R.W. Beck and Associates records, 1941-1981

Overview of the Collection

Creator
R.W. Beck and Associates
Title
R.W. Beck and Associates records
Dates
1941-1981 (inclusive)
Quantity
0.97 cubic feet (3 boxes)
Collection Number
4291 (Accession No. 4291-001)
Summary
Records of an engineering firm that was a consultant to public power districts and public utility analysts
Repository
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions

No restrictions on access.

Material stored offsite; advance notice required for use.

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

R. W. Beck, Inc. was a design engineering company focused primarily on public and private infrastructure organizations. The company, though founded in Nebraska, was most recently based in Seattle. It also had offices in several US states and in Singapore. R.W. Beck Inc. was founded in 1942 by Robert W. Beck in Columbus, Nebraska. He was a founding member of the American Public Power Association. In 1954 the company became a partnership, R.W. Beck & Associates, diversifying into new private markets with hydroelectric projects and electrical design and construction management. During 1957, R.W. Beck & Associates helped form the nation’s first Joint Action Agency, Washington Public Power Supply System. Water and wastewater management services were added in the 1960s and solid waste services in the 1970s. The firm incorporated in 1996 becoming R.W. Beck, Inc., a privately held corporation. R.W. Beck Inc. served public and private infrastructure organizations and financiers in the energy, water, wastewater, and solid waste industries. At its peak in the early 2000s, the company employed as many as 650 engineers, economists, analysts, scientists, and other professionals. R.W. Beck's customers included utility organizations, municipalities and other government entities, financial institutions, and private developers and investors. A subsidiary of R.W. Beck Inc., Beck Disaster Recovery Inc, provided emergency management consultancies in hazards mitigation, preparedness/planning, response, recovery and reconstruction services; continuity and emergency operations planning; risk management and mitigation; and training services to local and state government agencies nationwide. R.W. Beck Inc. had approximately sixteen offices in the United States, including key offices in Boston, Denver, Seattle, Orlando, and Nashville; and in 2004, R.W. Beck Inc. established a Singapore office.

In 2007, R.W. Beck Inc. acquired Plexus Research, Inc. a Boxborough, Massachusetts-based technology and management consulting firm that provided utility industry consulting services in the technologies, applications, and economics of advanced energy systems. Plexus specialized in the areas of Advanced Metering Infrastructure and Automatic Meter Reading applications. In 2007, R.W. Beck Inc. acquired Barnes & Click, Inc., a Plano, Texas-based firm that provided consulting services to the hydrocarbon processing industries, including petroleum refining, gas midstream, and petrochemical sectors.

In July 2009, Science Applications International Corporation acquired R.W. Beck, Inc.; and in 2011, R.W. Beck Inc. became part of SAIC's Energy, Environment, & Infrastructure LLC Division, which is now Leidos Engineering LLC.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Reports, ephemera.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Series 1:  Newsletters, 1965-1971Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1
"RW Beck and Associates Newsletter, Analytical and Consulting Engineers"
1965-1971

Series 2:  Reports, 1954-1978Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1
Periodic Survey and Report, Public Utility District (PUD) Snohomish County
1954
1
Feasibility of Hydroelectric and Water Supply Development of Sultan River, Sunset Falls, Lake Isabel
1954
1
Inventory and Valuation of Chelan Service Area Distribution System
1
Engineering Feasibility Report - Power Plant and Utilities System Expansion Program, Farmington, New Mexico
1958
1
Comprehensive Management and Operational Study - Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperation, Wilcoz, Arizona
1960
1
Electric Rate Study - Navajo Tribal Utility Authority, Window Rock, Arizona
1962
1
Electric Rate Study - Anchorage, Alaska
1960
1
Power Supply Study - Gallup, New Mexico
1962
1
Periodic Survey and Report - PUD Okanogan County
1962
1
Engineering Report - Hanford Electric Generating Project, WPPSS
1963
1
System Study and Report - Electric Utility System, Redding, California
1965
1
Additional Generating Capacity at Moccasin Power Plant, Public Utilities Commission, San Francisco, California
1965
2
Periodic Survey and Report, PUD Franklin County
1965
2
Economic Study - Columbus Region for Loup Public Power District, Columbus, Nebraska
1966
2
Periodic Survey and Report, PUD Snohomish County
1966
2
Operating Statistics and Indices of 22 PUDs in Washington
1952-1969
2
Analysis of Operations - Honolulu and Maui Boards of Water Supply
1965-1969
2
Analysis of Operations - Farmington, New Mexico
1965-1970
3
Analysis of Operations - Fairbanks, Alaska
1956-1969
3
Analysis of Operations - PUDS of Chelan County
1957-1970
3
Analysis of Operations - PUDS of Douglas County
1963-1970
3
Analysis of Operations - PUDS of Lewis County
1948-1970
3
Analysis of Operations - PUDS of Pend Oreille County
1956-1970
3
Analysis of Operations - PUDS of Skagit County
1962-1970
3
Analysis of Operations - PUDS of Snohomish County
1949-1978
3
Analysis of Operations - PUDS of Stevens County
1952-1954
3
Report in Respect to Construction - WPSS, Packwood Lake Electric Project
1962-1970
3
Summary and Comments on Operations of the District, Skagit County, Washington
1965
3
Annual Reports - PUD Snohomish County
1970-1973

Series 3:  Writings, undatedReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
3
Writings - Nuclear
"Nuclear Energy for the Utility," by Dr. Emerson Jones, and "Nuclear Fuel: A New Challenge to Utility Management," by Richard F. Corlett
undated

Series 4:  Invitation, 1967Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
3
Invitation
Invitation to the opening of R.W. Beck and Associates' opening of an area offic in Boston, Massachusetts
1967

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Engineering--Washington (State)
  • Public utilities--Washington (State)

Corporate Names

  • R.W. Beck and Associates--Archives

Form or Genre Terms

  • Ephemera
  • Newsletters
  • Technical reports

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)