (bulk 1918-1959)

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Herdman, Robert F.
Title: Robert F. Herdman papers
Dates: 1905-1972 (bulk 1918-1959) (inclusive)
Date of CollectionDate of Collection
Quantity: 18.92 cubic ft. (19 boxes)
Collection Number: 05380
Summary: Contains the papers of Robert F. Herdman, a Bureau of Reclamation engineer who worked on the Bartlett and Yellowtail Dams in the western United States, as well as engineering projects in Korea and Lebanon.
Repository: American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
American Heritage Center
University of Wyoming
1000 E. University Ave.
Dept. 3924
Laramie, WY
82071
Telephone: 3077663756
ahcref@uwyo.edu
Access Restrictions: Access Restrictions
There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the collection is open to the public.
Languages: English
Sponsor: The creation of the EAD-version of this finding aid has been made possible through a grant from the National Historic Publications and Records Commission.

Historical NoteReturn to Top

Robert F. Herdman (1890-1973), an engineer, was a native of Pueblo, Colorado and attended Colorado A&M College with extension studies at the University of Colorado and the University of Wisconsin. He served in the Army during World Wars I & II; during which time he worked as a civilian engineer with the Army Corps of Engineers. His career in engineering spanned many different areas, as he spent time working for the Miami Conservancy District (Ohio), the Illinois Central Railroad Terminal Improvement Project, and Byllesby Engineering and Management Corporation. He worked for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation from 1913-1923 and 1933-1954, where he was in charge of construction of the Bartlett Dam in Arizona and the Yellowtail Dam in Montana from 1936-1938. Herdman also went to Korea in 1950 to study the country's hydroelectric potential and served as project engineer for the Litani River Project in Lebanon from 1952-1954. Herdman retired from the Bureau of Reclamation in 1954 and worked as an engineering consultant with International Engineering Company, Inc. and Chas. T. Main, Inc.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Collection contains materials relating to Herdman's career as an engineer including correspondence files containing reports, plans and newspaper clippings, regarding the Litani River Project in Lebanon and his trip to Korea (1950-1954); materials from his time working as an engineer for the Army; speeches by Herdman on water reclamation and dam construction (1945-1950); maps of Korea (1950); a diary of his trip in Korea (1950); subject files on dam designs, Yellowtail Dam, the Litani River Project and Korea (1927-1957); files from his consulting work; reports by Herdman on water reclamation, Yellowtail Dam, the Litani River Project and hydroelectric power in Korea (1942-1960); photographs of Yellowtail Dam (1966) and Bartlett Dam during construction (1937-1939); and manuscripts by Herdman, "The Development of the Reclamation Service" and "History of Yellowstone National Park."

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

Preferred Citation

Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Collection Name, Collection Number, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Related Materials

There are no known other archival collections created by Robert F. Herdman at the date of processing.

Acquisition Information

This material was received from Jean Sudduth (daughter) in 1973.

