Boston (Mass.). Engineering Department
Historical note
The Office of City Engineer was established by ordinance passed on October 31, 1850. By Chapter 449 of the Acts of 1895, the Surveying Department and the Office of City Surveyor was abolished and the duties transferred to the Engineering Department and the Office of City Engineer. By Chapter 9 of the Ordinances of 1910, the power and duties of the Engineering Department were absorbed by the newly created Public Works Department. A Survey Division of the Public Works Department was established May 1, 1954, under Chapter 2 of the Ordinances of 1954, Section 56, which amended Section 33 of Chapter 27 of the Revised Ordinances of 1947. The division performed certain engineering services for the divisions of the Public Works Department and other City departments. It also performed administrative and engineering services required by the Public Improvement Commission. On March 15-16, 1960, the functions and employees of the Bridge, Highway, Water, and Sewer Divisions engaged in engineering design were transferred to the Survey Division. The Survey Division was renamed the Engineering Division in 1961.
Found in 19 Collections and/or Records:
Architectural Division correspondence
Three letter-copy volumes of outgoing correspondence of the Engineering Department - Architectural Division and the Public Buildings Department.
Benchmarks
Boston Harbor reports
Two bound volumes compiled by the City Engineer's Office of reports on the harbor issued at the city, state and federal level. Includes annual reports of the Harbor Commissioners.
Engineering Department annual reports and publications
Engineering Department correspondence
Five outgoing letter-copy volumes of Engineering Department - Survey Division and Street Laying-Out Department - Engineering Division correspondence. Includes volumes from 1904-1926 and 1932-1941.
Engineering Department scrapbook and badge
Scrapbook of H.G. Botsford containing photographs documenting work with the Engineering Department of the City of Boston, newspaper clippings, and ephemera. Also includes City of Boston Engineering Department badge.
Engineering Division plans
Engineering Department and Public Works Department, Highway Division plans for streets, retaining walls, sea walls, edgestones, etc. Includes two sets of plans: OB# plans and OC# plans.
Index to plans
Obsolete index to plans of city buildings stored in the basement of the Probate Building (Architectural Division store room).
List of maps of Boston published between 1600 and 1903 : copies of which are to be found in the possession of the city of Boston or other collectors of the same. Reprint of Appendix I, Annual report of the City engineer. February 1, 1903., 1903
List of maps of Boston published between 1614 and 1822 : copies of which are to be found in the possession of the city of Boston or other collectors of the same. Reprint of appendix J, annual report of the City Engineer. February 1, 1902., 1902
List of maps of Boston published subsequent to 1600 : copies of which are to be found in the possession of the city of Boston or other collectors of the same. Reprint of appendix J, annual report of the City Engineer. A supplementary list to appendix I, annual report of the City Engineer for the year 1902. February 1, 1904., 1904
Public Works Department scrapbooks
Scrapbooks kept in the Public Works Department library. Includes scrapbooks of the City Engineer, scrapbooks on the subway, real estate transactions, and miscellaneous topics.
[Scrapbook of cyanotype photographs]
Street survey files
Engineering Division street survey files arranged alphabetically by street name. Includes surveyor notes, plans, calculations, etc. Streets from other cities and towns may also be included.
- City of Boston Archives
- 201 Rivermoor Street
- West Roxbury, MA 02132
- archives@boston.gov
- (617) 635-1195
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