Papers of Rollin Q. Tenney

Collection

Identifier: WRQT

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Papers of Rollin Q. Tenney consists of documents dated 1882 to 1928, with the bulk falling from 1893 to 1912. The materials cover Tenney's time as water commissioner as well as his activities related to ditch companies and irrigation districts in Northern Colorado. Document types include correspondence, legislation, reports, maps, clippings, notes, financial papers, and one book. Much of the correspondence is with various Colorado state engineers. One folder contains photocopied documents related to the early history of the Colorado State University campus.

Dates

Creation: 1882-1928
Creation: Majority of material found within 1893-1912

Creator

Tenney, Rollin Quartus, 1838-1932 (Person)

Restrictions on Access

There are no access restrictions on this collection.

Restrictions on Use

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

Biography

Rollin Quartus Tenney's irrigation expertise was recognized with an appointment as one of Colorado's water commissioners in 1893. A Civil War veteran born in 1838 in New Hampshire, Tenney established a farm in Colorado's Cache la Poudre Valley in 1871. During the state's early development, Tenney proved to be a pioneer and innovator in farming, ranching and irrigating. As he became increasingly interested in irrigation, he developed a plan to bring Laramie River water to northern Larimer County. He was the first surveyor of the Laramie-Poudre Tunnel, which later became the focus of the Wyoming v. Colorado case in the U.S. Supreme Court.

Tenney and his family moved to Fort Collins in 1890. He served as water commissioner for water district no. 3, division no. 1 during 1893 and 1894. Beyond this service, Tenney was instrumental in developing many of the area's reservoirs and irrigation systems.

Tenney was also active in the State Grange, the Grand Army of the Republic, several ditch companies and other organizations. He married Isabelle Duff Robertson in 1871 and they had two daughters. Tenney died in 1932 and is buried in Grandview Cemetery in Fort Collins. Further details on Tenney's life can be found in Biographical Sketch of Rollin Q. Tenney (1918) and Rollin Q. Tenney: A Larimer County Pioneer (1921; the two are nearly identical).

Extent

0.5 linear feet (1 document box)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Rollin Q. Tenney's (1838-1932) irrigation expertise was recognized with an appointment as one of Colorado's water commissioners in 1893. The materials in the collection cover Tenney's time as water commissioner as well as his activities related to ditch companies and irrigation districts in Northern Colorado. Document types include correspondence, legislation, reports, maps, clippings, notes, financial papers and one book. A portion of the collection is digitized and online.

Arrangement

The collection consists of alphabetical subject files in one box.

Acquisition

The Papers of Rollin Q. Tenney was transferred from the manuscripts section of the Archives and Special Collections Department to the Water Resources Archive in February 2003.

Online Materials

Some materials have been scanned or digitally photographed and are available through the Colorado State University Libraries website. In the electronic version of this document, direct links appear in context.

Related Collections

Related collections in the Water Resources Archive include the Papers of Louis G. Carpenter (a Colorado state engineer) and the Papers of Delph E. Carpenter and Family (attorney in the Wyoming v. Colorado case). There are also Tenney collections at the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery and the Autry National Center in Los Angeles.

Processing

Processing was completed in February 2006 though evidence of some prior processing existed. Materials were reboxed and refoldered using acid-free supplies. Most metal fasteners were removed and replaced with plastic clips. Newspaper clippings were inserted between acid-free paper. Papers were unfolded when possible and sleeved when especially fragile. Little rearrangement took place, but one publication was removed to be added to Special Collections.