U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Records, 1940-1994

GOGA 39653

Golden Gate National Recreation Area
ATTN: Park Archives and Records Center
Building 201, Fort Mason
San Francisco, CA 94123
[Mailing Address]	Park Archives and Records Center
Presidio of San Francisco
Building 667 McDowell Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94129
[Physical Address]	

go.nps.gov/gogacollections

Phone: 415-561-2807
Fax: 415-441-1618

Table of Contents

Introduction	3
Golden Gate National Recreation Area	3
Park Archives and Records Center	3-5
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Records	6
Scope and Content	6
Title	6
Dates	6
Collection Number	6
Creator	6
Volume	
Provenance	6
Scope and Content Note	6
Organization and Arrangement	6
Significance	7
Related Collections and Sources	7-8
Condition	8
Index	8
Formats	8
Preferred Citation	8
Processing Information	8
History	9-10
Series Description	10
Box and Folder List	10
[Appendices]	11
1.  List of Abbreviations	11

Introduction

Golden Gate National Recreation Area

Park Description

Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA), a unit of the National Park Service, was established by an Act of Congress on October 27, 1972. The 80,000-acre park encompasses a great diversity of cultural and natural resources in and around the Bay Area of San Francisco, California.  It includes Muir Woods National Monument and Fort Point National Historic Site.

The park holds almost five million three-dimensional and documentary artifacts dating from the time before European contact to the present.  They are preserved and maintained for the public by the Division of Cultural Resources and Museum Management, which includes the Park Archives and Records Center (PARC). 

Park Archives and Records Center

Historical Note

GGNRA and the sites within it have been collecting records since their inception. The PARC was established in 1994 to receive records and archival collections from the U.S. Army and the Presidio Army Museum after the closure of the Presidio of San Francisco as an Army base. The collections continue to grow through the donation of materials by private individuals, transfer of inactive park records by staff, and acquisition of relevant documentary materials.

Scope of Collections

The archival collections in the custody of the GGNRA document the history and activity of the various sites and groups associated with the park, described in the park’s Scope of Collection Statement (2009). 

The PARC contains U.S. Army and National Park Service facility records for the Presidio of San Francisco, forts and coast defense sites in the area, and various GGNRA sites.  Subjects and sites documented include the United States Army (Bear Flag Revolt, Civil War, Spanish-American War, Mexican War, World War I, Army Air Service, Coast Artillery, Army medical facilities and issues, World War II, Army support during natural disasters, Viet Nam War, and Operation Desert Storm); Alcatraz Island (Army fortress, Army Disciplinary Barracks, U.S. Penitentiary, and Indian Occupation); the natural resources conservation movement resulting in the establishment of Muir Woods National Monument; agriculture in the Marin Headlands; Point Reyes Peninsula and Bolinas Lagoon areas; U.S. Lifesaving/Coast Guard Services; San Francisco Earthquake and Fire of 1906; Panama Pacific International Exposition of 1915; natural resources and environmental issues; and preservation of open space in the Bay Area.  Also included in the PARC are many of the GGNRA administrative records that document the development and expansion of this park.

Visiting the PARC for Research

The PARC is located in an historic brick building, formerly a cavalry stable, on the Presidio of San Francisco.  Collections and archives support services are available for walk-in research during open hours or by appointment.  Please contact the PARC (see below) for the current schedule of reference hours.

Copy Services 

Black and white photocopy services for standard and oversize materials are available on-site.  Color photocopying, photographic duplication, and duplication of other media are available by special arrangement.  Researchers are charged for all duplicates on a cost-recovery basis.

Rights and Publications

Copies are provided under the Fair Use provisions of the Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.).  Researchers must complete a Permission to Publish Contract form with the Park Archivist for any other intended use of these materials (such as publication or exhibit).  Researchers should consult with staff regarding their needs for commercial or public use of materials.  

Legal Status of Holdings

Many holdings of the PARC were acquired/transferred prior to the establishment of the archives program, and have little documentation on their provenance (source/chain of custody).  All materials received after 1994 have been accessioned and documented.  If provenance cannot be determined, the PARC assumes that it owns the property rights, but does not own the copyright. Staff will provide assistance, but it is the responsibility of the researcher to acquire permission from the copyright holder to cite, quote, or reproduce collection materials.

Collections developed by or for government organizations or operations are in the public domain and may be used, cited, and quoted without restriction, provided they are properly credited to the PARC.  The archives contain no national security classified materials.

Donations to the Collections

The PARC welcomes donations of a variety of historic materials that meet the criteria in the Scope of Collections Statement and do not duplicate existing holdings. Collections are maintained for research use in perpetuity; there is no guarantee that items will be exhibited.  If you own materials that may be relevant to the themes of GGNRA and would like to deposit them in the PARC, please consult with an archivist.

