Schwalen, Harold Christy, 1895-1987

Agricultural engineer and chairman of University of Arizona Agricultural Engineering Dept., of Tucson, Ariz.

From the description of Papers, ca. 1919-1964. (University of Arizona). WorldCat record id: 29309332

Agricultural engineer, University of Arizona, 1919-1965. Head of Agriculture Engineering Dept., 1949-1959. Served with Guayule Emergency Rubber Project, U.S.D.A., 1942-1943.

From the description of Harold Christy Schwalen papers, 1896-1967 (bulk 1919-1965). (University of Arizona). WorldCat record id: 31688377

Harold Christy Schwalen was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, on August 1, 1895. He moved to Tucson in 1904, where he attended public school. The University of Arizona awarded his B.S., Mechanical Engineering in 1917; M.S., Civil Engineering, in 1925; and C.E. Professional degree in 1946. Between 1930 and 1931, Schwalen attended the Universities of Iowa and Wisconsin for advanced course work in hydrology and geology. Schwalen joined the faculty of the Agricultural Engineering Department in 1919, after two years' service with the 340th Field Artillery in France during World War I. He terminated active service with the University in 1965, having achieved the longest record of full-time service of any person who has ever retired from the University of Arizona.

During his years with the Department of Agriculture Engineering, Schwalen served as Assistant Irrigation Engineer; Assistant Agricultural Engineer at the Arizona Agricultural Experiment Station, Professor and Head of the Agricultural Engineering Department between 1945 and 1959, and Professor and Agricultural Engineer to 1965.The quality of his service was commensurate with the length of time he served the University. His name was virtually synonymous with the University in matters relating to agricultural engineering and particularly with reference to problems of water supply and usage in the state of Arizona.

His research dealt with the location, drilling, and testing of irrigation wells, the design and operation of pumping plants, and the conveyance of irrigation water from the point of supply to crop land. Other work concerned the diversion of flood waters in the recharging of underground reservoirs and the maintenance of water resources. His reports and publications concerning his research have been widely used in furthering water conservation and development in Arizona and the nation.

During World War II, Schwalen was granted leave to accept the appointment, Senior Irrigation Engineer for the Guayule Emergeny Rubber Project U. S. D. A., 1942-1943.

Schwalen held memberships in Kappa Sigma fraternity, the Masonic Lodge, Tucson Rotary Club, and the Old Pueblo Club. He additionally belonged to numerous professional and learned societies. He was a member of the committee on groundwater of the American Society of Civil Engineers; president and director, Arizona Section, American Society of Civil Engineers, president, Pacific Coast Section; and Arizona director of the National Reclamation Association. He is listed in Who's Who in America, Who's Who in Engineering, and American Men of Science .

From the guide to the Harold Christy Schwalen papers, 1896-1967 (bulk 1919-1965), (University of Arizona Libraries, Special Collections)