Guide to the Records of the Rocky Mountain Hydrologic Research Center

Prepared by Cynthia Rand


Colorado State University Water Resources Archive
Morgan Library, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523-1019 USA


A joint project of the University Libraries, the Colorado Water Resources Research Institute and the Colorado Agricultural Archives


Copyright 2002; 2003 Colorado State University. All rights reserved.
Colorado State University logo
Finding aid encoded in EAD Version 2002 by Jerry W. Hudson, 2003.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Collection Summary

Restrictions

Index Terms

History

Scope and Contents

Arrangement

Administrative Information

Series Descriptions

Inventory

Collection Summary

Creator: Rocky Mountain Hydrologic Research Center
Title: Records of the Rocky Mountain Hydrologic Research Center
Dates: 1933-1995
Quantity: 4.5 linear feet
Identification: WRMH
Abstract: Chesley J. Posey founded the Rocky Mountain Hydraulic Laboratory in 1945 in Allenspark, Colorado. The laboratory served as a summer residence for students and professionals interested in water experiments. In 1991, the laboratory's name changed to the Rocky Mountain Hydrologic Research Center. The collection consists of documents created in relation to the Center's meetings, operations, research and other activities. Materials include minutes, agendas, correspondence, tax forms, receipts, bank statements, notes and publications.
Contact Information: Water Resources Archive
Archives and Special Collections
Morgan Library
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, Colorado 80523-1019 USA
Phone: 970-491-1844
Fax: 970-491-1195
Email: specialcollections@library.colostate.edu
URL: http://lib.colostate.edu/archives/water/

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Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

There are no access restrictions on this collection.

Restrictions on Use

Not all of the material in the collection is in the public domain. Researchers are responsible for addressing copyright issues.

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Index Terms

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the Colorado State University Libraries online catalog. Researchers seeking materials about related subjects, persons, organizations or places should search the catalog using these headings.
Subjects:
Hydrological stations--Colorado.
Hydrology research--Colorado.
Persons:
Posey, Chesley J.
Organizations:
Rocky Mountain Hydrologic Research Center.
Special Document Types:
Minutes.
Photographs.

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History

Chesley J. Posey founded the Rocky Mountain Hydraulic Laboratory (RMHL) in 1945 in Allenspark, Colorado. He discovered the location during a summer he lived in Estes Park. The Articles of Incorporation stated the purpose of the laboratory: "To establish and maintain facilities for the conduct of scientific experiments in hydraulics and related fields, to foster the carrying out of such experiments, and to inform the engineering profession of the results of the investigations undertaken." The laboratory served as a summer residence for students and professionals interested in water experiments.

Posey received his bachelor's degree in 1926 from the University of Kansas and his master of science from the University of Illinois at Champagne-Urbana in 1927. He started teaching at the University of Iowa in 1929 and was head of the Department of Engineering from 1949 to 1962. In 1962 he taught in the University of Connecticut's engineering department until his retirement. He died in 1991 in Iowa.

In 1985 the USGS took the responsibility of RMHL. Due to the laboratory's inactivity for a few years, a disagreement of the laboratory's goals, and the need to pass on Posey's responsibilities, the Trustees decided to ask the United States Geological Survey (USGS) of the Department of the Interior to take over the operation of RMHL.

In 1991 the laboratory's name changed to the Rocky Mountain Hydrologic Research Center to reflect "the organization's capability of conducting a broad range of hydrologic and environmental science investigations in headwater areas of the Rocky Mountains."

Information on the history of the Rocky Mountain Hydraulic Laboratory was taken from Research in the Rockies: An Historical Retrospect of the Rocky Mountain Laboratory and the Rocky Mountain Hydrologic Research Center by the Colorado Water Resources Research Institute, research and writing by Jill Marsh, located in this collection.

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Scope and Contents

The Records of the Rocky Mountain Hydrologic Research Center consists of documents dated from the 1930s to 1995 and created in relation to the Center's meetings, operations, research and other activities.

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Arrangement

The materials in this collection were rearranged into the following series.

The collection consists of four series in three boxes:

Series I: Rocky Mountain Hydraulic Laboratory Trustees papers, 1939-1995
Series II: Facilities, 1946-1991
Series III: Financial, 1945-1985
Series IV: Research and publications, 1933-1995

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Records of the Rocky Mountain Hydrologic Research Center, Water Resources Archive, Colorado State University.

Acquisition

The Water Resources Archive acquired this collection in July 2001 from the Colorado Water Resources Research Institute.

