414 black & white photographic images
documenting Israelsen's long career in irrigation and drainage engineering
(approximately 1900-1960). Included in the collection are images of flooding, laterals,
flumes, headgates, culverts, canal and dam construction, water measuring equipment,
weirs, erosion, diversions, culverts, reservoirs, and terracing. Most of the photographs
were taken in Utah, but many may be from adjoining states and a few are from Italy,
Spain, and Portugal. The first five folders of box 1 deal with Project 211 which was an
experimental undertaking during the 1940s (initiated January 1940 and completed circa
1945-51) which sought to find a more economical method for lining canals and ditches to
prevent water loss and conserve soil.
Repository:
Utah State University. Special Collections and Archives Photograph Collection
Merrill-Cazier Library Utah State University 3000 Old Main Hill Logan, UT 84322-3000 Phone: 435 797-2663 Fax: 435 797-2880 Email: scweb@usu.edu
Languages:
Collection materials are in English.
Sponsor:
Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant,
2007-2008
Biographical Note
Orson Winso Israelsen was born December 25, 1887 in Hyrum, Utah. During Israelsen's
youth he worked on the family farm and attended the local schools in the area. He
enrolled in the Brigham Young College in Logan, Utah in 1906 and graduated in 1910. In
1910 he enrolled in the Agricultural College of Utah (now Utah State University) to
study irrigation and drainage engineering. After graduation he enrolled in the College
of Engineering at the University of California, Berkley in 1912. Two years later he was
awarded a M.A. in Irrigation and Drainage Engineering and he began teaching at the
Agricultural College of Utah. In 1925 he was awarded a Ph.D. in Irrigation and Drainage
Engineering. Israelsen retired from USU in 1954. He died on May 15, 1968 in Logan, Utah.
During the course of Israelsen's career he was highly involved with the UAC?s
agricultural experiment stations and was involved in numerous research projects in Utah,
the American West, Canada, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, India, and South America.
Israelsen was the author of hundreds of published works and his 1932 book, Irrigation
Principles and Practices has become the classic treatise on the subject with a dozen
foreign language translations.
For a detailed account of his personal and professional life researchers should see
Israelsen's autobiography, Forty Years of Sound and Forty Years of
Silence, published in 1968. See Merrill-Cazier Library (HV2534.I8 A3) or
Special Collections (920 Is7).
Content Description
The Orson Winso Israelsen photograph collection consists of 414 images that Israelsen
used to document his long career as a irrigation engineer and drainage specialist.
Included in the collection are images of flooding, laterals, flumes, headgates,
culverts, canal and dam construction, water measuring equipment, weirs, erosion,
diversions, culverts, reservoirs, and terracing. Most of the photographs were taken in
Utah, but many are probably from adjoining states and a few are from Italy, Spain, and
Portugal. The first five folders of box 1 deal with Project 211 which was an
experimental undertaking during the 1940s (initiated January 1940 and completed circa
1945-51) which sought to find a more economical method for lining canals and ditches to
prevent water loss and conserve soil.
Use of the Collection
Restrictions on Access : Restrictions
Open to public research.
Restrictions on Use : Copyright
It is the responsibility of the user to obtain permission to publish from the owner of
the copyright (the institution, the creator of the record, the author or his/her
transferees, heirs, legates, or literary executors). The user agrees to indemnify and
hold harmless the Utah State University Libraries, its officers, employees, and agents
from and against all claims made by any person asserting that he or she is an owner of
copyright.
Permission to publish material from the Orson Winso Israelsen irrigation photographs> must
be obtained from the Special Collections Photograph Curator and/or the Special Collections
Department Head.
Preferred Citation :
Orson Winso Israelsen irrigation photographs, 1900-1960. (P0358). Utah State University.
Special Collections & Archives Department.
Administrative Information
Arrangement :
Arrangement: Topical
Acquisition Information :
This material was given to USU Special Collections & Archives in two
installments. One in July 1968 by Mrs. O.W. Israelsen and the other by the Department of
Agricultural and Irrigation Engineering, represented by Dr. A. Alvin Bishop.
