|
|
Contains a file on James P. Espy and his employment
with the Navy; a subject file on meteorology; and textual records
of Charles Wilkes and the U.S. Exploring Expedition, 1838-1842
(Cf. RG-37).
Also: Microfilm # M997: U.S. Navy Department,
General Orders and Circulars, 1798-1862.
RG-46. RECORDS OF THE UNITED STATES SENATE,
1800-1966.
Contains a volume of manuscript U.S. weather
maps prepared by James P. Espy, 1851.
RG-48. RECORDS OF THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY
OF THE INTERIOR.
PI #81. Cartographic
Records, compiled by Laura E. Kelsay (Washington: 1955).
Introduction:
The Department of the Interior was established
by an act of Congress approved March 3, 1849 (9 Stat. 395), in
order to bring into one department the Patent Office, the General
Land Office, the Office of Indian Affairs, and the Office of the
Commissioner of Pensions, all of which were at that time under
other departments. Since its establishment many bureaus and offices
have existed within the Department.
Cartographic Records of Pacific Railroad
Surveys, Transferred from the War Department's Office of Explorations
and Surveys
26. GENERAL SURVEY AND EXPLORATION RECORDS.
1849-58. 105 items. 2 in. Annotated maps and manuscript sketches
of parts of a map of the United States from the Mississippi River
to the Pacific Ocean, compiled 1854-58, to accompany reports of
the explorations for a railroad route. Chart by Lorin Blodget
showing "The March of Temperature Changes" in January
1854 from the east base of the Rocky Mountains to Albion Mines,
Nova Scotia.
RG-54. RECORDS OF THE BUREAU OF PLANT INDUSTRY,
SOILS, AND AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING.
PI #66 compiled
by Harold T. Pinkett (Washington: 1954).
Office and Divisional Records of the Bureau of Plant Industry. 1881-1953. 2,773 lin. ft. These include general correspondence of the Office of Agricultural Technology, 1906-14; records of the Biophysical Laboratory, consisting of general correspondence, 1906-20, and climatological data and soil-moisture records, 1907-17.
Records of the Bureau of Plant Industry
General Records
2. GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE OF THE OFFICE OF
THE CHIEF. 1908-39. 574 ft. Relates to all activities of the
Bureau of Plant Industry. Includes much material relating to development
of new methods of plant culture of handling, and development of
other ideas pertaining to plant production or plant science. Arranged
in numerical order by file number arbitrarily assigned to correspondents
or occasionally to subjects. A select list of subjects and correspondents
with their pertinent file numbers is given in Appendix I. Indexed
terms include: Acclimatization and adaptation of crop plants,
and Weather Bureau.
3. SUBJECT INDEX TO GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE
OF THE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF. 1908-29. 60 ft.
4. MISCELLANEOUS SUBJECT INDEX TO GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE
OF THE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF. 1908-30. 28 ft.
Records of the Biophysical Laboratory
The Physical Laboratory of the Bureau of Plant
Industry was established about 1906. Its name was changed to
Biophysical Laboratory in 1912. In general the objectives of
the Laboratory were the devising of methods for the quantitative
measurement of the physical and physiological factors that modify
crop production and the employment of such methods in determining
the relation of environment to plant growth under different methods
of cultivation. Its investigations involved largely the correlating
with plant growth of such factors as soil and air temperature,
humidity, precipitation, evaporation, amount and distribution
of soil moisture, and the permeability and water holding capacity
of the soil. Many of these investigations were conducted in cooperation
with the Divisions of Dry Land Agriculture and Western Irrigation
Agriculture of the Bureau of Plant Industry and with the Bureau
of Chemistry and Soils.
22. GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE. 1906-20. 13 ft.
Covers all types of investigations conducted
by the Biophysical Laboratory. Arranged numerically on a subject
basis.
23. INDEX TO GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE. 1906-20.
1 ft.
Arranged alphabetically by subject and name
of correspondent.
