La Crosse, Wisconsin, Engineering Department Records
Scope and Contents
The Administrative Records series includes contracts (1901-1961), correspondence (1887-1937), cost estimates, an Engineer’s field book, and some stray files. The Subject Files series pulls together by subject materials created by the city engineering department for their use.
Dates
- 1856-1961
Creator
- La Crosse (Wis.). Engineering Dept (Organization)
Access to Materials
Materials in this collection are available for patron use.
Historical Note
The office of the City Surveyor began as early as city incorporation in 1856. In about 1887 this title changed to City Engineer. George Gregory served as the city’s first surveyor in 1856 and Henry I. Bliss served as his deputy. By 1857, Bliss became surveyor and many documents are signed “Bliss & Spear, city surveyors,” for Henry Bliss and W. M. Spear.
The City of La Crosse Engineering Department is responsible for cost estimation, drawing up and supervising capital improvement projects city of La Crosse, including plans for buildings, docks, streets, additions and subdivisions, paving, curb and gutter, storm sewers, sanitary sewers, water mains, ornamental street lighting, bridge design and other engineering drawings. The Engineering Dept. works closely with the City of La Crosse’s Office of Public Works.
Extent
4 Cubic Feet
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The City of La Crosse Engineering Department is responsible for cost estimation, drawing up and supervising capital improvement projects city of La Crosse, including plans for buildings, docks, streets, additions and subdivisions, paving, curb and gutter, storm sewers, sanitary sewers, water mains, ornamental street lighting, bridge design and other engineering drawings. The Engineering Dept. works closely with the City of La Crosse’s Office of Public Works. The title of the City Engineer was changed from City Surveyor in approximately 1887.
An Administrative series includes mainly contracts (1901-1961) and outgoing correspondence (1887-1937). The Subject Files (1856-1907) series pulls together by subject materials created by the city engineering department for their use, such as grading, plats, sanitary sewer and water mains.
Arrangement
Arranged in two series:
Series 1: Administrative Records
Series 2: Subject Files
Acquisitions Information
(Accession nos. 1997.032, 1999.019) Transferred by City of La Crosse Engineering Department via City Engineer Randy Turtenwald, July 1999; reports were separated out and processed in the local history book collection.
Separated Materials
Written reports from city planning and outside consultants have been separated out and where appropriate added to the Archives’ book collection. Examples of these are planning documents, sanitary landfill, feasibility reports on the airport, etc.
Physical Description
11 archives boxes
Processing Information
Processed by Anita Taylor Doering with help from Janet Lukas, April-May 2003
Creator
- La Crosse (Wis.). Engineering Dept (Organization)
- Title
- Guide to the La Crosse, Wisconsin Engineering Department Records, 1856-1961
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Anita Taylor Doering and Janet Lukas
- Date
- 2003 April-May
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the La Crosse Public Library Archives Repository