Processing Note :
Photographs and papers in Folders 1-5 were pulled from the Project 211 addendum in MSS
Coll 31. The photographs and papers in folders 6-12 were pulled from a binder labeled
"Photographs-Engineering-Irrigation" New photograph numbers are consistent with original
photograph numbering. The photographs and papers in folders 13-23 were pulled from a
binder labeled "O.W. Israelson Utah Agr. Expo Sta Pro. 157 June 5, 1939." The binder had
the Utah State Agricultural College seal.
Miscellaneous photographs, pulled from papers
concerning Project 211 from the MSS 31 addendum
Container(s)
Description
Dates
box
folder
1
1
1:01:01: Postcard to Mr. O.W. Israelson; picture of a
"Press-Ur-Meter" on the front
March 8, 1950
1:01:02: Men working in a cement lined canal
May 1938
1:01:03: Men working in a canal lined with blocks of
cement(?)
June 1937
1:01:04: A cement lined canal filled with flowing water
February 1938
1:01:05: Group photo with description. "U.S.B.R., SCS
and others who conferred at Logan RE Cooperative Canal Lining Study July 1949."
Men included: M.R. Lewis, F.M.Roush, G.P. South, Woodward, I.B. Hosig, C.W.
Lauritzen, A.W. Bainbridge, E.O. Wilson, T.L. Steele, D.W. Applegate, James
Garton, H.S. Meissner, F.L. Howland, W.W. Rasmussen, and R.E. Rallison
June 3 1949
1:01:06: "Land Use Map" of Northern Utah, Soil
Conservation District
Photos pulled from the "Research Report on Water
Conveyance and Delivery Efficiencies in Relation to Methods and Cost of Lining
Canals"
Container(s)
Description
box
folder
1
2
1:02:01: "Delta-Melville C-Canal experimental section in
process of the application of the clay lining showing W.P.A. men compacting the
lining by hand"
1:02:02: Man controlling a tractor with "a water-filled
cylinder roller used for compacting the clay lining" in a canal
1:13:01: "Salt River Valley pumping plant lifting a
stream of 11.8 sec. ft. from the ground water reservoir. (Courtesy
S.R.V.W.U.A.)"
1:13:02: Three men lining a canal with butyl(?)
1:13:03: O.W. Isrealsen, C.W. Lauritzen, and Barbara
Gibbons in Logan Canyon, picture by B. Chadenet
September 1952
1:13:04-05: Pamphlet, "A Four-Year Tour with the Irrigation
Department of the Utah Agricultural College"
1:13:06: "Erosion from a tributary to the Bear River,
Fairview Idaho. Gully about 300 yards wide, 1/4 mile long, and 100 to 150 feet
deep"
April 22, 1949
1:13:07: Farmer irrigating a field. "Border irrigation
showing how inadequate finishing or floating affects the distribution of
water.."
1:13:08: "An example of border irrigation showing how
the water should spread uniformly... (Soil Conservation Service)"
1:13:09: Corresondence, to O.W. Israelson from Joseph
Rodrigo. Enclosure of leaflet about Friant Dam and information map about
"Central Valley Project-California"
1:13:10: Two pages of descriptions for photographs
labeled "Photos of Italian Scenes from Lettie Rodrigo's files for
O.W.I"
1:14:01: "Joe Rodrigo and dog at Levy Villa near Milan,
Italy"
October 1947
1:14:02: "Russ Smith photographs some ancient ruins
recently excavated, Logo Garda, Italy"
September 1947
1:14:03: "The Grand Canal- buildings on each side are
luxurious private homes, Venice, Italy
September 1947."
1:14:04: "This bridge is lined with shops on both sides
opening into center alley.."
September 1947
1:14:05: "The canal street, Venice, Italy"
September 1947
1:14:06: "Joe Rodrigo and Lettie -Spain/France"
September 1947
1:14:07: "Oxcart and children of Bartola and Juan Ainz,
Llodio, Spain." Joe Rodrigo
September 1947
1:14:08: "Chain and bucket pump- gasoline motor and
adjacent storage tank. Between Madrid and Toledo, Spain"
September 1947
1:14:09: "Chain and bucket well and storage tank. Pump
has gas motor. Between Madrid and Toledo, Spain"
September 1947
1:14:10: "Typical Portugal pumping plant. The ox on a
circular path is blindfolded and unattended. He just goes 'round and round.'"
