Finding aid to the Shea Copper Company Records, 1916-1937 MS.200
Eloise Nelson and Holly Rose Larson
Library and Archives at the Autry
2011
210 South Victory Blvd.
Burbank, CA 91502
rroom@theautry.org
Contributing Institution:
Library and Archives at the Autry
Title: Shea Copper Company Records
Creator:
Shea Copper Company (Jerome, Ariz.)
Creator:
Grand Island Mining Company
Creator:
Engelder, Oscar G.
Creator:
Connolly, John P., mayor
Creator:
Shea, Daniel J.
Identifier/Call Number: MS.200
Physical Description:
2 Linear Feet
(3 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1916-1937
Date (bulk): 1922-1929
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.
Language of Material:
English
.
Appointments to view materials are required. To make an appointment please visit
https://theautry.org/research-collections/library-and-archives and fill out the Researcher Application Form.
Shea Copper Company Records, 1916-1937, Braun Research Library Collection, Autry Museum of the American West, Los Angeles; MS.200; [folder number] [folder
title][date].
Patrick T. Houlihan donation, 1986.
Daniel J. Shea (circa 1865 - 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 1929 June 14 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, check and deposit register,
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 papersk 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 Autry Museum of the American West. All requests for permission to publish or quote
from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Research Services and Archives. Permission for publication is
given on behalf of the Autry Museum of the American West 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). Check
and deposit register added to collection 2015 October 30 by Mallory Furnier.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Checks
Jerome (Ariz.)
Certificates
Arizona -- History
Correspondence
Stock certificates
Invoices
Receipts (financial records)
Copper mines and mining -- Arizona
Niogos Oil Company
United Verde Extension Mining Company