Processing Note

Processing Information

The collection was processed by Kathryn Brooks in April 2012.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series I. Bureau of Reclamation workReturn to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box
8	Alaska - Eklutna Project	1948 October
6	Appendix A - Estimating Data	1942-1959
16	Arch dam design	1927-1937
18	Arch Dams - Denver office forms for trial load computations	undated
12	Articles for publication	1949
12	Bartlett Dam Grouting memo	1937
18	Bartlett Dam Salt River Project binder (empty)	circa 1936
14	Bartlett Dam	circa 1939
12	Bid Opening	1948
5	Binder - concrete calculations & related	circa 1912-1913
14	Binder - concrete notes	circa 1915
9	Binder - Dams, Reservoirs, Hydroelec. Plants in U.S.	1943-1944
8	Binder - Manual - Power	1947-1948
18	Binder - Milk River Project information	undated
14	Binder - summarized report - Yellowtail Dam	undated
11	Binders - USBR work (2)	1944-1948
13	Boysen Dam notes	1949
13	Boysen evaluation miscl. data	1943-1949
13	Boysen Unit	1948-1950
12	Bunston et al	1948
11	Canals & Related Structures - Design Supplement No. 3 to Part 2 Engineering Design of Vol. X Design & Construction	1952 April 17
16	Central Valley Project - Fixed-fee construction contract	circa 1940-1943
14	Charts 1-150	1909-1923
3	Concerning the Heat of Setting of Cement by Dr. R. Sandri	1934 June 20
7	Concrete Building Design Data	1943-1944
16	Construction & Cost Data	1940-1958
2	Cost Data	1955-1957
13	"Cost of Doing Business,"	1950-1951
15	Costs & Cost Keeping	1921-1944
14	Cylindrical side channel computations	1934-1935
18	Dams - tech memos - multiple arches, buttresses, etc.	1932-1939
10	Dams and Control Works	1938 February
13	Design Criteria for Concrete Gravity & Arch Dams	1953 October
13	Efficiency reports	1944-1948
13	Engineering Data & Basic Facts - Missouri River Basin Project - Boysen Unit - Joint Statement by Herdman & Barry Dibble	1949 October
10	Engineering Monographs	1959-1960
3	Field Manual for Rolled Earth Dams	1947 November
3	Final Report - Bartlett Dam - General Report	1939 November 10
3	Final Report - Bartlett Dam - Supplement on Arch and Buttress Forms	1939 August 15
3	Final Report - Bartlett Dam - Supplement on Concrete Shrinkage and Foundation Settlement	1939 October 4
3	Final Report - Bartlett Dam - Supplement on Field Computations & Drawings for Arch Cut-Offs & Partial Arches	1939 August 16
3	Final Report - Bartlett Dam - Supplement on Foundation Rocks, Excavation, Grouting, and Drainage	1939 September 20
3	Final Report - Bartlett Dam - Supplement on Spillway Gates and Control Structure	1939 August 18
3	Formulas for Simple Frames Translated from Kleinlogel's Rahmenformeln	1942 November 2
12	Government camp	1947-1949
3	Guide for Preliminary Design of Arch Dams	1966
17	Hardin Unit - Yellowtail Dam - Division & Specifications Data for Government Camp	1947 June 30
12	History of negotiations with Crow tribe for site for Yellowtail Dam & Reservoir	circa 1948-1949
17	Huntley Project, Montana	1905-1916
12	Indian Affairs - Presentation of Resolution - Crow Tribal Council	1948 May 13
12	Indian Affairs - Yellowtail brief & proposition	1948
12	Indian Affairs	1948-1949
12	Irrigable areas - Hardin Unit	1950, undated
10	Lead Study - System Development Wholesale Electric Rates of the Nebraska Public Power System	1947-1948
6	Manual Volume VI -- Power	1947-1954
18	Manual Volume X Design and Construction	1950-1952
6	Mathematical Theory of Electricity	1934 March 14
14	Memoranda by Ivan E. Houk	1930
17	Milk River Project - Connolly Dam	1919-1920
12	Miscellaneous - Yellowtail Dam	1946-1949
15	Miscellaneous bulletins	1940 July 25
6	Miscellaneous data on dams, spillways, tunnels, etc.	1936-1966
13	Miscellaneous maps & publications	1944-1947
15	Miscl. buildings	1932-1936
12	Miscl. Correspondence	1947
16	Miscl. Diagrams & Tables	1913-1935
10	Missouri Basin Project - Heart River Unit - Dickinson Subunit - detailed report	1947 October
12	Missouri River Basin/Yellowtail Dam investigations	1948-1954
10	Natural Resources Development Administration & Execution	undated
6	Notes on Movement Distribution	circa 1935-1938
12	Organization	1947-1949
15	Pertinent Hydrological Data for Definite Project Plan (continued)	undated
17	Photographs - Bartlett Dam miscellaneous prints	circa 1934-1940
12	Photos	1949, undated
15	"Prevention of Scour and Dissipation" by A. Schoklitsch	1937 May 15
4	Proceedings of Training Conferences on Earth & Concrete Control & Allied Subjects	1947-1948
13	Progress & Control	1944-1947
3	Project Planning Estimating Data	1947 July
2	Reclamation Manual Volume X Design and Construction Design Supplement No. 2, Treatise on Dams	1950
16	Rental Rates for Contractors' Equipment Required for Use under Extra Work Orders Prepared on the Basis of Payment at Cost Plus	1936 April 10
13	Report of the Evaluation of the Boysen Dam & Power Site by Herdman	1949 August
5	Report on Upper Snake River Storage Investigations - Volume I Snake River Above Idaho Falls	1935 June
12	Schedules - maps - etc.	1946-1949
11	Specifications - Yellowtail Dam & Power Plant	1961
17	Standard Hoist & Gate Designs	1919-1921
14	Tech memos - hydraulics	1927-1944
16	Tech. memoranda - hyd. model studies - spillways	1934, 1936
6	Tech. Memos - Pressure Grouting	1936-1937
15	Technical memoranda - earth dams & embankments	1934-1936
17	Technical memoranda (miscl.)	1933-1935
15	Technical memoranda	1935, 1937
15	Technical memos - hydraulic model studies - spillways	1934-1939
6	Technical Memos - Reinforcing Steel & Concrete	1932-1940
12	Travel authorization	1954
15	USBR Costs for Calendar Year 1938 - All Projects	1939 May
18	USBR level book (blank)	undated
11	USBR misc.	1919-1947
12	Yellowtail addresses	1950
17	Yellowtail Dam	1956-1966
12	Yellowtail Eval. Report	1950 February 2
12	Yellowtail gov. camp	1947
12	Yellowtail hearing	1954-1961
12	Yellowtail Pumping plant	1949
1	Yellowtail Unit-Montana Lower Big Horn Division Definite Plan Report Appendices I-III, IV	1950 January
1	Yellowtail Unit-Montana Lower Big Horn Division Definite Plan Report Volumes I-II	1950 January

