T. W. Mermel papers, 1926-1994 (bulk 1955-1980)

Thaddeus "Ted" Walter Mermel (1907-2000) was a civil engineer for the Bureau of Reclamation. He was born in Chicago and studied electrical engineering at the University of Illinois, where he graduated in 1930. He began his career with the Interstate Commerce Commission but transferred to the Bureau of Reclamation in 1933. There he worked on major water projects in the United States from 1933 until 1973, when he retired as Assistant to the Commissioner for Scientific Affairs. He was also a consulting engineer for the Bureau and the World Bank during the 1970s and 1980s, inspecting foreign governments' electric power projects. Some of these countries included Syria, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia. He was also active in professional organizations such as the American Institute of Electrical Engineers, the American Society of Civil Engineers, CIGRE (International Council on Large Electric Systems), the U.S. Committee on Large Dams (Executive Committee member), and the International Committee on Large Dams (ICOLD) where he served as Chairman of the Committee on the World Register on Dams and Dam Terminology. He was given the Distinguished Service Award by Secretary Stewart Udall in 1965, the highest honor given by the Department of the Interior.