Michael Spero Papers (Mss. Gr. 156)

The first series in this collection consists of class lecture notes, assignments, exercises, and tests. These materials were produced by Spero while he was a student at Rhode Island State College from 1930-1934. Accompanying these materials were a number of textbooks that were separated from the collection during the processing. Series II through VII contain material relating to Spero's work in Afghanistan from 1973-1975. These series are titled "Afghanistan" and subtitled according to the original organization in which the collection was received.

Series I, Rhode Island State College: contains the notes, exercises, assignments and tests taken by Spero during his attendance at Rhode Island State College. The materials consist of notebooks from hydraulics, civil engineering, mechanics, strength of materials, algebra and calculus classes taken in East Hall. Included are also graded problem assignments and tests for mechanics, strength of materials, and hydraulics courses which were taught by Professor Royal Linfield Wales.

Series II, Afghanistan: Plan of Development: consists of project evaluations, geological evaluations of Afghanistan damsites, summary and recommendations reports, letters to the Afghanistan Water and Power Authority, and a plan of operations report by the United Nations Development Program.

Series III, Afghanistan: Planning Reports: provides documentation on the climate, topography, population, economy, and transport accessibility in Afghanistan, and the effects these have on the country's agriculture, irrigation, and manufacturing. The reports and studies in this series address the geological and structural feasibility of dams, reservoirs, and irrigation projects existing in various regions in Afghanistan.

Series IV, Afghanistan: Handwritten Material: contains detailed handwritten project cost-estimate computations and project report drafts.

Series V, Afghanistan: Subject File: consists of records that were kept separate from the material contained in the previous series yet remain an integral part of the Afghanistan Project.

Series VI, Afghanistan: Printed Matter: contains an historical guide of Afghanistan, an English-Afghan dictionary (Dari), a travel book of translated phrases, a color photograph tourist brochure, several Russian industrial pamphlets for Soviet-owned powerplants in Afghanistan with English translation, and a variety of standard and topographical maps.

Series VII, Afghanistan: Photographs: contains 197 photographic slides taken by various engineers working on the Afghanistan project. They served to provide information that helped them develop a complete water resources development plan for Afghanistan. This series also includes three bound logs of photographs with an accompanying report. Spero wrote this report to describe the political and geographical environment depicted in the photographs.

Series VIII, The Upper Columbia River-Priest Rapids Dam to Columbia River Manuscript: contains Spero's extensive manuscript entitled "The Upper Columbia River-Priest Rapids Dam to Columbia River." Included is a letter from Spero regarding the history of the project that the manuscript details. The manuscript was written to preserve the activities of the people who helped build the Columbia River dams, including engineers, administrative professionals, and laymen. The letter also includes a detailed biography and CV.