Series II. International Engineering, Inc.Return to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box
1	Memorandum Report on Bear River Project Irrigation and Hydroelectric Developments for Nevada Irrigation District (2)	1957 March 6
18	M-K - International	1955-1959
17	Nevada Irrigation District	1943-1957
13	Personal (International Engineering)	1955-1957
3	Preliminary Report on Hydroelectric Developments Upper Yuba & Bear Rivers	1957 April
1	Preliminary Report on Proposed Dry Creek Dam and Reservoir	1955-1956
10	Report on Preliminary Studies of Furnas Project - Comparison of Alternate Schemes	1955 September
5	Report on Sumjin Gang - Tongjin Gang Multiple Purpose Project - Republic of Korea	1949 July
5	Tinajones Project - Chancay River Basin - Report on Preliminary Planning & Economic Justification	1956 November
4	Tres Marias Project Final Design Report	1956 May

Series III. Army workReturn to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box
18	Air Service Command Engineer manual	circa 1944
3	Airfield Construction	1942-1943
18	Army Corps of Engineers Orders & Regulations - Chapter II: Records & Publications	1942
18	Army Regulations	1942-1943
5	Binder - Hydraulics	circa 1918-1949
4	Cherry Creek Dam and Reservoir Analysis of Design (2)	1944 September
4	Cherry Creek Dam and Reservoir Definite Project Report Appendix III Geology & Soils Data	1944 January
4	Cherry Creek Dam and Reservoir Definite Project Report	1944 January
5	Concrete Airport Pavement	1941-1942
5	Concrete Information for Col. Robert A. Herdman from Western Portland Cement Association (2)	1938-1943
5	Concrete Information for District Engineer Office from Western Portland Cement Association (2)	1938-1943
16	Disaster Relief Plan - District No. 6 - Colorado & Wyoming	1944 May
19	General Drawings 1000 & T.O. 1000 Series Special Buildings at Army Air Force Projects for Use in Continental U.S.	1941-1943
3	Manual for Control Officers Volume I Fundamentals of Control	1942
3	Manual for Control Officers Volume III Work Simplification	circa 1942
10	National Emergency Specifications for the Design, Fabrication, & Erection of Stress Grade Lumber & its Fastenings for Buildings	1943 August 9
19	Plans for Cherry Creek Dam & Appurtenant Work	1944 September 30
4	Specifications for Construction of Cherry Creek Dam and Appurtenant Work (2)	1944 September
19	Standard Office Details reference book	1941 March 3
19	Typical Designs of Timber Structures	1936-1942
16	U.S. Army (excess file)	1918-1951

