Jump to Content

Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
Nevada Mining Companies Collection
mssNevadam  
View entire collection guide What's This?
Search this collection
Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • 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