24. CLIMATOLOGICAL RECORDS. 1908-29. 9 ft.
Contain data concerning the measurement of
precipitation, temperature, evaporation, wind, and other climatic
conditions on experimental farms located at various field stations
of the Bureau of Plant Industry. Arranged alphabetically by name
of locality.
Records of the Division of Fruit and Vegetable
Crops and Diseases
The Division of Fruit and Vegetable Crops and Diseases, created in 1933, was a successor unit of several units or parts of units established in the Bureau of Plant Industry. In 1886 the Division of Pomology was established in the Department of Agriculture to study the adaptation of fruit trees to particular soils and climates and to collect and disseminate pomological information to American farmers. This work was absorbed in 1901 by the Bureau of Plant Industry and placed in a Division of Pomological Investigation. In 1913 these offices were consolidated to form the Office of Horticultural and Pomological Investigations, which later was designated the Office of Horticulture.
Records of the Office of the Chief Chemist
S.W. Griffin was employed by the Department of Agriculture on July 11, 1928, and served as Chief Chemist from 1930 to 1948. He investigated the alleged damage to plants in the State of Washington, which was caused by Trail Smelter fumes emanating from Canada. His findings were submitted to the United States and Canadian Joint Commission, created to settle the United States claims arising from the damage to plant life from the fumes.
Much of Mr. Griffin's work with the Department
of Agriculture was performed at the Wenatchee and Northport, Wash.,
laboratories, where he was in charge of investigations. At the
time of his retirement in 1948, Mr. Griffin was working on a project
for the Atomic Energy Commission to study the effects of hydrogen
fluoride on plant life.
149A. GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE FILE. 1928-48.
4 ft.
Relates to the Trail Smelter arbitration; the
Federal Land Bank at Spokane, Wash.; and the Emergency Crop and
Feed Loan of 1938. Arranged by subject and thereunder chronologically.
149B. NOTEBOOKS. 1927-48. 4 ft.
Contain information on experiments and observations
made by Mr. Griffin. Entries are arranged chronologically.
149C. REPORTS AND RELATED RECORDS. 1928-48.
9 ft.
Mainly reports relating to the Trail Smelter
arbitration, air pollution, the effect of certain chemicals on
plant life, examinations of rain and snow, and wind investigations.
Arranged by subject.
149D. MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS. 1928-48. 2 ft.
Include statistical data, lists of the 1938
Trail Smelter arbitration claims, and an index to Bureau publications.
Arranged by subject.
149E. PUBLICATIONS. 1910-41. 2 ft.
Relate to the Trail Smelter arbitration, geological
survey, the Wenatchee River Basin, and related subjects. Arranged
by subject.
149F. NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS. 1930-42. 2 in.
Arranged chronologically.
Records of the Soil Chemistry and Physics
Research Division
213. RECORDS RELATING TO SOIL MOISTURE STUDIES.
1903. 1 ft. Contain statistical data showing the relationship
of moisture content to the properties of soils. Unarranged.
222. SOIL SURVEY CLIPPINGS. ca. 1912. 3 ft.
Clippings from soil survey publications of
the Agriculture Department relating to agricultural history, climate,
soil types, and other matters. Arranged Alphabetically by subject.
NC-135 (Update), compiled by Herbert J. Horwitz (Washington: November 1965), states that The volume of records in this record group has been increased by several accessions and is 2,897 cubic feet, including 123 cubic feet of photographic records and 10 cubic feet of cartographic records.
PI #187 compiled
by Camelita S. Ryan and Hope K. Holdcamper (Washington 1977).
The records described in this inventory consist
of those in the National Archives of the United States as of June
30, 1974, that originated in the Office of the Secretary of the
Treasury and its subdivisions and those of smaller units performing
services for the Department as a whole. They include correspondence
files, Land Office plats and field notes, 1804-1845. They are
designated General Records of the Department of the Treasury,
Record Group 56, and measure 4,275 cubic feet, including nontextual
records. Related records are in RG-360, RG-233, RG-46 AND RG-51.