How to Use This Finding Aid

This document contains information on the contents and significance of an archival collection.  It includes descriptive information; repository information; collection history; biographical or historical information on creators of the collection; and a container or folder list of everything in the collection.  After reviewing the finding aid, please discuss your specific needs with the archivist who will locate and retrieve the relevant materials. 

How to Use the Collections

Please follow all rules and regulations regarding research, the use of the research facility, and the handling of collection materials. This will protect the collections so they continue to be available for generations to come. If anything appears to be out of order or damaged, please notify a staff member.

Contacts

For additional information on the use of archival collections at GGNRA, please contact the Park Archives and Records Center: 

	Mailing Address: 
	National Park Service					
	Golden Gate National Recreation Area
	Attn:  Park Archives and Records Center		
	Fort Mason, Bldg. 201
	San Francisco, CA  94123

	Physical Address:
		Park Archives and Records Center
		Presidio of San Francisco
Building 667 McDowell Avenue
		San Francisco, CA 94129
		Phone:	(415) 561-2807
		Fax: (415) 441-1618

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Records

Scope and Content

Title 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Records

Alternative Title:
	ACOE (Army Corps of Engineers)

Dates
Inclusive: 	1940-1994
Bulk:		1975-1994

Collection Number 
Catalog number GOGA 39653 (Accession number GOGA-03746)

Creator 
The creator of the records was the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento. 

Volume
	0.4 Linear Feet
		- 1 Document box (2.5W x 15.25L x 10.5H)		= 0.3 LF
		- 1 Oversize 36x48 map folder			= 0.1 LF
Provenance 
The records were compiled and maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento. These records entered Park Archives custody circa 2002 via Susan Ewing Haley, GOGA Archivist, but the circumstances of acquisition are unknown.

Scope and Content Note
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Records date from 1940 to 1994 with bulk dates from 1975 to 1994. The records document easements to use land and property on the Presidio of San Francisco , easements for Pacific Gas and Electric [PG&E] to replace fiber optic cables at the Presidio of San Francisco and East Fort Baker [EFB], and the transfer of gas distribution systems from the Presidio of San Francisco to Pacific Gas and Electric. 

Organization and Arrangement
The six folders are arranged chronologically. 

The oversize materials consist of aerial photographs and maps. The oversize materials are arranged in the order it was separated from the file, i.e., in the folder order. A separation sheet was placed in each folder to note the original location of the item and the oversize storage location. Several of the oversize items are annotated.  

Significance 
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Records provide insight into easements on the Presidio of San Francisco. The records also contain significant information regarding work conducted by Pacific Gas and Electric [PG&E] on the Presidio of San Francisco and East Fort Baker.

Related Collections and Sources  
Please note that this list is not comprehensive.  It is intended as an aid to researchers.  For more complete information, contact the reference archivist. 

Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Park Archives Collections

GOGA-02347	Army Engineering Plans for Forts Baker, Barry, Cronkhite, Funston, and Miley

GOGA-02347	U.S. Army Regulations Collection (AREG)
	
GOGA-02347	Presidio of San Francisco Building Plans

GOGA-02347	Presidio of San Francisco Infrastructure Plans

GOGA 5333	Army Standard Building Plans

GOGA 6674	Angel Island: United States Army Maps, Aerial Shots, and Drawings c.1864-1976

GOGA 18195	Letterman General Hospital and Letterman Army Institute of Research Building Plans Collection, 1960-1993  

GOGA 35159	  	Presidio of San Francisco Historical Real Estate Records

GOGA 35300	  	Presidio Department of Engineering Building Plans

GOGA 35301		Presidio Training and Support Center (TASC) Negative 
Collection

GOGA 35336		U.S. Public Health Service Hospital / Marine Hospital Archives

GOGA 35337	  	Fort Mason Collection, 1870-1994

GOGA 35338	  	Army Real Estate Records Collection

GOGA 35344		Nike Ajax and Hercules Plans and Records Collection

	GOGA 37024		Sixth U.S. Army Environmental Office Records

	GOGA 37252		U.S. Army Project Records

GOGA 38131	Sixth U.S. Army, Directorate of Public Works, Maintenance Shops Records

GOGA 38738	Sixth U.S. Army, Directorate of Public Works, Master Planning Branch Records 

GOGA 39004	United States Army Administrative Records

GOGA 39013	Letterman Army Hospital Records

GOGA 39014	U.S. Army, Directorate of Public Works, Engineering Plans and Services Division Visual Materials

Condition
Overall the records are in good and stable condition. Some documents are difficult to read due to poor replication. The oversize material was originally stored folded in the text documents and therefore have crease lines. Several of the oversize items are annotated with yellow highlighter and red and green permanent marker.