Processing

Processing completed in January 2002 included removal and disposal of duplicate forms and publications beyond the second copy. The collection was also reboxed.

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Series Descriptions

Series I: Rocky Mountain Hydraulic Laboratory Trustees papers, 1939-1995
This series consists of minutes, agendas, and correspondence. Folders are arranged alphabetically, and then chronologically.

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Series II: Facilities, 1946-1991
The series contains information regarding the land and equipment used by the Rocky Mountain Hydraulic Laboratory. Folders are arranged alphabetically.

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Series III: Financial, 1945-1985
The series consists of IRS yearly tax forms, receipts, and bank statements. Folders are arranged chronologically.

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Series IV: Research and publications, 1933-1995
The series consists of research computations, notes, and correspondence, as well as publications of RMHL based on their research findings. The publications are numbered in order of the publications list located at the beginning of the series. The remaining correspondence and data are in chronological order. A history of the Rocky Mountain Hydraulic Laboratory written in 1995 is located at the end of the collection with an audiocassette of interviews. Additionally, a publication about the Rocky Mountain Hydrologic Research Center created by the Colorado Water Resources Research Institute contains copies of the Research Center's Incorporation papers, trustees, publications, and map access routes to the Center.

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Inventory

Note: Supplied information is bracketed. Estimated pagination is preceded by an "e." Two identical copies of the same item are indicated by the phrase "2 copies" at the end of the entry, following the number of pages of each copy. Authored articles, books and studies are listed in bibliographic form.

Series I: Rocky Mountain Hydraulic Laboratory Trustees papers

Box Folder
1 1 Agendas/Minutes of Meetings. 1978-1991. e70pp.
1 2 Announcements of Annual Meetings. 1946-1984. e40pp.
1 3 Annual Meeting, Mailing List. 1982-1983. e50pp.
1 4 Articles and Bylaws. 1945, 1947, 1982. e40pp.
1 5 [Articles of Incorporation, By-Laws and USGS Agreement]. 1945, 1985, 1992. e20pp.
1 6 Attendance at Annual Meetings, [with photographs]. 1950-1981. e35pp.
1 7 Colorado Registered Agent. 1989. 4pp.
1 8 Colorado Secretary of State Fall 1971 correspondence. 1971 . e30pp.
1 9 [Contracts, correspondence, articles on water, insurance]. 1960s-1980s. e30pp.
1 10 Corporate Report, odd years. 1972-1981. e70pp.
1 11 Correspondence. 1939-1952. e130pp.
1 12 Correspondence. 1953-1960. e130pp.
1 13 Correspondence. 1961-1973. e80pp.
1 14 Correspondence. 1974-1982. e100pp.
1 15 Correspondence. 1983-1984. e150pp.
1 16 Correspondence. 1985-1991. e100pp.
1 17 First Four Annual Meetings, correspondence, attendance lists. 1946-1952. e60pp.
1 18 Insurance. 1984-1985. 10pp.
1 19 Matthes correspondence. 1964. 1p.
1 20 Posey Second Donations to Memorial Fund [with Posey obituary]. 1991. e100pp.
1 21 Posey, C.J. - R.W. Powell, Secretary. 1966-1973. e80pp.
1 22 R.W. Powell, Secretary. 1953-1973. e200pp.
1 23 RMHL correspondence. 1963-1977. e120pp.
1 24 RMHL Minute Book. 1945-1970. e200pp.
1 25 RMHL Minutes. 1963-1987. e130pp.
1 26 RMHL Papers [History of RMHL, Letter to Trustees]. 1958. e30pp.
1 27 RMHL [Trustees and Officers]. 1950-1990. e40pp.
1 28 RMHL Trustee's Meeting. 1991 March-1992 January. e130pp.
1 29 Roster. 1984-1990. e200pp.
1 30 Trustee Liability. 1987-1989. 10pp.
1 31 Workmen's Compensation Act Notices and Forms, Posters, Policy. 1968-1974. e40pp.
1 32 Trustees Meetings. 1963. 5pp.
1 33 Trustees Meetings. 1964. e20pp.
1 34 Trustees Meetings. 1965. e30pp.
1 35 Trustees Meetings. 1966. e15pp.
1 36 Trustees Meetings. 1967. e30pp.
1 37 Trustees Meetings. 1968. e30pp.
1 38 Trustees Meetings. 1969. e40pp.
1 39 Trustees Meetings. 1970. e30pp.
1 40 Trustees Meetings. 1971. e20pp.
1 41 Trustees Meetings. 1972. e40pp.
1 42 Trustees Meetings. 1973. e20pp.
2 1 Trustees Meetings. 1974. e30pp.
2 2 Trustees Meetings. 1975. e40pp.
2 3 Trustees Meetings. 1976. e40pp.
2 4 Trustees Meetings. 1977. e30pp.
2 5 Trustees Meetings. 1978. e40pp.
2 6 Trustees Meetings Corporate Report Year. 1979. e30pp.
2 7 Trustees Meetings. 1980. e20pp.
2 8 Trustees Meetings Corporate Report Year. 1981. e30pp.
2 9 Trustees Meetings. 1982. e30pp.
2 10 Trustees Meetings Corporate Report Year. 1983. e30pp.
2 11 Trustees Meetings. 1984. e60pp.
2 12 Trustees Meetings Corporate Report Year. 1985. e30pp.
2 13 RMHL. 1985-1987. e20pp.
2 14 Trustees Meetings. 1986. e30pp.
2 15 Trustees Meetings. 1987. e40pp.
2 16 Trustees Meetings. 1988. 6pp.
2 17 Trustees Meetings. 1989. e100pp.
2 18 Trustees Meetings. 1990. e80pp.
2 19 Trustees Meetings. 1991. e80pp.
2 20 ["Program, Abstracts and Contributed Papers 50th Anniversary Annual Meeting R.M.H.R.C." with black and white photographs]. 1995. e30pp.