Series IV. Work abroadReturn to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box
3	1957 USOM Report - Lebanon	1957
12	Agreements	1953
13	Annual Economic Report - Republic of Korea - 1949	1950
18	Binder - Litani Project	1952-1954
12	Chas T. Main Folio	1954-1955
9	Development Plan for the Litani River Basin, Volumes I-III & Appendices	1954 June
13	Diary (Korea)	1950
13	Foreign activities - instructions	1950
17	Korea addresses	1949-1965
13	Korean Hydroelectric Power Feasibility Investigation - 1950	circa 1947-1950
13	Korean Projects Data	1947-1950
12	Lebanese travel info.	1948, undated
18	Lebanon & Israel - notes & lectures	1952-1967
12	Litani - Chas. T. Main, Inc.	1954-1955
12	Litani - correspondence Lebanese government	1951
12	Litani - general	1950-1955
12	Litani - program details	undated
11	Litani information	circa 1952-1953
12	Litani project	1951-1955
12	Litani report supplements - transmittals, etc.	1951, undated
9	Litani River Project Reconnaissance Report	1951 June
13	Litani River Project, Lebanon - Reconnaissance Report	1951 June
13	Miscl. Correspondence - Foreign Activities - Army, etc.	1950-1954
13	Plan of Development - Litani River Basin, Lebanon - Preliminary Summary	1954 January 6
3	Proposal on the Litani Project for the National Office of the Litani	1955 April
10	Report & Recommendations on the Operation & Maintenance of the Soldaña & Coello Projects; Department of Tolima, Columbia	1953 February
4	Report on Development Plan for the Buyuk Menderes River Basin	1952 February
3	Report on Development Plan for the Gediz River Basin…Volume I	1950 March
3	Report on Reconnaissance of Kum Gang Multiple-Purpose Project, Chungju-Yoju Hydroelectric Project, Hongchon-Chunchon Hydroelectric Project, Imkei Hydroelectric Project in the Republic of Korea	1950 June
13	Report on Reconnaissance of Kum Gang Multiple-Purpose Project, Chungju-Yoju Hydroelectric Project, Hongchon-Chunchon Hydroelectric Project, Imkei Hydroelectric Project in the Republic of Korea	1950 June
2	Republic of Viet-Nam Water Resources Part A - Master Development Plan	circa 1960
2	Viet Nam Computations Book No. 1	1959-1960
2	Viet Nam Computations Book No. 2	circa 1960
5	Viet-Nam Water Resources Master Plan & Project Planning Reports	1960
6	Vietnam water resources project	circa 1959
17	Viet-Nam	1955-1967

Series V. Printed materialsReturn to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box
1	Accounting Manual - Departments of Power - Tennessee Valley Authority	1937-1941
15	Allocation of Costs - Multi-Purpose Projects - Flood Damages & Benefits	1934-1943
10	American Concrete Institute publications	1951, 1959
5	An Introduction to the Building Labor Calculator	1923
16	Appendix III - Senate Document no. 191, 78th Congress 2d Session - Conservation, Control, & Use of the Water Resources of the Missouri River Basin	1944
18	Arch dam analysis	circa 1928-1931
3	Army Corps of Engineers - Report on Stockton Runway Test Section	1942
1	Army Corps of Engineers Manual for Administration of Cost-Plus-A-Fixed Fee Construction Contracts	1951 January 1
17	ASCE Journal of the Power Division	1961-1962
18	ASCE papers & discussions	circa 1929
10	ASCE publications	1927-1961
8	Binder - Textbook, Laboratory Manual, & Assignments - Integrative Speech	1946
16	Booklet - "You can be a civil engineer and here's how to start!	1957
5	Bureau of Power - Information for Staff Use in Estimating Electric Power Costs & Values	1955 November
16	Byllesby Engineering & Management Corporation Designing Data - Masonry, Steel, & Timber Structures	1927 August 1
15	California Oregon Power Co. Prospect No. 2 Hydro Plant	1927
15	Civil Engineering	1957
6	Clippings	1939-1965
16	Colorado State - Highway Department Equipment Rental Rates	1938
5	Concrete files (in envelope)	circa 1940
6	Concrete files (in envelope)	1931-1942
18	"Curved Spillway Channels" by D.A. Dedel	1938
14	Denver Ordnance Plant - Engineering Data Report	1942 July 24
7	Engineering News-Record	1965, 1972
2	Federal Power Commission memo No. 12 Derivation of Procedures and Methods of Presentation Prescribed for Use in Determining the Annual Cost and Value of Power	1947 January 31
3	Handbook for Washington Town Officials, Municipalities of the Fourth Class	1961 August
18	"Hydraulic Design of Curved Tapered Open Channels" by A.W. Garnell	1938
17	Illustration - Colo. State College Civil & Irrigation figure	1914
15	Integrated River Basin Development - United Nations	1958
4	Manual of Standard Practice for Detailing Reinforced Concrete Structures	1957
6	Methods for Investigating & Planning the Comprehensive Utilization of the Power Resources of Streams by F.A. Renner	1936
7	Miscellaneous Data Volume I	1941-1951
7	Miscellaneous Data Volume II	1946-1951
15	Miscl. hydro prints	1931-1932
17	Miscl. prints - Illinois Central R.R. Chicago & Byllesby	1924-1928
14	Model computations	1934
2	New River Bluestone Reservoir Project Power Possibilities	1936 September 1
15	Northern States Power Co. Chippewa Falls hydro plant	1927-1928
12	Official Statement - Power Authority of the State of New York - General Revenue Bonds	1954 December 21
1	Papers & talks - Construction Engineers' Conference	1950 February
1	Peerless Pumps	1952
13	Plat of Survey of the Crane Lake	1918 February 4
15	Pole Foundations as Developed by I.C.R.R. in connection with their terminal electrification	undated
3	Portland Cement Association publications	1942, 1958
3	Preliminary Selection of Hydraulic Turbines & Powerhouse Dimensions - Tennessee Valley Authority	1941 June
2	Properties of Composite Sections for Bridges and Buildings	undated
14	Research materials	circa 1914-1961
5	Rock Tunnel Methods - Drilling, blasting, excavating, transportation, ventilation, & lining	1931
6	Soil cement	1940-1942
15	Steel towers for power lines	1931-1932
14	Studies - methods of excavating Miami Conservancy District	1917
17	Tables & diagrams	undated
10	Technical reports - The Miami Conservancy District	1916-1920
10	Tentative Specifications for Cement-Treated Base	circa 1942
11	The Crow Tribe of Indians v. the USA	1960
15	Tower Line Design Data	1931
11	USDA bulletins - irrigation	1914-1920
10	USDA Technical Bulletins	1930-1939
2	War Department Office of the Chief Engineers Engineering Manual Volumes I-III	1943-1944
15	Water Use & Agr. Economics	1951-1955
16	Wood Pole Lines for Power Transmission	1930-1932

