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Elwood Mead papers

 Collection — Box: Communal Collections 10, Placement: 02
Identifier: MSA 173

Scope and Contents

The papers include Purdue publications which feature Mead, publications authored by him, telegrams and condolence letters sent to Mrs. Mead upon Elwood Mead's death.

Dates

  • 1903 - 1936

Creator

Language of Materials

Collection material is in English.

Access Information

Collection is open for research.

Copyright and Use Information

Copyright held by Purdue University or original creator. Consult with Purdue University Archives and Special Collections prior to reproduction of materials.

Biographical Information

Dr. Mead was born in Switzerland County, Indiana in 1858 and entered the field of engineering as rodman at the age of 14. He worked his way through Purdue University by teaching and working for the county as a surveyor, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in 1882 in agriculture, a Master of Science degree in 1888, and an honorary doctorate of engineering degree in 1904. He also received a Civil Engineering degree from Iowa State College, in 1883. After one year as a United States assistant engineer on improvements of the Wabash River, he became professor of mathematics at the Colorado Agricultural College and assistant state engineer. For ten years thereafter he was state engineer for Wyoming, where he wrote the irrigation provision of the new state's constitution. From 1898 to 1907 he was professor of institutions and practice of irrigation at the University of California, also acting as drainage expert for the United States Department of Agriculture. From 1907 to 1915 he served as chairman of the state rivers and water supply commission of Victoria, Australia. On his return to this country he was appointed professor of rural institutions at the University of California and chairman of the state land settlement board. In addition to the far-reaching work he did in the United States his influence extended farther. He was sent to foreign countries that were in need of counsel in his specialty. In Palestine he advised the Zionists regarding the dry lands of the Holy Land. He also served on commissions in Haiti and Cuba and, besides, was an adviser to Mexico, Java, New South Wales, Canada, South Africa and Victoria, Australia. As head of the United States Bureau of Reclamation, to which he was named in 1924 by President Calvin Coolidge, he supervised the construction of the Hoover Dam (then known as Boulder Dam). Within less than two weeks after his death the body of water held back by that construction was officially named Lake Mead in his memory. During his later years Dr. Mead built up his bureau and spent much of his time writing for engineering publications. He was author of "Irrigation Institutions" and "Helping Men Own Farms." He was a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, the British Institution of Civil Engineers and the Cosmos Club. In a letter to the Purdue Engineer, he said: "Although I was a member of the first class in agriculture I always think of Purdue as a great engineering school. It was a satisfaction recently to hear one of the foremost educators of the East designate Purdue as the leading school of engineering."

Extent

0.025 Cubic Feet (One folder)

Additional Description

Arrangement Note

Material type

Subjects

Related Names

Creator

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title
Elwood Mead papers
Status
In Progress
Author
Mary A. Sego and Keertana Marella
Date
2020-03-30
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English
Edition statement
Second edition. Collection description was first completed 2011-05-08.

Revision Statements

  • 2020-03-30: Collection description updated by Keertana Marella

Physical Storage Information

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the Purdue University Archives and Special Collections Repository

http://www.lib.purdue.edu/spcol
Contact:
504 Mitch Daniels Boulevard
West Lafayette Indiana 47907 United States
765-494-2839