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Clyde D. Gessel papers

 Collection
Identifier: ACCN 2437

Scope and Contents

The Clyde D. Gessel papers (1939-2002) contain correspondence, reports, scrapbooks and maps. The majority of the collection deals with his work as a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). Among the documents concerning the ASCE are correspondence, minutes from meetings, pamphlets and notes from different conferences he attended, and documents that relate to committees that he served on. Another large portion of the collection concerns his work with the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, where he played a role in many of the prominent water works of the west. Many of these materials are scrapbooks that document various projects in the west, such as Colorado and Utah. Gessel was involved with the Glen Canyon Dam, as well as studies done at Lake Powell, and in the Colorado River Basin. Although Gessel served in World War II, the Military documents in the collection consist of memorandums and forms dated in the 1950s and 1960s. Part of the collection deals with the USSR.

Dates

  • 1939-2002

Creator

Language of Materials

Collection materials are in English.

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.

Conditions Governing Use

The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library’s Use Agreement and Reproduction Request forms.

Biographical Sketch

Clyde D. Gessel (1918-2007) was born in Providence, Utah on April 1, 1918. He attended Utah State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering. Shortly following the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, Gessel joined the military and served for two and a half years in the Southwest Pacific salvaging and reconstructing enemy aircraft in order to defeat the Japanese military. Following the war, he married and raised 6 children, while working for the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation as a Civil Engineer. He was also a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), serving in many positions within the organization, including President of the Utah Section. He helped to build many prominent water projects in the west, including Glen Canyon Dam. Gessel travelled the world, visiting such places as Russia, Egypt, the Holy Land, and countries in Asia and South America. He was very involved in his community, and played golf well into his 88th year. He died on April 15, 2007.

Extent

22 Linear Feet

Abstract

The Clyde D. Gessel papers (1939-2002) contain correspondence, reports, scrapbooks and maps. While the majority of the collection deals with his work as a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), there is a large portion that concerns his work with the Department of Reclamation, where he played a role in many of the prominent water works of the west.

Arrangement

The organizational structure used by the donor was maintained throughout the collection.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated by Dave Gessel in 2009.

Separated Materials

Photographs were transferred to the Multimedia Divison of Special Collections (P1561).

Processing Information

Processed by Kevin Grover and Grant Herron in 2009.
Title
Inventory of the Clyde D. Gessel papers, 1939-2002
Author
Finding aid prepared by Grant Herron
Date
© 2009 (last modified: 2020)
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid encoded in English in Latin script.

Repository Details

Part of the J. Willard Marriott Library Special Collections Repository

Contact:
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City Utah 84112 United States
801-581-8863