Series VI. PersonalReturn to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box
17	A.S.C.E. & practice manual	1949-1963
13	Alumni	1945-1948
6	"Analysis of Circular Arches of Variable Thickness" by Herdman	1932 May 3
16	"Analysis of Circular Arches of Variable Thickness" by Herdman	1932
12	Applications	1947
7	Binder - 1 Est. & Bid	1933-1936
7	Binder - 2 Est. & Bid	1926-1939
8	Binder - Analytic Soil Mechanics	1939
11	Binder - computations for construction	circa 1922-1931
7	Binder - Concrete…technique	1935-1944
7	Binder - Construction, Computations, Surveys, Miscellaneous	1937-1944
7	Binder - Dams & Power Plants	1930-1940
7	Binder - Design	1937-1944
11	Binder - notes	circa 1919-1940
7	Binder - Photographs - Denver Ordnance Plant	undated
8	Binder - Spillways	1925-1940
8	Binder - Standards & memoranda	1926-1935
8	Binder - Structural Design A-H (inclusive)	1919-1949
8	Binder - Structural Design I-Z (inclusive)	1919-1949
10	Binders - Costs (2)	circa 1930-1943
8	Binders - Organization (2)	1942-1947
4	Concrete notes	1927-1928
16	Crane Lake Game Preserve reports	1917-1930
16	Curves for Arch Dam analysis	undated
17	Dale H. Rea & Assoc.	1963
17	I.C. A. International Coop. Adm.	1955-1959
1	Lecture notes (bound)	circa 1945
4	Manuscripts	undated
17	Negotiated Contracts	1940, 1942
17	Notes on Arch Dams - computations for Arch Dam Curves for Arches with Circular & Variable Thickness	circa 1930
16	Original write-up on Arc Dams (pencil notes)	undated
4	Personal file	1938-1945
18	Personal	1947-1969
1	Personnel Actions - Record of Service, etc.	1951-1956
17	Problems - arches	1939
17	Professional Engrs. Exam & Practice	1952-1970
17	Ralph M. Parsons Co.	1959-1965
11	Research materials - concrete	1941-1969
11	Research materials - general	1926-1963
11	Research materials - timber	1942-1963
12	Speeches	1945-1950
11	Underground power plants	1948
13	Warren property	1947-1948

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