Search

Kemp was a consulting engineer and industrial archaeologist for the restoration of the tide lock and basin to help with a revitalization project for Alexandria, Virginia. The box includes the Preliminary Archaeological Survey Report, field notes, pamphlets, photos, correspondence, clippings, and a consulting agreement. Additionally, it includes pamphlets on the history of the City of Alexandria. The box includes facsimile correspondence with the United States Department of Commerce regarding the Geodetic Survey maps and charts, facsimile newspapers, reports and reference lists regarding those facsimiles. Finally, the box includes original slides that show engineering drawings of the canal. The following oversize materials were moved to Map Cabinet 12, Drawer 4, Folder 8: 18 sheets of facsimile and original newspapers (1831-1845, 1976-1985, and undated), 10 maps (1838, 1877-1884, 1949-1973 and undated), 1 illustration (undated).

Kemp conducted research on bridge patents. He may have been preparing for writing articles and books about bridge patents, including American Bridge Patents: The First Century (1790-1890). It includes correspondence, reports, floppy disks and facsimiles of the following: book excerpts, clippings, engineering drawings, and patent applications. Subjects include bridges, the patenting process, covered bridges, Burr truss bridges, bridge engineers and engineering developments. Correspondents include Richard Sanders Allen. The following oversized items were moved to Box 343: three sheets of a scholarly article (1857) and two sheets of engineering drawings (1857).

Kemp maintained research files about bridges and assisted in planning the historical marker about the Brownsville Cast Iron Arch Bridge (also called the Dunlap's Creek Bridge) in Brownsville, Pennsylvania. The box includes correspondence, photographic prints, photographic slides, scholarly journal articles, reports, student papers, event programs and newsletters. The box also includes the following facsimiles: correspondence, reports, photographs, journal articles, book excerpts, clippings and engineering drawings. Subjects include the Brownsville Cast Iron Arch Bridge, bridges of Europe and North America, engineering, railroad bridges, the history of bridge architecture in the United States and bridge construction. The following oversize items were moved to Map Cabinet 12, Drawer 11, Folder 4: one map (1987), ten sheets of clippings (1883-1885 and undated), and three engineering drawings (1987 and undated).

Kemp researched Charles Ellet Jr. as part of his restoration of the Wheeling Suspension Bridge, and he eventually published several articles on the nineteenth century engineer. Kemp received assistance from Don Sayenga, who was researching John A. Roebling. This box contains materials from Kemp's research, including correspondence, transcriptions of correspondence, Congressional series, reports, drawings, and brochures. The box also includes facsimiles of the following: book excerpts, correspondence, student papers, engineering drawings, drawings, bound copies of the United States Congressional Series Set, maps, notes, reports, and clippings. Subjects include the Wheeling and Belmont Bridge Company; the Fairmount Bridge over the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania; the Niagara Suspension Bridge over the Niagara River connecting Niagara Falls, Niagara County, New York and Niagara Falls, Ontario in Canada; anchorages on the Wheeling Suspension Bridge over the Ohio River in Wheeling, Ohio County, West Virginia; the proposal for a bridge over the Potomac River; canals; and bridge cables. The following oversized items were moved to Box 345: seven facsimile engineering drawings (undated).

Kemp maintained a set of facsimile files on historic suspension bridges to conduct further research. This box includes postcards, reports, essays, books, slides, photographs, correspondence, journal articles, brochures, and research notes. It also includes facsimiles of the following: book excerpts, correspondence, maps, bound copies of the United States Congressional Series Set and court records, patents, journal articles, logs, clippings, ephemera and reports. Subjects include James Finley, Timothy Palmer, John Templeman, and civil engineering in the United States. Subjects especially focus on Pennsylvania and West Virginia suspension bridges, especially the bridges over the Lehigh River, the Juniata Crossing Bridge over the Juniata River, the Spider Bridge at Falls of Schuylkill over the Schuylkill River, and the Chain Bridge over the Potomac River. The following oversize items were moved to Map Cabinet 12, Drawer 9, Folder 2: 1 sheet of brochures (undated), 4 sheets of engineering drawings (1904 and undated), 7 sheets of logs (undated), 4 sheets of New Jersey state government records (1795-1804), 1 poster (1980), 3 sheets of journal articles (1937), 1 sheet of book excerpt (undated), 42 sheets of clippings (1811, 1904-1911, 1975-1980).

