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Finding aid to the Shea Copper Company Records, 1916-1937
MS.200
MS.200
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Table of contents
Title: Shea Copper Company Records
Identifier/Call Number: MS.200
Contributing Institution:
Autry National Center, Braun Research Library
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
1.5 Linear feet
(2 boxes)
Date (bulk): Bulk, 1922-1929
Date (inclusive): 1916-1937
Abstract: These are some of the records of the Shea Copper Company from 1916-1937. Included are administrative papers, stock certificates,
and correspondence regarding transfer requests.
creator:
Connolly, John P., mayor
creator:
Engelder, Oscar G.
creator:
Grand Island Mining Company.
creator:
Shea Copper Company (Jerome, Ariz.)
creator:
Shea, Daniel J.
Collection is open for research. Appointments to view materials are required. To make an appointment please visit http://theautry.org/research/research-rules-and-application
or contact library staff at rroom@theautry.org
Shea Copper Company Records, 1916-1937, Braun Research Library, Autry National Center, Los Angeles; MS.200; [folder number] [folder title][date].
Patrick T. Houlihan donation, 1986.
Daniel J. Shea (b. circa 1865, d. 1935) was a prominent local businessman in Jerome, Arizona, a mining town known as “The
Billion Dollar Mining Camp.” In December 1914, the United Verde Extension hit an extraordinarily rich copper deposit. This
copper strike led to a mining boom in Jerome, during which it received its nickname. As many as 75 new mining companies formed
and filed claims on the land surrounding Jerome, including the Shea Copper Company, incorporated by Dan Shea. Trading in shares
occurred, but it is not known if the Company ever produced any copper and it may have failed to find commercial mineral reserves.
According to a Western Union telegram dated June 14, 1929 from the company's vice president, John P. Connolly, the Shea Copper
Company ceased operation in June 1924 and the mine was “abandoned for the present.” Shares in the company were sold at least
through the 1930s.
At some point during the 1910s, Dan Shea moved to Redondo Beach, California, where he stayed until his death in 1935. He owned
orange groves in Anaheim and invested in local real estate. At the time of his death he held extensive real estate holdings
in both Arizona and Southern California.
This collection of records from the Shea Copper Company includes administrative items such as checks, certificate records,
invoices, signed receipts, and registered mail receipts. The majority of the collection is correspondence, especially transfer
requests with stock certificates. Besides Shea Copper Company, there are certificates for Grand Island Mining Company and
Niogos Oil Company. There is also correspondence from vice president John P. Connolly, who would later become Mayor of Jerome,
Arizona, and Oscar G. Engelder, secretary and manager.
Patrick T. Houlihan purchased this collection from Peter Hester of Camp Verde, Arizona in 1986. Hester purchased the collection
at a yard sale in Cottonwood, Arizona.
Administrative records followed by correspondence, arranged alphabetically by most recent certificate owner.
John P. Connolly papers, 1920s-1940s, Cline Library, etc. NAU.MS.137
Perry M. Ling Collection, 1898-1945, Cline Library Special Collections and Archives Dept., Northern Arizona University, NAU.MS.93
Shea Copper Company records, 1916-1920s, Cline Library Special Collections and Archives Dept., Northern Arizona University, NAU.MS.150
Shea Copper Company and John Connelly records, Jerome Historical Society, Jerome AZ.
Copyright has not been assigned to the Braun Research Library at the Autry National Center. All requests for permission to
publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Autry Archivist. Permission for publication is given
on behalf of the Autry National Center as the custodian of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission
of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.
Initial processing performed by Liza Posas and volunteer Dennis Harbach in 2010. Background research and notes provided by
Eloise Nelson, Braun Research Library Intern, 2011 June 8. Finding aid completed by Holly Rose Larson, NHPRC Processing Archivist,
2011, made possible through grant funding from the National Historical Publications and Records Commissions (NHPRC).
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Niogos Oil Company.
United Verde Extension Mining Company.
Arizona -- History
Certificates
Checks
Copper mines and mining -- Arizona
Correspondence
Invoices
Jerome (Ariz.)
Receipts (financial records)
Stock certificates