Guide to the Hussey Collection plans and drawings , 1911-1938

(bulk 1917-1938)

Rhode Island State Archives
Rhode Island State Archives
337 Westminster Street
Providence, RI 02903
Tel: 401-222-2353
Fax: 401-222-3199
email: statearchives@sos.ri.gov

Published in 2009

Collection Overview

Title:	Hussey Collection plans and drawings
Date range:	1911-1938, (bulk 1917-1938)
Creator:	Rhode Island. Dept. of Transportation
Extent:	116 items item(s)
Abstract:	The Hussey Collection plans and drawings consist primarily of bridge drawings and plans created by the State Board of Public Roads' Bridge Department (now RIDOT). The bulk of the collection was created under the supervision of Clarence L. Hussey, Bridge Engineer and State Engineer of Rhode Island from 1912-1925.
Language of materials:	English
Repository:	Rhode Island State Archives
Collection number:	1998-146

Scope & content

The Hussey Collection plans and drawings consist primarily of bridge drawings created by the Bridge Department of the State Board of Public Roads (now RIDOT). The bulk of the collection was created under the supervision of Clarence L. Hussey, Bridge Engineer. The Hussey Collection Bridge plans and drawings consist of 116 drawings ranging in size from 18"x14" to 34"x22". Drawings are on tracing paper, vellum or tracing cloth (linen). A small number of the items in this collection are blueprints. Many of the drawings and plans are tabulations of proposals (numerical data - costs for projects), and bridge name plates. A small amount of the drawings show bridge structural details.

Access Points

Subject Names

• Hussey, Clarence L.

Subject Organizations

• Rhode Island. Dept. of Transportation

Subject Topics

• Bridge--Design and construction
• Bridges.
• Transportation.
• Bridge approaches
• Highway engineering.
• Highway engineers
• Highway planning.
• Bridges--1910-1920.
• Bridges--1910-1920.
• Bridges--Aesthetics.
• Concrete bridges.
• Concrete bridges--Design and construction.
• Concrete bridges--Specifications.
• Concrete bridges--Standards.
• Bridges--Design and construction--Specifications--United States.

Subject Topics

• Architecture
• Government, Politics and Law
• Maritime
• Rhode Island/Local Interest

Document Types

• construction drawings
• blueprints (reprographic copies)

Arrangement

The Hussey Collection plans and drawings are arranged into the following series:

• Series 1. Drawings and Plans, 1911-1938

Historical note

The Department of Transportation was established in 1970 by statutory authority RIGL§42-13-1. This department replaced the Department of Public Works created by Chapter 5 § 38 of the 1938 General Laws and repealed by Chapter 111 § 1 of the Public Laws of 1970. The Department of Transportation is responsible for the implementation of both short and long-term transportation improvements for the State of Rhode Island. Included in this effort is the maintenance of over 1,300 miles of roadways, 750 bridges and over 800 traffic signalization systems. The Department is also responsible for maintaining a continuing comprehensive transportation program by coordinating and performing planning functions for all modes of transportation. The mission of the Rhode Island Department of Transportation is to maintain and provide a safe, efficient, environmentally, aesthetically and culturally sensitive intermodal transportation network that offers a variety of convenient, cost-effective mobility opportunities for people and the movement of goods supporting economic development and improved quality of life. Clarence L. Hussey (1885-1925), was Rhode Island's first bridge engineer. Hussey was a nationally-prominent bridge engineer noted for his original contributions to the construction of concrete arch bridges and concrete engineering technology, including an elegant, cost- and weight-saving, modified-spandrel, concrete-arch bridge design (Henderson 1926:1632-1633, Providence Sunday Journal 1925:3). Under Hussey, the bridge division utilized standardized plans for bridge replacement and selected concrete for the major bridge building material due to its strength, longevity, and low maintenance requirements, as well as ease of construction. This factor encouraged the use of local contractors (Clouette and Roth 1988:31). These bridges also included standardized features such as bush-hammered, rectangular, decorative panels located so as to masic joints, and blue-on-white glazed porcelain tiles at the parapet railing ends that Indicate the bridge name, number, contractor, and responsible state agency, the Board of Public Roads.

Access & Use

Access to the collection:	No special restrictions unless otherwise specified.
Use of the materials:	Copyright is in the public domain unless otherwise specified. We reserve the right to restrict reproduction of materials due to preservation concerns.
Preferred citation:	Hussey Collection plans and drawings, 1998-146, Rhode Island State Archives.
Contact information:	Rhode Island State Archives Rhode Island State Archives 337 Westminster Street Providence, RI 02903 Tel: 401-222-2353 Fax: 401-222-3199 email: statearchives@sos.ri.gov

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION
Acquisition:	Transferred from the Rhode Island Department of Transportation Engineering Division on August 7, 1998.
ABOUT THE FINDING AID
Author:	Finding aid prepared by Kate Telford.
Encoding:	Finding aid encoded by KAte Telford 2009 May 21
Descriptive rules:	Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Additional Information

Inventory

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