Conditions Governing Access
Conditions Governing Use
Preferred Citation
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Biographical / Historical
Scope and Contents
Processing Information
Arrangement
General
Contributing Institution:
The Huntington Library
Title: Nevada Mining Companies collection
Identifier/Call Number: mssNevadam
Physical Description:
20.90 Linear Feet
(24 boxes and 27 volumes)
Date (inclusive): 1862-1901
Abstract: Collection of business papers of several mining companies including Savage Mining Company and the Hale and Norcross Mining
Company.
Language of Material: Materials are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more
information.
Conditions Governing Use
The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material,
nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and
obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item]. Nevada Mining Companies collection, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchased from William P. Wreden, August 1961 and June 1962.
Biographical / Historical
One of the earlier successful mines at the Comstock Lode in Nevada was the Savage, which commenced producing in 1863 and yielded
almost $8 million at its peak from 1865 to 1869. John P. Jones and Alvinza Hayward gained control of the Savage Mining Company
in 1871, but the boom collapsed when Hayward manipulated the stock of the mine. The Hale and Norcross Mine, controlled by
the Bank of California combine, was producing $2 million worth of ore in 1866 to 1867, but its stock fell rapidly in 1868.
The future Bonanza Kings (Fair, Flood, Mackay, and O'Brien) succeeded in buying up the stock and in taking control of the
Hale and Norcross in 1869, and the mine prospered until 1872. Many of the Comstock mines continued to operate for several
years, but never again produced the wealth that flowed during the boom from 1860 to 1880.
Scope and Contents
The collection consists of letters, documents, and bound volumes documenting the legal and business affairs of the Savage
Mining Company and the Hale and Norcross Mining Company. It includes receipts and disbursements, payrolls, bank books, time
books, stockholders' statements and accounts, reports on ore extracted, and assays, vouchers, etc. The collection also includes
letters to mining superintendents, a few pertaining to the mining town of Bodie, California, and some material concerning
operations of the U.S. Mint in Carson City, Nevada, from 1888 to 1889.
Processing Information
Processed by H. Noya in 1962. In 2022, Brooke M. Black created a finding aid.
Arrangement
Arranged in the following series: 1. Business papers (loose); 2. Business papers (bound volumes).
General
Former call number: mssNevada Mining Companies.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Mines and mineral resources -- Nevada -- Comstock Lode
Mining corporations -- Nevada
Silver mines and mining -- Nevada
Bodie (Calif.) -- History -- 19th century -- Sources
Carson City (Nev.) -- History -- 19th century -- Sources
Comstock Lode (Nev.) -- History -- 19th century -- Sources
Nevada -- History -- 19th century -- Sources
Account books -- Nevada -- 19th century
Business records -- Nevada -- 19th century
Letters (correspondence) -- Nevada -- 19th century
Payrolls -- Nevada -- 19th century
Receipts -- Nevada -- 19th century
Reports -- Nevada -- 19th century
Hale and Norcross Silver Mining Company -- Archives
Savage Mining Company (Virginia City, Nev.) -- Archives
United States Mint