Abstract
More than a century ago, Clyde C. Kennedy and Harry N. Jenks were former alumni and active competitors whose separate sanitary engineering firms thrived for decades before joining forces after the death of both men. That merger resulted in something greater than either company was, solo. Together, their body of work is so extensive that it is difficult to recall it all, running the risk of being forgotten. To preserve some of this important information, the leadership of Kennedy Jenks commissioned a commemorative book of its history, "Since 1919." This thesis attempts to show that the firm was a strong contributor to advancing Western settlement in the U.S. by improving public health through innovative water purification and distribution.