Inventory of the Reed Quicksilver Mine Collection

Sara Gunasekara
Processing of this collection was funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and administered by the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR), Cataloging Hidden Special Collections and Archives program.
Department of Special Collections
General Library
University of California, Davis
Davis, CA 95616-5292
Phone: (530) 752-1621
Fax: (530) 754-5758
Email: speccoll@ucdavis.edu
© 2013
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.


Creator: University of California, Davis. Library
Title: Reed Quicksilver Mine Collection
Date (inclusive): 1911-1931
Extent: 0.2 linear feet
Abstract: The Reed Quicksilver Mine was located in Yolo County, California. This small collection contains reports about the mine, several pieces of correspondence, as well as twenty-seven photographs of the mine property.
Physical location: Researchers should contact Special Collections to request collections, as many are stored offsite.
Repository: University of California, Davis. General Library. Depart. of Special Collections.
Davis, California 95616-5292
Collection number: MC251
Language of Material: Collection materials in English.

Administrative History

The Reed Quicksilver Mine was located in Yolo County, near the common corner of Yolo, Napa, and Lake Counties, about fourteen miles west of Rumsey. The mine first operated from 1870-1880. In 1916 the property was purchased by A.H. Breed.

Scope and Content

This small collection contains reports about the mine, several pieces of correspondence, as well as twenty-seven photographs of the mine property.

Arrangement of the Collection

The collection is arranged in three series: 1. Reports and Map, 2. Correspondence, 3. Photographs.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Mercury mines and mineral resources--California--Yolo County
Mineralogy--California--Yolo County
Yolo County (Calif.)--History
Uncovering California's Environmental Collections Project

Access

Collection is open for research.

Processing Information

Processing of the Reed Quicksilver Mine Collection was generously funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and administered by the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR). UC Davis Special Collections was awarded a Cataloging Hidden Special Collections and Archives grant from 2010-2012, "Uncovering California's Environmental Collections," in collaboration with eight additional special collections and archival repositories throughout the state and the California Digital Library (CDL). Grant objectives included processing hidden collections related to the state's environment and environmental history. The collections document an array of important sub-topics such as irrigation, mining, forestry, agriculture, industry, land use, activism, and research. Together they form a multifaceted picture of the natural world and the way it was probed, altered, exploited and protected in California over the twentieth century. Finding aids are made available through the Online Archive of California (OAC).
Sara Gunasekara processed this collection.

Acquisition Information

Extracted from D-016, Mining Records Collection.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Reed Quicksilver Mine Collection, MC251, Department of Special Collections, General Library, University of California, Davis.

Publication Rights

Copyright is protected by the copyright law, chapter 17, of the U.S. Code. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Department of Special Collections, General Library, University of California, Davis as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.

 

Series 1. Reports and Map 1911-1930

Scope and Content Note

Contains several reports about the mine, an inventory, and a map. Arranged chronologically.
Box MC251:1-3

Brief report of the Reed Quicksilver Mine 1911

Box MC251:4

Inventory, Reed Mine 1916 December 7

Box MC251:5

Report on the Reed Quicksilver Mine 1928 August 20

Box MC251:6

Report and Conclusions on Reed Quicksilver Mine, by J.H. Collier, Mining Engineer 1928 August 28

Box MC251:7

Recent Progress in the Metallurgy of Quicksilver, by W.G. Adamson 1929 September 28

Box MC251:8

Report on the Geology and Oil Possibilities of the Rumsey Hills, Yolo County, California, by N.L. Taliaferro 1930 October 28

Box MC251:9

Condensation of Mercury Fume, Hartman Condenser undated

Box MC251:10

Map of Reed Quicksilver Mine undated

 

Series 2. Correspondence 1911-1931

Scope and Content Note

Arranged chronologically.
Box MC251:11

Cross, Charles Mortimer to Otis Engs 1911 July 29

Box MC251:12-16

Gilman, C.E. to Arthur H. Breed and Harlow P. Bancroft 1917 February 23

Box MC251:17

Grotyohn, M. to Stockholders of Tonopah North Star Tunnel and Development Company 1928 August 30

Box MC251:18

Connolly, George E. to J.H. Collier 1931 February 4

 

Series 3. Photographs 1929-1930

Physical Description: 27 photographs

Scope and Content Note

Descriptions are taken from the back of the photographs. Arranged chronologically.
Box MC251:19

Old furnace at portal of upper tunnel built to handle 100 tons, but was a failure as it did not burn thr ore 1929 November 6

Box MC251:20

Mine camp, Mrs. Charles Valente at door of main building. Old boiler on this side and battery of eight condensers on far side of Davis Creek. 1929 November 6

Box MC251:21

Extreme north end of property. Upper camp with Andrews tunnel in next ridge and old workings above. View from Barren ridge. With J.H. Collier and L.E. Browne 1929 November 6

Box MC251:22

Portal of upper tunnel. H.E. Averell, L.E. Browne, J.H. Collier (panning). 1929 November 6

Box MC251:23

Looking down Davis Creek from Barren ridge toward old workings and 'big boulder' above lower tunnel. Note in lower center site of former furnace stack up hillside to left. With L.E. Browne and J.H. Collier 1929 November 6

Box MC251:24

Looking southerly over Knoxville, Napa County 1929 November 7

Box MC251:25

Lower tunnel with old workings and 'big boulder' above. Upper or old tunnel is on the same level as the road in this picture. 1929 November 7

Box MC251:26

Upper tunnel showing old furnace, boilers, etc. Looking across Davis Creek. Taken from point opposite lower tunnel. 1929 November 7

Box MC251:27

Open cut, showing high grade cinnabar, above upper tunnel. L.E. Browne, J.H. Collier 1930 January 6

Box MC251:28

Open cut above upper tunnel, L.E. Browne, J.H. Collier 1930 February 6

Box MC251:29-45

Reed Mine undated

Physical Description: 17 photographs