Fort Mandan State Historic Site is temporarily closed for maintenance until further notice.
Title: Clarence E. Staff Papers
Dates: 1946-1973
Collection Number: MSS 10451
Quantity: 5.5 feet
Abstract: Papers consist of notes, printed materials, drawings, MDU-IBEW labor contracts, MDU annual reports, Staff's attaché case (containing notes, pens, pencils, slide rules, conversion charts, drawings, a measuring tape, sun-glasses, and other memorabilia) and photographs of MDU employees, substations, various construction projects, and the Garrison Dam.
Collection relates primarily to the construction and operation of electric transmission systems in central and western North Dakota. Clarence E. Staff was born December 13, 1906 and passed away October 20, 1984. He was an electrical engineer and the photographer for Montana-Dakota Utilities (MDU), who retired on December 30, 1971.
Provenance: The collection was donated by Ron Staff, son of Clarence Staff, on March 26, 1985. This inventory was created by Emily E. Schultz in August 2012.
Property Rights: The State Historical Society of North Dakota owns the property rights to this collection.
Copyrights: Copyrights to this collection remain with the donor, publisher, author, or author's heirs. Researchers should consult the 1976 Copyright Act, Public Law 94-553, Title 17, U.S. Code or an archivist at this repository if clarification of copyright requirements is needed.
Access: This collection is open under the rules and regulations of the State Historical Society of North Dakota.
Citation: Researchers are requested to cite the collection title, collection number, and the State Historical Society of North Dakota in all footnote and bibliographic references.
BOX / FOLDER INVENTORY
Box 1:
1 Correspondence, 1946-1965
2 Notes and drawings
3 Personal and MDU telephone directories, 1970
4 Certificates, 1966-1982
5 Annual Electric Operating Meeting, May 9-11, 1955
6 Annual Electric Operating Meeting, May 10-11, 1956
7 Annual Electric Operating Meeting, May 22-24, 1957
8 Annual Electric Operating Meeting, May 6-8, 1959
9 Annual Electric Operating Meeting, May 4-6, 1964
10 Staff’s retirement, December 30, 1971
11 Miscellaneous ephemera, 1964-1966 and n.d.: MDU fact card, December 31, 1966; General Electric stencil, “package substations”; Clarence Staff nametag Electric Operating Meeting, May 4-6, 1964; ticket for the Bismarck Division Employee Club, the Lens Louse, Official publication of the Bismarck Camera Club
12 MDU annual reports, 1947-1957 (incomplete)
13 MDU annual reports, 1958-1969 (incomplete)
Box 2:
1 Scholarly articles and clippings, ca. 1950s-1970s
2 General Electric guides and manuals, 1961-1962
3 High Voltage Airblast Breakers printed material, 1954
4 Mid-Continent Area Power Planners (MAPP), ca. 1963
5 “How to Cut Electric Utility Costs,” published by Electrical World, ca. 1954
6 “Radioactive Fallout, Employee Family Protection,” MDU, ca. 1962
7 “Missouri River: A Plan Offered by 14 Local Electric Systems to Firm The Electric Output from the Missouri River Hydro Plants,” ca. 1962
8 Union material (MDU and System Council U-13 – International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers), 1953-1973
9 Accidents/injuries graphs and statistics, 1955-1958
Box 3: Staff's attaché case containing notes, calendars, pens, pencils, slide rulers, conversion charts, drawings, handbooks, publications, printed material, codes and rule books, a measuring tape, sun-glasses, a button, and other tools used by Staff, ca. 1947-1971. A weight set, drafting triangle, necktie pin, and tweezers used by Staff are also in this box.