Index
	Fort Baker (Calif.)
	Land Use – California – Planning
	Pacific Gas and Electric Company
	Presidio of San Francisco (Calif.)
	Public Health Service Hospital, San Francisco
	San Francisco (Calif.)
	United States. Army. Corps of Engineers

Formats 
	Aerial Photographs
Documents
	Easement
	Maps

Preferred Citation 
“Golden Gate NRA, Park Archives, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Records, GOGA 39653, [Box and Folder Numbers]”

Processing Information 
Processed by Jennifer Babbitt
Completed in August of 2014 

History
	U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was founded 1775 by the Continental Congress and consisted of an army with one chief engineer and two assistants. In 1779 Congress created a separate Corps of Engineers. After the Revolutionary War (1775-1783), the engineers fell out of service. Congress organized a Corps of Artillerists and Engineers in 1794 and in 1802 a separate Corps of Engineers was established; the Corps of Engineers continued existence dates from this year. 
	
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers were tasked with improving transportation, mainly working on canals, rivers, roads, and railways. During the Mexican War, Army Engineers provided mapping and construction services to the army; during the Civil War, Army Engineers built bridges, forts, and batteries. Throughout World War I, Army Engineers stationed in France constructed bridges, roads, and narrow-gauge railroads, produced approximately 200 million feet of lumber, and enlarged port facilities by constructing 20 million square feet of storage space. 
	
In the beginning of the 20th Century, Army Engineers began creating dams and producing hydroelectric power. In 1928 Congress approved the Flood Control Act and placed the implementation under Corps of Engineers control. In 1936 Congressed passed the second Flood Control Act, one of the most important events in the Corps of Engineers history, putting the Corps of Engineers in the reservoir construction business. The 1944 Flood Control Act allowed the secretary of the interior to sell power produced at Corps of Engineers projects.
	
Before World War II, Congress approved the transfer of military construction to the Corps of Engineers. In 1940 the Corps of Engineers was assigned all air base construction in the United States and in 1941 Congress transferred the responsibility for real estate acquisition, construction and maintenance of Army facilities, including training camps, government-owned munitions plants, air bases, depots, and hospitals to the Corps of Engineers. During World War II, the Corps of Engineers placed floating and fixed bridges across rivers in Italy, France, and Germany as well as preparing and developing beaches for assault landings both in Germany and in the Pacific. On the beaches of Normandy, Corps of Engineers troops destroyed the mine-bearing steel structures constructed by the Germans, thus providing cleared lanes for army landing crafts. 
	
Along with providing military support, the Corps of Engineers also responds to and provides aid during natural disasters. The first formal disaster relief mission was in 1882 during the flooding of the Mississippi River. The Corps of Engineers also played critical roles in the relief efforts surrounding the 1889 flooding of Johnstown, Pennsylvania and the San Francisco earthquake of 1906. From 1917 to 1995, the Corps of Engineers has responded to floods, explosions, blizzards, earthquakes, and hurricanes.  
	
Corps of Engineers construction since World War II include: Veterans Administration hospitals; Nike, Atlas, Titan, and Minutemen missile sites; NASA facilities; post offices and bulk mail facilities; and armed forces recruiting centers. 
	 
[U.S. Army Corps of Engineers History, <http://www.usace.army.mil/About/History/BriefHistoryoftheCorps/Introduction.aspx>, Accessed August 25, 2014]

Series Description

Box and Folder List

Box #	Folder #	Description and Dates	
1	1	Aerial Photographs of Public Health Service Hospital [PHSH] [Oversize Separated]	
1	2	Easements to Use Land/Property on the PSF; DACA05-2-81-532, DACA05-2-83-612, DACA05-2-72-477 Maps (2) Only, DA-04-167-ENG-2253, 113-3A Amendment	
1	3	Facilities Affected by Irrevocable Permit of Parcels “A” and “B” to NPS [Oversize Separated]	
1	4	Pacific Gas and Electric [PG&E] Right-of-Way for Underground Cable from Mason Street Manhole No. 7325 to Lyon Street	
1	5	Pacific Gas and Electric [PG&E] Fiber Optic Easement, Proposed Easement to Replace License No. DACA05-3-86-543, PSF and East Fort Baker [EFB]	
1	6	Gas Maps for Transfer of the Gas Distribution System [GDS] from PSF to Pacific Gas and Electric [PG&E]	

Appendices

1.  Abbreviations
	EFB		East Fort Baker
GDS 		Gas Distribution System
	NPS		National Park Service
	PG&E		Pacific Gas and Electric
	PHSH		Public Health Service Hospital