27. MISCELLANEOUS LETTERS SENT ("K"
SERIES). 1789-1878. 120 vols. 22 ft. Arranged chronologically.
188. LETTERS RECEIVED FROM THE SMITHSONIAN
INSTITUTION. 1848-1908. 5 in. Arranged chronologically. The
records consist of letters received from the Secretary, Assistant
Secretary and other officials of the Smithsonian Institution relating
to the receipt of books, scientific instruments, and other items
that were part of the Smithson legacy; request that marine hospital
personnel be used to gather meteorological observations; for letters
sent to the Smithsonian Institution see entry 27.
Records Relating to Expositions 1867-1941
Centennial International Exposition, 1876.
The Centennial International Exposition was
held at Philadelphia from May 10 through November 10, 1876, to
celebrate the 100th anniversary of the independence of the United
States. An act of March 3, 1871 (16 Stat. 470), authorized the
creation of a U.S. Centennial Commission to prepare and superintend
the exposition.
Chief Clerk's Office
470. REGISTERS OF APPLICATIONS TO THE BUREAU
OF INSTALLATION FOR EXHIBITION SPACE, 1876. 16 vols. 2 ft.
Arranged numerically by application number
and thereunder chronologically. Each entry gives the number and
date of the application, the name of the exhibitor and its representative,
a description of the articles to be exhibited, the amount of space
desired and granted, and the name of the department or building
in which the exhibition was placed For a list that serves as
a partial index to the applicants, see the records described in
entry 471.
471. LIST OF AMERICAN EXHIBITORS 1876. 1 vol.
3 in.
Arranged alphabetically by name of exhibitor.
Each entry in the list gives the name and address of the exhibitor,
the application number (see entry 470), the catalog number, the
number of the exhibition hall, and the location of the exhibit
with it.
RG-57. RECORDS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.
RECORDS OF THE GEOLOGIC DIVISION, 1867-1951.
269 lin. ft. contain various entries concerning meteorology, 1885-87.
RG-59. GENERAL RECORDS OF THE DEPARTMENT
OF STATE.
Includes the original journals of Charles Mason
and Jeremiah Dixon relating to the Pennsylvania and Maryland boundary
survey, 1763-1768.
RG-72. RECORDS OF THE BUREAU OF AERONAUTICS.
PI #26 compiled
by William F. Shonkwiler (Washington, 1951).
The Bureau of Aeronautics was formally established
on August 10, 1921, and Rear Adm. W.A. Moffett was appointed its
Chief. Contains records relating to weather and flight, 1916-1946.
RG-75. RECORDS OF THE BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS.
PI #163 2
Vols. compiled by Edward E. Hill. (Washington, 1965).
117. RECORD OF DISTRIBUTION OF HENRY B. SCHOOLCRAFT'S
Historical and Statistical Information Respecting the History,
Condition, and Prospects of the Indian Tribes of the United States
ca. 1851-60. 1 vol. 2 in.
Records of the Irrigation Division
658. SUMMARY IRRIGATION DATA SHEETS. 1910-29.
2 ft. Chiefly forms submitted semiannually by superintendents
of irrigation, supervising engineers, project engineers, and other
officials. Information is given concerning the location of projects,
climatic conditions, water supply, irrigable area, construction
cultivation, costs, and other aspects of Indian irrigation projects.
RG-77. RECORDS OF THE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF
OF ENGINEERS.
NM-19 Part
I, compiled by Elizabeth Bethel and revised by Maizie H. Johnson.
The records are in the care of the Office of
Military Archives and amount to about 8,000 cubic feet. Other
records in the National Archives relating to Engineer activities
are in RG-27, Records of Weather Bureau; and in RG-42, RG-48,
RG-76, RG-120, RG-121, and RG-336. Microfilm copies of some of
the letters are available.
Introduction
The present Corps of Engineers originated in
an act of Congress of March 16, 1802, which authorized the President
to organize and establish a Corps of Engineers, not to exceed
20 officers and cadets. This Corps was to be established at West
Point and was "constitute a military academy."
