Gilbert Hamilton Hogue was born February 23, 1877, in Excello, Missouri, the son of J. Shannon and Nannie A. (Hamilton) Hogue. The family moved to Moscow in 1892, then to Ahsahka, near Orofino, Idaho, in 1894. They leased Indian land and operated a store, lodging house, and feed barn known as Hogue's half way house.
Hogue graduated from the Idaho Preparatory School in 1896, and received his B.S. in civil engeneering from the University of Idaho in 1900. Following his graduation he workrd as an instrumentman, inspector, and draftman for the city of Moscow, working on city and county streets and highways. Following two months in Cle Ellum, Washington as a draftman for the Cascade Canal Company, he accepted a position with the Bureau of Reclamation in the fall of 1902. His engineering skills were used on many irrigation projects in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington, including the Boise Project (1902-1905; 1908-1916), Minidoka Project (1906-1907; 1927-1934), Flathead Project (1916-1918), and Upper Snake Project (1934-1935). In 1935 he was transferred to California where he worked on the Central Valley Project, Kennett Division (1935-1936), and Friant Division (1936-1946). At the time of his retirement in December 1946 he had the longest record of service of any employee with the Bureau of Reclamation. After his retirement he went into private engineering work for the water districts of Lindsey and Livermoor creating irrigation channels from the main Friant-Kern Canal.
White at the University of Idaho he met Carrie Owings, whom he married in 1904; they had three sons. Carrie died in 1925 and in 1929 he married Anne Carlson. Hogue died in Fresno, California, in 1952.
The papers of Gilbert H. Hogue span the years 1898 to 1952.
Materials donated in 1987 (box 1) comprise some later papers and photographs belonging to his sons, which are included in the collection. The first folder contains a letter from Calvin Warnick with his assessment of the papers, and his transfer of the papers to the library. Also included is a report from the University of Idaho Foundation.
The professional papers include speeches, articles, clippings of articles, the program for his retirement, correspondence, including congratulatory letters on his retirement, and efficiency ratings and salary notices from the Bureau of Reclamation.
Family papers include the Resume of Shannon P. Hogue, and a history of the UNRRA Team 545 (a displaced persons program) by W.O. Hogue, both sons of Gilbert.
The photograph material includes photographs of projects that Hogue worked on and of family, including many of the Wilbur Hogue family taken in Liberia and Egypt. There are also some early photographs of the Hogue family in Missouri and near Orofino.
The bulk of the collection, which was donated in 1996 (boxes 2-4), contains yearly diaries kept by Gilbert Hogue during his school years in Moscow as well as his travels throughout the Northwest engaged as a surveyor and engineer. Besides recording the weather of the day, he also made note of events and people he encountered throughout his life. Many area pioneers are mentioned as well as holiday observations, marriages, epidemics, deaths, and world events. Many of the diaries also contain his cash accounts for the year, news clippings, photographs, and other memorabilia. His son, Shannon Hogue, evidently went through the diaries before they were donated to the university, inserting check marks and commentary throughout.
Diaries for the years 1912, 1914, 1915, 1923, 1929-1932, and 1936 are missing.
Box list.
The manuscript group is open to the public. Researchers must use the collection in accordance with the policies of the University of Idaho Special Collections and Archives.
Consult Head of Special Collections and Archives on permission for use.
Gilbert H. Hogue papers, MG 424. Special Collections and Archives, University of Idaho Library, Moscow, Idaho.
The papers of Gilbert H. Hogue were originally sent to the University of Idaho Trust and Investment Officer R.N. Steele by Hogue's son Shannon, of Kent, Washington, in May 1987. Steele gave the papers to the College of Engineering where retired professor Calvin Warnick saw them and suggested they be sent to the University Library, where they were received in October 1987.
The papers of Gilbert H. Hogue were donated to the University of Idaho Library by his son, Shannon Hogue, in 1987 and 1996.
The papers were processed by Judith Nielsen in July 1990 (box 1) and by Marilyn Sandmeyer in April 2007.
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.