Box 4: Photographs 1-234
Box 5: Photographs 235-269
Box 6: Photographs 270-307
Box 7: Photographs 308-329
Box 8: Photographs 330-369
Box 9: Photographs 370-399
Box 10: Photographs 400-429
Box 11: Photographs 430-469
Box 12: Photographs 470-499
Box 13: Photographs 500-529
Box 14: Photographs 530-559
Box 15: Photographs 560-587
Box 16: Photographs 588-609
Box 17: Photographs 610-631
Box 18: Photographs 632-670
Box 19: Photographs 671-699
Box 20: Photographs 700-751
Box 21: Photographs 649, 675, 678
Box 22: Photographs 752-761
Photographs Inventory
Note: Image titles were mostly taken from Staff’s notes on the back of the photographs
10451-01 – 10451-56 New substation at old Bismarck power plant, November 1954
10451-67 – 10451-115 R.M. Heskett power plant construction, etc., Mandan, 1950-1954
10451-116 – 10451-127 Scenes near R.M. Heskett Station, Mandan, late 1950s
10451-128 – 10451-222 MDU Poplar, MT substation, 1960s
10451-223 – 10451-234 Bismarck division, rubber protective equipment testing, late 1960s
10451-235 (center) Hugh Mangskau, to his right, Judge Harris
10451-236
10451-237 John Johnson (GE Co., below), Carl Condon (MDU, on top of circuit breaker), 1960s
10451-238 Left to right: Mark Walsh, Matt Aller, Red Fettig, Allan Martinson, Art Halverson, Dick Jaeger, 1960s
10451-239 Betty Frahm, 1960s
10451-240 Meter school, Paul Angel (left), unidentified (center), John Chesire (right)
10451-241 Hettinger substation
10451-242 Walt Render, 1960s
10451-243 Mobridge Bridge, 1960s
10451-244 Peter Tamm, 1960s
10451-245 Power plant tour
10451-246 Heskett station, 1960s
10451-247 Meter school, 1947
10451-248 Substation
10451-249 Heskett station, 1960s
10451-250 Hugh Mangskau (left), Mark Scarff (center), unidentified (right)
10451-251 Unidentified (left), Hugh Mangskau (center), Walt Rieke (right)
10451-252 Bob Hixson, 1960s
10451-253 Garrison Dam, left to right: unidentified, Gravinger, Hugh Mangskau, Bob Thorson
10451-254 Walt Sylvester (left), Bob Hixson (right) checking rubber glove, 1960s
10451-255 Bob Hixson, early rubber glove test equipment, 1960s
10451-256 Jennie Germain
10451-257 Bismarck power plant, 1950s
10451-258 Substation 3rd and Front, Capitol Laundry in back, 1960s
10451-259 Unidentified (left) and Alvin Jacobsen (right)
10451-260 Mobridge Bridge
10451-261 Jeannie Germain (left), Beth Frahm (center), and unidentified (right)
10451-262 Beulah plant switchboard, 1960s
10451-263 Bismarck power plant, 1960s
10451-264 Meter school, 1947
10451-265 Left to right: Chuck Ritchie (MDU), Ernie Ridgewell (GE Co.), Maynard Meschke (MDU), Geo Germain (MDU), Carl Condon (MDU), Elsmer Einins (MDU)
10451-266 Bismarck power plant from northwest, 1960s
10451-267 First rubber glove tester, 1960s
10451-268 Bismarck power plant in background, 1960s
10451-269 Bismarck power plant cooling towers on south side of Front Avenue at 4th Street
10451-270 Unidentified
10451-271-274 System board study at G. E. Co, NY
10451-275 En route to G. E. Co. Schenectady, NY by train
10451-276 Carl Fagrelius and Hugh Mangskau
10451-277 Bowdle
10451-278-279 Touring Garrison plant
10451-280 Meter school, 1947
10451-281 Touring Garrison plant
10451-282 Mobridge substation
10451-283-285 Bowdle
10451-286 Unidentified
10451-287 Wishek substation
10451-288 Unidentified
10451-289 Unidentified
10451-290 Mandan refinery
10451-291 Bismarck
10451-292-294 Heskett station
10451-295 Wishek substation
10451-296 Bowdle, March 4, 1953
10451-297 Elgin substation
10451-298 Bismarck substation
10451-299-303 Elgin substation, 1950s
10451-304 Hettinger, ND, 1950s
10451-305 Unidentified
10451-306 Lewis and Clark, Sidney, MT
10451-307 Dickinson substation
10451-308 Touring Garrison plant
10451-309 Unidentified Elks Lodge meeting
10451-310 Unidentified MDU substation
10451-311-313 emorial Bridge, Bismarck, ND
10451-314 H. L. Pearson, MDU Vice President of Power Plants, 1965
10451-315 Ben Thompson, address at Annual Electric Operating Meeting, Bismarck, 1965
10451-316 Coffee break at Annual Electric Operating Meeting, Bismarck, 1960s
10451-317 Ben Thompson, a/c Vice President, 1965
10451-318 Clark Hostfield address at Annual Electric Operating Meeting, Bismarck, 1965
10451-319 Crane, Heskett Plant, Mandan, 1956
10451-320 Kty R.
