Hyde, Charles Gilman, 1874-1971

Biographical Information

Charles Gilman Hyde was born on May 7, 1874 in Yantic, Town of Norwich, Connecticut, the son of Rodney and Kate Rhode (Dickey) Hyde. He attended Norwich Academy and was graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a B.S. degree in sanitary engineering in 1896.

Charles Hyde married Margherita Isola on May 21, 1901 in Newton, Massachusetts, and had three daughters.

The first four years of Hyde's professional career were spent as an assistant engineer with the Massachusetts State Board of Health. He then journeyed to Pennsylvania where he worked on major water supply projects for the cities of Philadelphia and Harrisburg.

Hyde joined the faculty of the University of California in 1905 where he served continuously, except for service as a major in the Sanitary Corps, U.S. Army (1918-19), until he became emeritus in 1944. Following his retirement he remained extremely active as a consulting engineer and he engaged in major water projects the world over.

Professor Hyde was an extremely productive educator, scholar, consulting engineer, and statesman whose talents and counsel were sought from all segments of society. He was an inspiring teacher whose interests in students and their personal and professional welfare were truly distinguished. In addition to serving two years as dean of men (1926-28), his professional contributions were so numerous, original, and distinguished he became widely known as the "Dean of Sanitary Engineering of the West." His social and humanitarian interests were extensive, and he found time to serve for over twenty years on executive councils of the Boy Scouts of America, Berkeley YMCA, the Red Cross, and he was a long time active member of the Bohemian Club. He was also an active member of the First Congregational Church of Berkeley.

Professor Hyde's noteworthy accomplishments include the establishment of the first sanitary engineering educational program in the West, and his active leadership played a major role in the formation of a pioneering Bureau of Sanitary Engineering in the State Department of Public Health.

As an active consulting engineer, Hyde played a major role in shaping many of California's major water projects. He was responsible for the original water supply source selection and the design of the first Sacramento water treatment plant, which was an original and advanced contribution to technology. He served on many boards of consultants, which helped to set the pattern of environmental engineering practice as well as make an important contribution to California's health and ecology. Some of the notable projects include the comprehensive plans for the collection, treatment, and disposal of wastewater from the East Bay cities (now EBMUD), San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, the counties of Santa Clara and Orange, the cities of Auckland, New Zealand, and Vancouver, British Columbia.

A fitting summary of Hyde's life was made by President Robert Gordon Sproul upon the conferring of an honorary doctor of laws degree in 1944 when he summed up as follows:

"The West is a fairer, sweeter land because of his concentrated work on its water."

Professor Hyde died on September 21, 1971 at the age of 97.

From the guide to the Charles Gilman Hyde Papers, 1904-1956 (bulk 1930-1950), (Water Resources Collections and Archives)