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Series II: Facilities (property and equipment)

Box Folder
2 21 Bureau of Public Roads Contract. 1950. 2pp.
2 22 Colorado Highway Department [with maps]. 1970-1982. e30pp.
2 23 Electricity [correspondence]. 1962-1964. 6pp.
2 24 Equipment Information. 1946-1952. 11pp.
2 25 Guarantees and instruction books. n.d.. e50pp.
2 26 Inventory. 1985. 5pp.
2 27 Map ["Access to RMHL by C.J. Posey"]. n.d.. e30pp.
2 28 North St. Vrain Association (UNSVA), Wild and Scenic Designation. 1988. e20pp.
2 29 Olive Ridge Campground, Diehl, Cook. 1968-1973. e30pp.
2 30 Pump and Radio Information. c. 1960s. e50pp.
2 31 [Right of Way and easement contract, correspondence, maps of land adjoining RMHL]. 1940s-1970s. e30pp.
2 32 [RMHL pamphlets, William B. Moeller Resume, RMHL and USGS Agreement]. 1964, 1985. 13pp.
2 33 Tahosa Valley Landowner's Association and Big Thompson Soil Conservation District. n.d.. e50pp.
2 32 Transmission Millsite. 1991. 4pp.

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Series III: Financial

Box Folder
2 33 Statements of Receipts and Disbursements. 1945-1984. e200pp.
2 34 IRS Paper work. 1945-1946, 1973-1980. e200pp.
2 35 IRS Paper work. 1947-1981. e250pp.
2 36 Financial Statements. 1950-1960. 12pp.
2 37 Proposal/Grant Information. 1952-1961. e200pp.
2 38 Correspondence and receipts, financial matters. 1953-1958. 4pp.
2 39 Invoices/Misc. Financial Information. 1953-1973. e30pp.
2 40 IRS Paper work. 1955-1977. e200pp.
2 41 Receipts for Land Related Bills. 1957-1958. 3pp.
2 42 Bank Statements/Misc. Bank Information. 1959-1985. e100pp.

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Series IV: Rocky Mountain Hydraulic Laboratory publications and research

