Mohawk-Hudson Section

File — Box: 4, Folder: 11

Identifier: II

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

From the Collection: The Thomas Caldwell Adams papers (1905-1971) are extremely varied in content as they represent the accumulation of papers and files resulting from Adams' lifetime of work as a student, teacher, and consulting civil engineer. In each phase of his career, Adams seemed to concentrate on different fields of civil engineering and the broad nature of his chosen profession ensured a variety of projects and, consequently, a variety of subject matters in his personal files.

Adams' favorite field, and his earliest choice, was Hydrology. Although, in later years as a consulting engineer he became involved in electrical engineering, sanitary engineering, and city planning, the major portion of his work involved various aspects of hydraulic engineering. Consequently, a large part of the collection concerns related topics such as his early work on irrigation and drainage of irrigated lands. His work in these areas led him to additional studies such as the inflow and evaporation rate of Lake Mead. However, his most important contribution, and one of the most useful parts of the collection, was in the field of Great Basin limnology particularly his studies of the Great Salt Lake which he carried on over a 30 year period. Adams supervised one of the first modern surveys of the lake participating in the planning for the creation of a fresh-water embayment on the east side of the lake, detecting the first indications of salt migration into the north arm and conducting extensive studies of Saltair Resort. His papers relating to these topics are included in the collection.

The versatility of Adams was noticeable in the broad scope of his work. His career as a teacher is documented by the good records covering curricula, lecture notes, intradepartmental squabbles, as well as notes and papers regarding subjects he taught. In later years, after he left teaching, Adams worked as a consulting engineer, specializing in rural electrification projects. His records from this period are quite extensive and provide an excellent picture of the planning and work involved in remodeling or building a rural electric system.

In addition to his many projects, Adams also accumulated an extensive collection of papers, notes, and correspondence relating to various professional organizations with which he was associated, such as the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Society for the Promotion of Engineering Education. He was quite involved in the subject of curriculum planning for engineering education during the late 1930s. Adams also kept copies of other individuals' studies, reports, and evaluations. For example, many mining property reports and evaluations by E. B. Young are included in the collection.

Other topics covered to a lesser degree in this collection include Adams' drawings and designs for equipment, earthquake studies of Utah, sewage treatment, and the operations of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey in Utah in the 1930s. Studies of Adams' collection can be further enhanced by his extensive photograph collection pertaining primarily to the geography and engineering developments in Utah, Idaho, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, Wyoming and California.

In spite of Adams' seeming desire to save all material pertaining to his professional life, there is vary little relating to his personal life save one brief journal, a handful of correspondence, and some of his financial records.

Also included are a number of maps, charts, and other oversize items related to Adams' studies and projects. These include the Great Salt Lake Diking Project; charts of the Great Salt Lake; and miscellaneous maps and charts.

Dates

1905-1971

Conditions Governing Access

Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.