Through hundreds of photos and letters, this fascinating archive of primarily material tells the story of Harry L. Armstrong, an early employee for the Imperial Irrigation District.

On or just before October 15, 1920, Harold L. Armstrong arrived in Calexico, California to begin working for the Imperial Irrigation District (IID), writing that he:

“Arrived all OK in on of the hardest + livest towns on the boarder [sic.]. There are sure some hard looking gentlemen in this town. They look as if they would be glad enough to accommodate one in any capacity what so ever, so guess I’ll have to treat the straight and narrow from now on. The job or position what ever you are willing to call it sure looks promising, that is if I can seclude my dumbness for a short time. But if I can stick on it will sure be an education and from here can get by any place in this wide wide world.”

From his descriptions, captured across many letters to the woman he was courting, Ruth Mitchell of Los Angeles, Calexico didn’t have much to recommend it. “After mailing your letter last night, [my friend] Don and I proceeded to take in the town by night which however didn’t take long.”

In his free time, when he wasn’t waiting for letters to Ruth, Armstrong would travel across the border into Mexicali. It doesn’t seem to have appealed to Armstrong any more than Calexico did. “We started looking about town, of which there isn’t much to talk of really. You know, it isn’t anything like I expected it to be, but presume when the gambling opens up it will be more of a town.” Mexicali, which currently boasts a population of around 650,000, was significantly smaller in the 1920’s, with around 6,000 residents.

Still, he managed to find things to do. “The American Legion is having a carnival here so of course had to take in some of the shows.” ’This afternoon we went to a ball game, Mexicali with Calexico, it sure was the bunk.” There are references to seeing films, including the lost 1919 war drama Soldiers of Fortune, and a traveling minstrel show. In January of 1921, he writes with anticipation of a new saloon about to open. There are occasional descriptions of the area, such as this lengthy passage from late October:

“Just got back from that trip which was about fifty miles out + the same back making about one hundred miles and Oh!, such roads. All was very interesting. Of course I have heard of this project all my life but never thought for one minute that it was large as it is. It has cost many millions of dollars and is still costing many and you should have seen the ducks, quail, doves, and almost every kind of bird you could think of and in hundreds and last but not least even sea gulls. We went by Fords or Henrys for about half the distance and then from the half way point we will say we took motor cars by rail going by what is called Black Bute or in other words a volcano which they said was expecting about three years ago. And all around in there are masses of bubbling springs of hot sulphur water which runs down into a kind of a lake + the fellow who was taking us says that in the AM if you are up early enough you can see the steam rising from the water + also that lots of people come there for mud baths etc. From here we went to what is called Cocopah Quarry where we had some dinner.”

Much of Armstrong’s writing concerns Ruth, and his affections for her. There is no subject Armstrong cannot turn back to Ruth. In one letter he writes, “Of course I could go into Yuma every now and then but about once a week is plenty for me, as the roads are might rough. But Honey Girl the old roads will have to be some rough for me to stay away from you.”

Armstrong apparently worked in accounts in some capacity. Between his declarations of love and various pet names for Ruth, he also discusses his work balancing the books and sending invoices. As well, in addition to the letters there are four notebooks containing what appear to be lists of employee payments.

In addition to the manuscript material, there are numerous photographs showing projects completed by the IID, such as a rather artistic show of an electrified dam at night. There is also a portrait, presumably of Armstrong, seated at his desk. Also included are photographs of Armstrong’s time serving in WWI, and an album with personal portraits and leisure trips.

IID was and remains to this day the irrigation district responsible for supplying water from the Colorado River to urban areas located within the Imperial Valley. El Centro, Calexico, and Coachella number among the cities to which it provides water. Formed in 1911, IID has been since 2003 a part of the Quantification Settlement Agreement, created to manage California’s allotment of water from the Colorado River. IID also provides electric power to approximately 150,000 customers.