10451-321 Hebron substation looking west
10451-322 Hebron substation looking north and up, by-pass switches for regulators and metering equipment, March 10, 1949
10451-323 Hebron substation looking toward the northeast, March 10, 1949
10451-324 Hebron substation looking east toward brickyard, March 10, 1949
10451-325 Hebron substation looking south, by-pass switches for regulators and metering equipment
10451-326 Hebron substation looking south
10451-327 Hebron substation looking north
10451-328-339 Unidentified, ca. 1940s
10451-340 Beulah substation facing northwest
10451-341-346 Unidentified
10451-347-369 Views of and work at an unidentified substation
10451-370 Unidentified
10451-371-381 Wishek substation, November 23, 1959 (each photo has additional descriptive information)
10451-382-388 Bowdle substation, February 12, 1958 (each photo has additional descriptive information)
10451-389 Left to right: George Alexander (G.E. Co.) Peter Tamm, unidentified and Herman Fulbrugge, 1960s
10451-390 Bismarck staff meeting, 1960s
10451-391 Employees coffee party, 1960s
10451-392 Walt Renden and Bill DuVall checking our new driver testing equipment, 1960s
10451-393 Tour, Heskett station, 1954
10451-394 Heskett station, facing camera: Warren VanTassel (R) and Judge Harris (L), 1950s
10451-395 Heskett station, 1950s
10451-396 Heskett station tour, 1950s
10451-397 Sidney power plant in middle Harry Pearson
10451-398 MDU plant tour, Herman Fulbrugge pointing, 1950s
10451-399 Robert Crawford, Refrigeration Engineer, 1950s
10451-400 Substation at Front between 3rd and 4th Streets, 1950s
10451-401-402 Power plant tour, 1950s
10451-403 Ray Schaefer, Bismarck plant Superintendent, 1950s
10451-404 John Chesire at Heskett Plant, 1960s
10451-405 Heskett power plant, 1960s
10451-406-407 Heskett power plant tour, 1960s
10451-408 Bismarck 4th and Front substation, 1960s
10451-409 Bismarck Country Club, 1960s
10451-410 East Bismarck substation construction, moving in transformer, 1960s
10451-411 Betty Frahm and her father
10451-412 Betty Frahm’s father
10451-413 Mark Walsh, 1950s
10451-414 Bismarck substation at Front and 4th, 1960s
10451-415 Heskett plant
10451-416 Heskett turbine torn down for maintenance
10451-417-418 Heskett plant
10451-419 Lewis and Clark plant, Sidney, MT
10451-420 Shaft to water wheel from turbine
10451-421-424 Bismarck Country Club
10451-425-426 Sidney, MT plant
10451-427 230KV structure
10451-428 South wall of Mobridge plant showing distribution circuit take off
10451-429 Unidentified group of men (at Garrison Dam?)
10451-430 Looking south into substation east of Mobridge plant
10451-431 Miles City, MT power plant
10451-432 Connecting sub to transmission line
10451-433 Armored transmission line
10451-434-436 Heskett Plant
10451-437 Bismarck (Country Club?)