The civil duties of the Office, which have included, at various times, climatological surveys of the Great Lakes etc. The maintenance and improvement of inland waterways and harbors; the formulation and execution of plans for flood control; the operation of certain dams and locks.
For more information see: The Military Engineer XXXIV (June-July 1942): 287-291, 348-352; W. Stull Holt, The Office of the Chief of Engineers of the Army; Its Non-Military History, Activities, and Organization (Baltimore, 1923); William H. Goetzmann, Army Exploration in the American West, 1803-1863 (New Haven, 1959).
U.S. Lake Survey, 1845-1913
348. LETTERS SENT. 1839-45. 2 vols. 4 in.
349. LETTERS SENT. 1856-82. 8 vols. 2 ft.
Arranged chronologically. Name indexes, with occasional subject
entries in each volume.
351. LETTERS RECEIVED. 1856-64. 3 vols. 6
in. Arranged chronologically. Name index in each volume.
354. LETTERS OF ACCOUNTS. 1857-61. 1 vol.
1 in. Arranged by account and thereunder chronologically. Name
index.
358. CATALOG OF LAKE SURVEY CHARTS. n.d.
1 vol. 1 in. Arranged by project.
Office of Explorations and Surveys, 1857-61
359. CORRESPONDENCE. 1857-61. 1 ft.
Arranged by project and thereunder numerically.
360. LIST OF BOOKS IN LIBRARY. n.d. 1 vol.
1/2 in.
Arranged by type of publication.
Office of U.S. Geographical Surveys West
of the 100th Meridian, 1869-83
These surveys were made under the direction
of the Chief of Engineers between 1871 and 1879. The primary
object was the topographic mapping of the country but the scope
of the work was eventually extended to include exhaustive investigations
of geological, zoological, and ethnological matters. With the
completion of the field work in 1879, further responsibility for
the surveys was consolidated in the newly established Geological
Survey of the Department of the Interior. Publication work by
the Office of Chief Engineers, however, continued for a few years.
361. NAME INDEX TO SERIES 362. 1 vol. 2 in.
362. LETTERS SENT. 1874-83. 7 Vols. 1 ft.
363. PRESS COPIES OF LETTERS SENT BY CAPT.
GEORGE M. WHEELER IN CHARGE OF THE SURVEY. 1874 -76; 1878-80;
1882-83. 6 vols. 1 ft Arranged chronologically. Index in each
volume.
365. NAME INDEX TO LETTERS RECEIVED. 1874-82.
1 vol. 1 in.
Letters not found.
366. REGISTER AND DIGESTS OF LETTERS RECEIVED.
1874; 1876-82. 6 vols. 1 ft. Arranged chronologically.
367. LETTERS RECEIVED AND OTHER PAPERS. 1876-79.
1 in.
Arranged chronologically.
368. SPECIAL ORDERS, SPECIAL FIELD ORDERS,
AND CIRCULARS ISSUED BY THE U.S. ENGINEER OFFICE, GEOGRAPHICAL
SURVEYS WEST OF THE 100TH MERIDIAN. 1871-80. 3 vols. 2 in. For
the period 1871-73, arranged chronologically; for the period 1874-80,
arranged by type of issuance and thereunder chronologically.
369. REGISTER OF METEOROLOGICAL FIELDBOOKS
AND GENERAL RECORDS. 1869-80. 1 vol. 1 in. Arranged by type
of record and thereunder numerically. Subject index.
370. METEOROLOGICAL FIELDBOOKS. 1869-78.
107 vols. 5 ft. Arranged by subject (Observation, Aneroid and
Odometer, Aneroid Readings, Meteorological Transcript, Aneroid
Profile, and Barometric Hypsometry), and thereunder numerically.
Registered in series 369.