Box Folder
3 1 Publications [list]. n.d.. 14pp.
3 2 Brochures. [The RMHL by Posey. #1]. 1946. e30pp.
3 3 Verdinokov [correspondence and calculations with paper by Powell. 1948. #6]. 1944-1951. e60pp.
3 4 "Tests of Erosion Around Models of Submerged Oil-Drilling Barges" [#20]. 1952, 1956. 92pp. 2 copies
3 5 ["Tests of Erosion Around Models of Submerged Oil-Drilling Barges" By Posey and R.G. Warock. #20. (with 8x10 negatives)]. 1952, 1956. 46pp.
3 6 "Tests of the Flow of Water in a Smooth V-Shaped Flume" by R.W. Powell and C.J. Posey [#21]. 1975. 42pp. 2 copies
3 7 Manning's Formula [#24]. 1958-1970. e50pp.
3 8 Pal, Asoka. [correspondence on Manning's Formula]. 1964-1970. e130pp.
3 9 "Water Surface Profiles and Velocity Distributions For Flow in a Long Uniform Channel" [#26]. 1961. 98pp. 2 copies
3 10 "Experiments with Buried Floats to Determine Depth of Scour" by William B. Moeller [#35]. 1965. 16pp. 2 copies
3 11 "Fundamentals of Open Channel Hydraulics." [By Sherman M. Woodward and Chesley Posey. #40]. 1969. 73pp. 2 copies
3 12 "Erosion Control for the Future" by C.J. Posey. 1990. e20pp.
3 13 Correspondence of Ralph W. Powell. 1933-1954. e30pp.
3 14 [Powell correspondence]. 1933-1955. e60pp.
3 15 [Floods: correspondence, drawings, calculations]. 1934-1957. 12pp.
3 16 Waldo E. Smith, M.W.C.D. [Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District]. 1934-1936. e50pp.
3 17 Gerard Matthes AGU [American Geophysical Union correspondence]. 1944-1988. e100pp.
3 18 Worksheets/Records of Labor and Services Provided. 1945-1984. e70pp.
3 19 Student Fees, Donations. 1947-1952. 11pp.
3 20 Instructions to Perspective Students. 1950. 1p.
3 21 In Court/Water Problems: Letters from Lawyers, etc. [Long flume]. 1951-1964. e40pp.
3 22 Design of the Long Flume. 1953. 9pp.
3 23 Flume Profiles. n.d.. 8pp.
3 24 Big Thompson Project Information and other trans-mountain diversion projects. 1952-1964. e60pp.
3 25 Task Force 1961-1962 [American Society of Civil Engineers Hydraulic Division]. 1953-1963. e100pp.
3 26 [Posey correspondence]. 1954-1958. e30pp.
3 27 Third Copy of 1956 Data. 1956. e60pp.
3 28 I.A.H.R. [International Association for Hydraulic Research]. 1956-1966. e30pp.
3 29 Copy of 1957 Data. 1957. e50pp.
3 30 Reprints and computations. ["The Discharge over Sharp-Crested Full-Width Weirs as affected by the Distribution of Velocities in the Approach Channel" By Ralph W. Powell]. 1957-1967. e30pp.
3 31 Ozalids of Original Data Sheets. 1958. 15pp.
3 32 1959 Data [Pitot Traverse data]. 1959. e20pp.
3 33 Grain Information/Data/Graphs. 1959, 1975-1977. e140pp.
3 34 [C.J. Posey and Herman Koloseus articles]. 1960-1976. e80pp.
3 35 Engel correspondence. 1961. 2pp.
3 36 [Black and white photographs, correspondence]. 1963. e15pp.
3 37 Paul J. Tilp. [Papers and calculations by Ralph W. Powell]. 1965-1966. e40pp.
3 38 Biswas. ["Friction Factor in Alluvial Channels" by Biswas"]. 1966. e30pp.
3 39 [Slides, negatives, color and black and white photographs]. 1969. 26 items
3 40 [Calls for abstracts]. 1970-1978. e15pp.
3 41 [Powell correspondence]. 1972-1973. e10pp.
3 42 CHIU and Powell on Friction Formulas. 1973. e20pp.
3 43 Letters from Ann Posey, Dion and her kids. 1978-1979. 11pp.
3 44 Summer 1980 Data. 1980. 7pp.
3 45 Ditch Drop Information [including 10 photographs with notes on back]. 1982. e20pp.
3 46 Mountain Dams, Allenspark Wind. 1983. 17pp.
3 47 RMHL Letterhead. n.d.. 4pp.
3 48 Solutions Manual "Fundamentals" #40. n.d.. e20pp.
3 49 Suggestions and Instructions "Fundamentals" #40. n.d.. 7pp.
3 50 "Research in the Rockies - An Historical Retrospect of the RMHL and the RMHRC prepared for the Rocky Mountain Hydrologic Research Center by the Colorado Water Resources Research Institute, research and writing by Jill Marsh". n.d.. e40pp.
3 51 "Water Research in the Rockies - A Historical Retrospect: Rocky Mountain Hydraulic Laboratory and the Rocky Mountain Hydrologic Research Center Allenspark, Colorado, Colorado Water Resources Research Institute Special Report No. 11". January 1966. 42pp.
3 52 [Audiocassette tape "Interviews Rocky Mountain Hydraulic Lab 1995" and "The Rocky Mountain Hydraulic Lab" pamphlet]. 1995.

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