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Papers of Evan Vlachos

 Collection
Identifier: WVLA

Scope and Contents

The Papers of Evan Vlachos consists of documents dated 1957 to 2015, with the bulk falling from 1970 to 2013. The papers document Vlachos' work in the fields of sociology and engineering, especially in relation to water. Topics extensively covered include: hydro-diplomacy, transboundary rivers and waters, and coping with other potential water conflicts; managing urban and agricultural water; public involvement in, and socio-cultural aspects of, water and other urban planning; integrated water resources; and the future of water. Vlachos was also highly interested in alternatives for the future--growth, cities, population, engineering, and dystopian/utopian visions--along with environmental ramifications. Extensive material exists on Vlachos' research and writing on Greek society, Greek migration in Europe, and Greek immigration to and assimilation in the United States, as well. Large portions of material also exist for Vlachos' Technology Assessment for the National Science Foundation and his thoughts on revising the engineering curriculum of higher education institutions.

Material types include papers, lectures, presentations, correspondence, articles, reports, publications, conference information, external university evaluations, reviews (by and of Vlachos) and limited course content. The collection does not document the extent of Vlachos' courses or his service activities at Colorado State University. Materials in Greek, Spanish, Portuguese, and French are present.

Dates

  • Creation: 1957-2015
  • Creation: Majority of material found within 1970-2013

Creator

Restrictions on Access

There are no access restrictions on this collection. However, it is stored off-site, so advance notice is required.

Restrictions on Use

Not all of the material in the collection is in the public domain. Researchers are responsible for addressing copyright issues.

Biography

Evan Vlachos worked as a professor of both civil engineering and sociology at Colorado State University (CSU) for fifty years. He was highly involved in applied research, consulting, seminars, and projects both nationally and internationally with federal agencies, foreign governments, the United Nations, the European Commission, UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), and NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization). Much of his work focused on urban planning, water resource planning and management, the future of water, hydro-diplomacy, and water conflict. His work followed the changing fields of engineering--specifically water resources--and the growing global interest in water resources and environmental futures.

Evan Vlachos, a native of Greece, received his LL.B. from the University of Athens in 1959. He earned his M.A. (1962) and Ph.D. (1964) in sociology from Indiana University. After working as an assistant professor of sociology at both Pierce College in Athens (1964-1966) and the University of Colorado (1966-1967), he began teaching sociology at Colorado State University in 1967. In 1973, Vlachos received a dual teaching appointment in the Sociology Department and Civil Engineering Department. Vlachos continued to teach until his retirement as a Professor Emeritus in 2008. During his time at CSU, Vlachos also served as the Director of the Environmental Resources Center (1979-1984) and the Associate Director of the International School for Water Resources (1985-2008).

Vlachos' professional work was not restricted to CSU. He served as a consultant on projects for several federal agencies--including the Army Corps of Engineers, the National Park Service, and the National Science Foundation--multiple foreign governments, and several international organizations. He served as a member of the Environmental Advisory Board for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; the Advisory Panel on Environmental and Earth Sciences & Technology for NATO (1993-2000); as a consultant to the Water Division of UNESCO; and as an external evaluator for the graduate water resources programs at several Greek universities. In addition, Vlachos authored more than 10 books or chapters of books (his chapter on "Shared Water" is found extensively within the collection), 42 monographs or technical reports, and 130 papers for professional meetings and conferences.

Vlachos received the Army's Outstanding Civilian Service Medal in 1987 and the American Water Resources Association's Icko Iben Award in 1993.

Vlachos was born November 15, 1935, in Piraeus, Greece, and died on June 16, 2017, in Boulder, Colorado. He married Virginia Pakes in 1962, and the couple had two children, Dean and Irene.

Extent

30 linear feet (20 record cartons)

Language of Materials

English

Portuguese

Spanish; Castilian

French

Abstract

Evan Vlachos taught as a professor of sociology and civil engineering at Colorado State University, while also working extensively with federal agencies, foreign governments, and international organizations (including the United Nations, UNESCO, and NATO) on international and national water and environmental issues. His interests also included integrated water resources planning and management and social forecasting. The collection documents Vlachos' work and interests in the fields of sociology, futurism, engineering, and water resources. Files include Vlachos' papers and publications, conference attendance, and work with agencies including the National Science Foundation, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, European Commission, and UNESCO. Material types include papers, lectures, presentations, correspondence, articles, reports, conference information, external university evaluations, reviews (by and of Vlachos), invitations, yearly activities, and course content.

Arrangement

Vlachos originally kept his files arranged alphabetically; however, this system had deteriorated. The original alphabetical arrangement was recovered, with his yearly activity folders arranged chronologically at the end of the first series.

The collection consists of 3 series in 20 boxes:

Series 1: Professional work, 1960-2015 and undated

Series 2: Personal interests, 1957-2010 and undated

Series 3: Publications, 1969-2011

Acquisition

The Papers of Evan Vlachos was donated to the Water Resources Archive in August 2016 by his son, Dean Vlachos. In June 2023, Dean Vlachos donated an additional box of publications.

Processing

Processing was completed in April 2018. Files were rehoused in acid-free boxes. Where original folders were present, they were maintained with labels stapled on. Loose materials were redistributed to original folders or rehoused in acid-free folders, as was material in miscellaneous folders. Misfiled documents were re-housed in original folders. Some metal fasteners were removed and replaced with plastic clips as necessary. Duplicates beyond two copies were removed, as were some miscellaneous internet printouts and images pulled from other sources. Digital media were backed up on a server when the content was original to the collection, but not when created by outside groups. The 2023 addition was foldered and arranged in June 2023.

Inventory Note

Note: Title information supplied by the archivist is bracketed. Estimated paginationis preceded by an "e."

Title
Guide to the Papers of Evan Vlachos
Status
Edited Full Draft
Author
Prepared by Heidi Fuhrman and Patricia J. Rettig; revised by Lauren Oliver
Date
Copyright 2023
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English.

Repository Details

Part of the CSU Libraries Archives & Special Collections Repository

Contact:
Fort Collins Colorado 80523-1019 USA
970-491-1844