10451-438 Heskett intake
10451-439 Unidentified gag photo
10451-440 MDU Company, 1950s: at board: Ray Pengra, in front of Pengra: Clark Gillespie, in front of right board back view: John Chesire
10451-441 Heskett plant, Terry (last name unknown), 1950s
10451-442 Bismarck ball park covered in snow, Front and Washington
10451-443 MDU company staff meeting, 1960s
10451-444 Bismarck, first Annual Electric Operating Meeting, August 1947
10451-445 Bismarck power plant, view from south
10451-446 Old power plant, Front Street
10451-447 Power production meeting, 1960s
10451-448 Mark Walsh, sales manager, 1950s
10451-449 Phil Nelson, Gas Superintendent, 1950s
10451-450 Walt Riecke, Electric Superintendent, 1950s
10451-451 Mickey McLarnon, Chief Accountant, 1950s
10451-452 Milt Reifschneider, Gas Engineer (later gas Superintendent), 1960s
10451-453 Warren Van Tassel, Power Production manager, 1960s
10451-454 Bob Nelson, Power Production manager, 1960s
10451-455 Walt Render, Bismarck Division Manager, 1960s
10451-456 Tony Bartolina, Gas Superintendent (later Assistant Division Manager), 1960s
10451-457 Ray Schaefer, Bismarck Plant Superintendent, 1960s
10451-458 Glendive, MT
10451-459 Bismarck substation, 1950s
10451-460 Bismarck 69KV substation, March 4, 1953
10451-461 Glendive, MT
10451-462 Mandan refinery
10451-463 NY board study
10451-464 Wishek substation, 1950s
10451-465 Beulah plant
10451-466 Bismarck substation, 1950s
10451-467-468 Heskett station
10451-469 Hettinger substation, 1950s
10451-470 Unidentified
10451-471 Dr. McNut (gag photo)
10451-472 Bismarck substation, 1950s
10451-473 Hettinger substation
10451-474 Unidentified
10451-475-476 Bismarck 69KV substation, March 4, 1953
10451-477 Wishek substation, 1950s
10451-478-480 Unidentified bus tour
10451-481 Unidentified, maybe Bismarck 69KV substation, March 4, 1953
10451-482-483 Bismarck 69KV substation, March 4, 1953
10451-484 Driving school
10451-485 Transportation structure, Martin Beach contractors
10451-486 69KV substation south of Bismarck plant
10451-487-488 Elgin substation
10451-489 Unidentified
10451-490 Beulah plant
10451-491 Lewis and Clark plant, Sidney, MT
10451-492-494 Unidentified
10451-495 Bismarck substation, 1960s
10451-496 Unidentified
10451-497 Beulah substation
10451-498 Bismarck substation
10451-499 Unidentified
10451-500 Bismarck 69KV substation, March 4, 1953
10451-501-502 Garrison Dam
10451-503-504 Unidentified
10451-505 Bismarck cooling tower
10451-506 Unidentified gag photograph
10451-507 Unidentified lecture or training
10451-508 Bismarck staff meeting
10451-509 Unidentified
10451-510-511 Lewis and Clark, Sidney, MT
10451-512 Mobridge plant and substation, station power bank in foreground
10451-513 Williston plant
10451-514 Annual Electric Operating meeting
10451-515-516 Unidentified
10451-517 Heskett Station
10451-518 Mobridge Moose Club building
10451-519 Williston plant
10451-520-521 ND badlands
10451-522 Unidentified
10451-523 Heskett Plant
10451-524 Derrick Motel, Glendive, MT
10451-525 Beulah Plant
10451-526 Western Electric wire reel
10451-527-538 Unidentified
10451-539 River north of Bismarck, Double Ditch
10451-540 Geographic marker, Geodetic Survey marker
10451-541 Underpass at Bismarck
10451-542 230KV structure
10451-543 Digging holes for structure
10451-544 Military cemetery
10451-545 Framing structure
10451-546 Garrison spillway
10451-547 Garrison Dam
10451-548 Unidentified
10451-549-550 Wishek sub structures
10451-551 Sales meeting
10451-552 Parking lot, Garrison Dam
10451-553 Sales meeting
10451-554 United Nations Building, NY
10451-555 Cathedral, NY
