Archives West Finding Aid
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Washington State University Albrook Hydraulics Laboratory Research Files, 1957-1996
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- R.L. Albrook Hydraulics Laboratory
- Title
- Washington State University Albrook Hydraulics Laboratory Research Files
- Dates
- 1957-1996 (inclusive)19571996
- Quantity
- 2.5 Linear feet of shelf space, (5 Boxes)
- Collection Number
- Archives 410 (collection)
- Summary
- Hydrological research files and observation records, primarily from around the northwest, conducted by WSU’s Albrook Hydraulics Laboratory. Includes reports from dam modeling, as well as planning for fish spillways.
- Repository
-
Washington State University Libraries' Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections (MASC)
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
Terrell Library Suite 12
Pullman, WA
99164-5610
Telephone: 509-335-6691
mascref@wsu.edu - Access Restrictions
-
This collection is open and available for research use.
- Languages
- English
Historical NoteReturn to Top
While work in hydraulics at WSU dates to at least the early 19-oughts, in the 1950s WSC began working with scale models of dams and water channels, initially built either outdoors or in Quonset huts. The R.L. Albrook Hydraulics Laboratory building was initially built in 1955, with a succession of additions over the next 12 years, and was best known for the use of these dam models to test current / water flow, and to determine best practices for construction and use of those dams. Numerous other projects were conducted there, including research for NASA on use of water for noise reduction in the space program in the 1960s. The buildings offices were emptied in 2022, but research continued to be conducted there afterwards.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The materials consist of correspondence, reports, and data from research conducted or collected by the R.L. Albrook Hydraulics Laboratory at Washington State University, and its affiliated personnel. The bulk of the materials comes from the late 1970s to mid 1990s.
The Laboratory contracted to conduct hydrological research or observations for various organizations. One common methodology was to conduct actual scale models of dams and water channels for pre-construction analysis, and most of the dam-related materials come from that model work. Other materials, such as the Teton Dam failure materials or some of the Pullman photographs or water data, come from observations in the field.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
Copyright restrictions apply.
Preferred Citation
[Item description]
Washington State University Albrook Hydraulics Laboratory Research Files, 1957-1996 (Archives 410)
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
Items are organized alphabetically, either by the location of the project, or by a title when there is no specific location. Where a project or location has multiple folders, those folders are generally ordered chronologically within that project.
Acquisition Information
Dar Neunherz of the Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture donated this collection to the Washington State University Libraries on January 28, 2022, where it was retained as (UA 2022-15). The materials had been stored in the Albrook building over the years, but the building’s offices were being closed and these materials not retained.
Processing Note
University Archivist Mark O’English processed this collection in April of 2023. Approximately 16 boxes of materials were initially dropped off at MASC, but after extensive review, most of that was discarded. A huge chunk of the discarded materials were proposals for projects which never happened, materials originating outside WSU, and published research reports which were available elsewhere and so surplussed. Two boxes of maps were also included, some of which were retained for eventual processing under the same UA 2022-15 identification.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 1 | 1 | Baker Bay flows. | 1988 |
| 1 | 2 | Blackwood Creek, Lake Tahoe, fish passage and habitat improvement. | 1984 |
| 1 | 3 | Boundary Dam. | 1994-1995 |
| 1 | 4 | Boundary Dam. | 1995-1996 |
| 1 | 5 | Boundary Dam model photographs. | 1994-1996 |
| 2 | 6 | Boundary Dam test data. | 1994-1996 |
| 2 | 7 | Capitol Lake reclamation. | 1986 |
| 2 | 8 | Crooked River fish habitat improvements. | 1985 |
| 2 | 9 | Douglas County PUD - fishway pumps at Wells Dam. | 1974 |
| 2 | 10 | Fish guiding efficiency of traveling screens. | 1987 |
| 2 | 11 | Flood hazard area evaluations. | 1976 |
| 2 | 12 | Kingston Crossing - 1967 break. | 1969 |
| 3 | 13 | Kingston Crossing. | 1971 |
| 3 | 14 | Long Lake Dam hydraulic model studies. | 1987-1990 |
| 3 | 15 | Long Lake Dam spillway toe reconstruction. | 1990 |
| 3 | 16 | Project proposal roster. | 1971-1983 |
| 3 | 17 | Pullman First National Bank - channel revisions. | 1971 |
| 3 | 18 | Pullman flood photographs. | 1996 |
| 3 | 19 | Pullman well and water data. | 1957-1970 |
| 3 | 20 | Removal of excess sediment from streams. | 1985 |
| 3 | 21 | Rock Island Dam - fish guidance screens, second powerhouse. | 1987-1988 |
| 3 | 22 | Rock Island Dam - bar screens, second powerhouse. | 1988-1989 |
| 3 | 23 | Rock Island Dam - fishway attraction chimney. | 1989 |
| 3 | 24 | Rock Island Dam - first powerhouse intakes. | 1988-1989 |
| 3 | 25 | Rock Island Dam - first powerhouse. | 1989-1990 |
| 3 | 26 | Rock Island and Rocky Reach dams - migrant fish facilities. | 1981 |
| 4 | 27 | Rock Island and Rocky Reach dams - completion report, working. | 1984 |
| 4 | 28 | Rock Island and Rocky Reach dams - completion report, published. | 1984 |
| 4 | 29 | Rock Island and Rocky Reach dams - completion report, negatives. | 1984 |
| 4 | 30 | Rock Island and Rocky Reach dams - joint fish guidance study plans. | 1987 |
| 4 | 31 | Rocky Reach Dam - intake model. | 1982-1988 |
| 5 | 32 | Rocky Reach Dam - fish guidance screens. | 1987-1988 |
| 5 | 33 | Rocky Reach Dam - second powerhouse intakes. | 1989 |
| 5 | 34 | Rocky Reach Dam - intakes. | 1990 |
| 5 | 35 | Rocky Reach Dam. | 1992 |
| 5 | 36 | Scour at Bridge Piers. | 1988, 1991 |
| 5 | 37 | Spokane River photographs. | 1984-1985 |
| 5 | 38 | Teton Dam failure. | 1976 |
| 5 | 39 | Tongass National Forest, Ketchikan, AK, flows. | 1990 |
| 5 | 40 | WPPSS Nuclear Plant 3 receiving streams. | 1974 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Dams -- Simulation methods
- Hydraulic engineering -- Research
- Hydraulic engineering -- Simulation methods
- Hydraulic laboratories -- Washington (State)
Corporate Names
- R.L. Albrook Hydraulic Laboratory -- Records and correspondence
- R.L. Albrook Hydraulics Laboratory -- Records and correspondence
Other Creators
-
Corporate Names
- R.L. Albrook Hydraulic Laboratory (creator)
Finding aid prepared by Mark O’English
2023
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