August 1947
1:14:11: "Portugal pumping plant. Joe and Dad Rodrigo by
a hand derrick, used to pull up...bucketful of water...sometimes worked to
irrigate a field"
August 1947
1:14:12: "Woman tending goats near 900 year old olive
trees. Belmonte, Portugal"
September 1947
1:14:13: Two women walking with baskets of merchandise
on their heads. Portugal
August, 1947
1:14:14: Four women walking with baskets of merchandise
on their heads. Portugal
August, 1947
1:14:15: Man on horseback near large unused water
wheel
1:14:16: O.W. Isrealsen, C.W. Lauritzen, and Barbara
Gibbons in Logan Canyon, picture by B. Chadenet
Copy of 1:13:03
September 1952
1:14:17: A typical diversion weir
1:14:18: A typical diversion weir
1:14:19: "Inlet portal Ephraim Tunnel 45 c.f.s. Man
standing in front of portal
1937
1:14:20: What appears to be a factory, observation
decks;
circa 1940s
1:14:21: "Millard County Drainage District No. 3
Dragline Excavator in operation"
1:14:22: "Millard County Dragline Excavator in
operation"
1:14:23: "Colorado River Boulder Canyon showing site of
the Boulder Dam" (Hoover Dam) construction
1:14:24: "Utah State Agricultural College graduates
employed by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Includes: Clayton Crane, Loran
Morrill, James Mandry, James Doman, Arch K. Hill, Ford Richards, George Birch,
Howard Larson, Cecil Bargeron, Robert Jennings, Uno Engstrum, J. Neil Murdock,
Wayne Cahoon, Owen Olsen, Elvin Rippon, Milton Barrett, J.R. Riter, Mr. Miner,
Legrande Rice, and Alexander Yeates"
1:14:25: "U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Owyhee Dam."
Oregon
1:15:01: Panoramic view of U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
Dam site. Contractor's buildings in center. Reclamation buildings. Probably
Deer Creek
1:15:02: "Altus Project-Main canal, completed section of
canal which was lined...Project Photograph No. A-1095"
1:15:03: "Modern methods and machinery improving and
enlarging Provo Reservoir Canal in a big cut"
1:15:04: "U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Provo River No.
681. Placing reinforcement bars in highway siphon north of Kamas Town business
district. Weber-Provo Diversion Canal"
1:15:05: "U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Deer creek Project.
Pouring concrete in trashrack"
1:15:06: "U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Deer Creek Dam,
showing conduit below trashway. Armstrong in foreground"
1:15:07: "U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Deer Creek Dam
Tunnel outlet," men and pipe pouring concrete
1:15:08: "U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Deer Creek Dam
showing trash rack and conduit for outlet works"
1:15:09-13: These pictures are believed to represent a
large earth dam visited by O.W.I. and A.A. Young, October 6, 1941. At the
Savage River Dam, near Riverside, California
1:15:14: View of Bear Lake, looking toward the
East
1:15:15-20: "Davis and Weber Counties Canal Co. heading.
Photos by Wells A. Hutchins"
1936
1:15:21-22: "Davis and Weber Counties Canal Co. showing
headgate of North Branch, near Ogden. Photos by Wells A. Hutchins"
1936
1:15:23: "Logan, Hyde Park and Smithfield Irrigation Co.
Canal east of USAC Campus"
1936
1:15:24: "Logan, Hyde Park and Smithfield Irrigation Co.
Canal. Logan Canyon in background"
1936
1:15:25-27: "Logan Northern Irrigation Co. Canal at 2nd
North St., North Logan, Utah"
1936
1:15:28: "Cipolletti weir on lateral of Logan Northern
Irrigation Co at 2nd N. St., N. Logan, Utah"
1936
1:15:29: "Irrigating cotton near State College, New
Mexico, by the furrow method"
1:15:30-31: "Home of J.E. Christiansen, Irrigation and
Drainage Engineer, Salinity Laboratory, Riverside, California
October 1942."
1:15:32: "U.S. Regional Salinity Laboratory
Administration Bldg
October 1942."
1:15:33: "U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Shoshone Dam.
Looking upstream
1:15:34: Construction of a tunnel on the "Salt Lake
aqueduct"