371. METEOROLOGICAL GENERAL RECORDS. 1871-79.
11 vols. 1 ft. Arranged by subject (Altitudes from Railroad
Profiles, Transcript of Aneroid Profiles, Cistern Barometer Altitudes,
Meteorological Memorandum Book, and Record of Meteorological Instruments).
Registered in series 369.
377. REGISTER OF GEOGRAPHICAL POSITIONS. 1877-79.
1 vol. 2 in. Arranged by year.
381. REGISTER OF ALTITUDES. 1871-74. 2 vols.
1 in.
Volume 1 arranged by seasons and parties, and
volume 2 alphabetically by location.
383. MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS RELATING TO THE SURVEY
OF THE EASTERN BOUNDARY OF CALIFORNIA. 1873; 1876. 1/4 in.
Arranged chronologically.
NM-45, Part
II, compiled by Maizie H. Johnson (1965).
Records of Engineer Districts, 1807-1944 (2,351
lin. ft.) include administrative records, contract and project
files, fields, notebooks, general correspondence, fiscal records,
and river and weather reports.
The expansion of river and harbor improvement
work undertaken by the Corps of Engineers after the Civil War
necessitated the establishment of an increasing number of Engineer
offices throughout the United States. The Engineer officer in
charge of each of these offices was responsible for Engineer functions
within the geographical district of his office and reported for
a while directly to the Chief of Engineers in Washington. General
Order No. 12, dated December 3, 1888, established five division
offices. In 1960 there were 11 divisions under which were grouped
38 Engineer officers, now called district offices. Related records
are in RG-98.
1065. DAILY JOURNAL ON TIDES, WEATHER, AND
WORK DONE AT JAMESTOWN, VA. Mar. 1905-Jan. 1906. 1 vol. 1 in.
Arranged chronologically. Not indexed.
1366. DAILY TEMPERATURE AND WEATHER REPORTS
MADE FOR THE WEATHER BUREAU AT ASHLAND, KY. ("COOPERATIVE
OBSERVER'S DAILY MEMORANDA"). 1925-43. ca. 250 vols. 2
ft. Unarranged.
Subordinate Offices:
Frankfort, Ky., Engineer Office, 1883-1938.
1385. MONTHLY RECORD (1886-1905; 1912-32) AND
WEATHER REPORT AND WORK BOOK (1911-23) OF LOCK AND AM NO. 2, LOCKPORT,
KY. 1886-1932. 8 vols. 6 in. Arranged by type and thereunder
chronologically.
1386. MONTHLY RECORD OF TRAFFIC AND GAUGE AND
WEATHER READINGS OF DAM NO. 3, GEST, KY. July 1886-Dec. 1896;
May 1897-Mar. 1902; Arranged chronologically
Ohio River Dam No. 36, Cold Springs, Ky., 1910-43.
1402. MISCELLANEOUS REPORTS CONCERNING SAFETY,
WEATHER, OPERATION AND CARE, FIRE DRILLS, AND VESSELS. 1929-42.
1 ft. Arranged in subject-labeled packages.
Ohio River Dam No. 38, Grant, Ky., 1919-36.
1410. RIVER WEATHER REPORTS FOR RADIO BROADCAST.
1925-27. 6 in. Arranged by month.
1411. RAINFALL REPORTS FROM DAM NO. 38 FOR
WEATHER BUREAU. 1927-36. 2 in. Arranged chronologically.
Louisville, Ky.. District Office; Owensboro, Ky., Engineer Suboffice, 1904-44.
1418. METEOROLOGICAL REPORTS, GREEN RIVER (LOCK 6). 1917-23. 1/4 in. Arranged chronologically.
Oswego, N.Y., District.
1455. REPORTS OF OPERATIONS AT AND A METEOROLOGICAL REGISTER OF ENGINEER PROJECTS IN NEW YORK HARBORS ON THE GREAT LAKES. 1869- 75. 5 vols. 1 ft. Arranged by harbor (Oswego, Rochester, Little Sodus, Ogdensburg, and Great Sodus). Not indexed.
 |
 |
 |
| Back | Contents | Next |