Collection Summary
Herdman, Robert F.
Robert F. Herdman papers
1905-1972 (bulk 1918-1959)
05380
18.92 cubic ft. (19 boxes)
University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.
English
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.
Biography of Robert F. Herdman
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.
Scope and Content
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."
Access Restrictions
There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the
collection is open to the public.
Copyright Information
The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and
libel laws as they apply.
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 Information
The collection was processed by Kathryn Brooks in April 2012.
Preferred Citation
Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Collection Name, Collection Number,
American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.
Access Terms
United States Reclamation
Service.
Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program
(U.S.)
Water reuse -- Montana.
Water reuse -- Arizona.
Water resources development --
Lebanon.
Water resources development --
Korea.
Dams -- Design and construction --
Montana.
Dams -- Design and construction --
Arizona.
Yellowtail Dam (Mont.)
Bartlett Dam (Ariz.)
Yellowstone National Park.
Diaries.
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Water and Water Rights
Environment and Conservation
National Parks
Container List
Series I. Bureau of Reclamation work
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.
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 work
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 abroad
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 materials
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. Personal
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