American Smelting & Refining Company. Tacoma Smelter records, 1915-1928

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Summary

Creators:
American Smelting and Refining Company. Tacoma Smelter
Abstract:
This collection of photographs and retention letters deals with the Tacoma Smelter in Ruston, Washington, that when finally closed in 1985, was one of the largest Superfund sites in America.
Extent:
75 items in 1 box
Language:
The records are in English .

Background

Scope and content:

There are 46 8"x10" black and white photographs (three are duplicates) of the expansion of the plant and the construction of the smokestack. All of the photos but two are identified and date between1915 to 1917.

The retention copies primarily consist of correspondence between H.Y. Walter, who was the manager of the Tacoma plant, and Edgar L. Newhouse, Jr., who was a mining magnate in Salt Lake City, Utah. The subject matter concerns business operations including negotiating rates and offering quotes to the White Caps Mining Company. The dates of the correspondence range from 1907 to 1928 (bulk 1919-1923).

Biographical / historical:

The American Smelting and Refining Company (ASARCO) plant located in Tacoma, Washington was originally the Ryan Smelter, a lead-refining company, established by Dennis Ryan in 1887. William R. Rust (1850-1928) purchased the site in 1889 and changed the name to the Tacoma Smelting and Refining Company. In 1905, Rust sold the plant for $5.5 million to ASARCO, which converted the lead-refining plant to copper smelting and refining. The Tacoma smelter also produced arsenic trioxide, sulfuric acid and precious metals throughout most of the 20th century.

The ASARCO Tacoma plant was declared a Superfund site in 1983 and was demolished on January 17, 1993.

Acquisition information:
Purchased from Ken Sanders Rare Books, January 2015.
Rules or conventions:
Finding Aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
Website