Kemp maintained a set of facsimile files on historic suspension bridges to conduct further research. The box includes correspondence, handwritten and typed notes, journal articles, newsletters and facsimiles of the following: book excerpts, correspondence, clippings, reports, photographs, and engineering drawings. Subjects include suspension bridges, long span suspension bridges, structural engineering, railroad bridges, structural analysis, stiffening girders for suspension bridges, Faustus Verantius and suspension bridges of China, South America, the Alps Mountains, and the Himalayan Mountains. The following oversize items were moved to Map Cabinet 12, Drawer 9, Folder 4: 3 pages of clippings (1860 and 1984), 18 pages of engineering drawings (undated), 2 sheets of illustrations (1833), and 13 sheets of book excerpts (1855-1856).

Kemp maintained a set of facsimile files on historic suspension bridges to conduct further research. This box contains clippings, articles, books, reports, handwritten notes, photographs, certificates and correspondence. It also includes facsimiles of the following: book excerpts, journal articles, engineering drawings, maps, handwritten notes, lists, dissertations, photographs, drawings, correspondence, and clippings. Subjects include bridges in the United States, the Czech Republic and the British Isles; Montrose Bridge in Montrose, Scotland; Trinity Chain Pier in Edinburgh, Scotland; Brighton Chain Pier (also known as Royal Suspension Chain Pier) in Brighton, England; Findhorn Bridge in Inverness, Scotland; Menai Suspension Bridge in Anglesay, Scotland; the Runcorn Railway Bridge in Cheshire, England; the Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol, England; the Yarmouth Suspension Bridge disaster in Great Yarmouth, England; and the Union Chain Bridge in Horncliffe, England. Other subjects include Davies Gilbert and Thomas Telford. The following oversize items were moved to Box 344: 27 pages of book excerpts (1823-1828) and 1 page of clipping (1992).

While working for Ove Arup, Kemp researched I.K. Brunel and the construction of the Renkioi Hospital during the Crimean War in Turkey. Brunel also surveyed the Great Western Railway, where he suggested using cable technology to navigate steep passages that the rail cars might not be able to mount unassisted. The cable-based incline technology was fundamental in designing two Pittsburgh inclines. While serving on the ASCE's Committee for the History and Heritage of American Civil Engineering, Kemp deliberated about granting National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark status to the inclines. The box includes materials from both parts of Kemp's career, including handwritten notes, typewritten notes, articles, correspondence, Historic Civil Engineering Landmarks nomination forms, brochures, clippings, records from the state legislature, reports, scholarly journal articles and photographic prints. The box also includes facsimiles of the following: correspondence, scholarly journal articles, clippings, press releases, book excerpts, budget lists, and engineering drawings. Subjects include I.K. Brunel, Renkioi Hospital, canal tunnels, British canals (especially the Huddersfield Narrow Canal), and the Monongahela and Duquesne Inclines in Pittsburgh. The following oversize items were moved to Map Cabinet 12, Drawer 15, Folder 3: 55 sheets of facsimile report (undated), 1 map (undated), 1 clipping (1983), and 1 engineering drawing (1857).

Kemp researched canals. The box includes pamphlets, memorandums, facsimile articles, magazine excerpts, HAER report, correspondence, diagrams, photos, and a book. Subjects include canals in New York, Pennsylvania, and Atlantic Sea Coast. Subjects also include the C&O Canal's Conococheague Creek Aqueduct in Williamsport, Washington County, Maryland; the Schuylkill Navigation Company Lock #39; New York locks; pioneer boats; and transportation on the Upper James River. The following oversize materials were moved to Map Cabinet 12, Drawer 4, Folder 4: four pamphlets (1983 and undated), five maps (1978-1998 and undated), eight sheets of clippings (undated).