10451-556-557 Wishek substructures
10451-558 Lewis and Clark plant, Sidney, MT
10451-559 Contractor equipment
10451-560 Heskett plant tour
10451-561 Unidentified
10451-562 Hettinger substation
10451-563 Unidentified
10451-564 Southeast corner of Mandan power plant
10451-565-566 Garrison plant
10451-567 Garrison Dam
10451-568 Sales meeting
10451-569 Missouri River
10451-570-571 Probably Lewis and Clark Bridge across Missouri River, Bismarck
10451-572 Feed lot
10451-573 115KV structure
10451-574 Lewis and Clark tour
10451-575 USBR substation, Bismarck
10451-576 Wishek substation, March 4, 1953
10451-577 Angle structure
10451-578 Heskett plant
10451-579 Line west of Mandan
10451-580 Heskett plant
10451-581 Bismarck 69KV substation
10451-582 Laying underground conduit for wiring
10451-583 Contractor equipment
10451-584 Sand and gravel east of old Hettinger substation on driving way
10451-585 First structure east of Hettinger substation looking north showing conductor arrangement, July 10, 1953
10451-586 First structure east of Hettinger substation looking west showing
conductor arrangement, July 10, 1953
10451-587 First and second structures to east of Hettinger substation, shows restricted guying (?) space on second structure, July 10, 1953
10451-588-631 Probably Garrison Dam construction, ca. 1947-1953
10451-632-648 Photographs used in the September 1958 issue of the Mondakonian
10451-649 NY Board Study, Schenectady, NY, ca. March 1954
10451-650 Bowdle substation, switchboard, February 12, 1958
10451-651 Bowdle substation, carrier cabinet, February 12, 1958
10451-652 Bowdle substation, carrier cabinet, east wall, February 12, 1958
10451-653 Bowdle substation, battery charger, north side of east wall, February 12, 1958
10451-654-661 Unidentified
10451-662 Unidentified plant or substation, taken by Mohr, Mandan, ND, August 23, 1955
10451-663 Unidentified
10451-664-665 Unidentified, probably MDU female staff (or wives) at parties
10451-666-673 Graphs and pages, “Experiments in Color Vision,” by Edwin H. Land, from an unidentified textbook
10451-674 Knife River Coal Mine Co. large drag line named "the Beulah Bell" strip mining for lignite coal, 1950s
10451-675 ND Board Study, Schenectady, NY, March 30, 1960
10451-676 MDU Company employees, left to right: Dick Bennett, Dutch Liedle, Walter Rendon, 1960s
10451-677 Writing safety rule book, committee met at Bismarck Division office, 1960s
10451-678 Garrison Dam construction, 1950s
10451-679 Unidentified
10451-680 Bismarck Camera Club, 1950s
10451-681 Pouring concrete footings, Hettinger substation, 1960s
10451-682 Elgin substation, 1962
10451-683 Knife River Coal Mine, Beulah, 1960
10451-684 Knife River Coal Mine, Beulah, 1950s
10451-685 Bismarck Camera Club, 1950s
10451-686 Knife River Coal Mine, Beulah, 1950s
10451-687-693 Bismarck Camera Club, 1950s
10451-694 Aerial photograph of the ND Capitol, ca. 1952
10451-695 Knife River Coal Mine, Beulah, 1950s
10451-696 Company meeting, Bismarck Division office, 1960s
10451-697 Open house at Heskett Plant employees at turbine location, 1962
10451-698 Heskett Station operating personnel, John Cheshire, Chief Engineer (third from left), 1961
10451-699 Dispatch office, old Bismarck plant, 1950s
10451-700 Dispatchers, 1950s
10451-701 Heskett power plant, 1950s
10451-702 Heskett Station boiler operators observing fire bed, 1960
10451-703 Walter Sylvester in MDU dispatch office in power plant on Front Street between 3rd and 4th Streets, 1955
10451-704 MDU Company committee writing distribution construction, stds, 1961
10451-705 Bismarck Division staff meeting, 1950s
10451-706 MDU Co. Warehouse storeroom, 3rd Street and Front Avenue, Bismarck, 1962
10451-707 Rubber goods testing lab, Gene Horner, 1965
10451-708 Annual Electric Operating Meeting, Williston, ND, 1960
10451-709 Jake Wutzske, land agent for MDU, 1960s
10451-710 Gas turbine Williston ND power plant, mid 1960s
10451-711 R. M. Heskett Station plaque
10451-712-713 Unidentified meeting, Hugh Mangskau (fourth from right)
10451-714 Meeting, Bismarck division, hospitality room, 1970s
10451-715 Williston plant gas turbine equipment, 1960s
10451-716 Garrison Dam tail race, Riverdale, ND 1970
10451-717 Gas turbine, Williston ND power plant, mid 1960s
10451-718-719 Hayride with Trinity Luther League, cooked the food in this garage
10451-720 R. M. Heskett station under construction, 1950s
10451-721-722 R. M. Heskett station, 1950s
10451-723 Lineman installing armor rod on hi voltage transmission line, location unknown, 1960s
10451-724 Transmission line that connect in the Elgin substation
10451-725 Unidentified
10451-726 Unidentified (statue of George Washington)
10451-727 Hettinger substation, testing set-up, 1960s
10451-728 Hettinger substation, more testing for lightning protection, 1960s
10451-729 Hettinger substation, closing disconnect switch with hot stick, “Grd Fault neutralizer testing,” 1960s
10451-730 Hettinger substation, more lighting testing, 1960s
10451-731 Overall view of Hettinger substation where testing transpired, 1960s
10451-732 Hettinger substation, reading instruments, set-up for lightning tests, 1960s
10451-733 MDU personnel, Bismarck, 1960s. Front row, left to right: Mark Walsh, Walt Riecke, Hugh Mangskau, Walt Renden, John Cheshire, Ervin Bates; rear, left to right: Alvin Jacobsen, Warren Van Tassel, Ray Schaefer, Paul Angell, William DuVall, Milton Reifschnieder.
10451-734 Visiting engineers from Korea, with W. G. Render, Bismarck District Manager and Robert Nelson, plant supervisor, studying USA utility engineering and operation on Government program, 1960s
10451-735 Left to right: Walter Riecke (Dir. Elec. Supt.), Hugh Mangskau (General Supt. of Transportation and Distribution), Walter Renden (Bismarck Division Manager), John Cheshire (Bismarck plant superintendent)
10451-736 Bowdle, SD substation (Clarence Staff, operator), 1960s
10451-737 Meeting of MDU staff, company-wide personnel, Annual Electric Operating Meeting, Clarence Staff at far left, May 9, 1955
10451-738 Former Gilman Garage purchased by MDU about 1949 and used for electric service and meter personnel
10451-739 MDU personnel, Bismarck, 1960s: front row, left to right; Mark Walsh, Walter Riecke, Hugh Mangskau, Walter Renden, John Cheshire, Ervin Bates, Mark Scarff. Back row, left to right: Alvin Jacobsen, Warren Van Tassel, Ray Schaefer, Paul Angell, William DuVall, Milton Riefschnieder, Robert Nelson
10451-740-751 Unidentified
10451-752 Taxidermied deer
10451-753 Taxidermied antelope
10451-754 Closing Garrison Dam
10451-755 Horses in field, due west from Cathedral, Bismarck (ND), early
1950s
10451-756 Building an addition to the old Bismarck Power Plant located
between 3rd and 4th Streets on Front Avenue., construction in progress, 1948. Local contractor John Larson crane installing steel columns, etc.
10451-757 MDU Co. Heskett Station, 1960
10451-758 Men working on substation at Elgin (ND), ca. 1960
10451-759 Kids’ baseball game, ca. 1950s
10451-760 Contract crew building substation: Melvin Lange (Construction
Co. on extreme right, crew members are unknown), ca. 1950s
10451-761 Gauvey Rig & Trucking Inc. working on MDU line, ca. 1950s
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