Sucker Flat Mine Stereographs MSS.303

Finding aid prepared by Leilani Silver, Pamela Nett Kruger

Processing of this collection was funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and administered by the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR), Cataloging Hidden Special Collections and Archives program.

California State University, Chico, Special Collections, Meriam Library

400 West First Street

Chico, CA, 95929-0295

(530) 898-6342

SpecialCollections@csuchico.edu

6/1/2010

Title: Sucker Flat Mine Stereographs

Identifier/Call Number: MSS.303

Contributing Institution: California State University, Chico, Special Collections, Meriam Library

Language of Material: English

Container: 1

Physical Description: 0.2 Linear feet 1 Folder with 8 Stereographs

Date (inclusive): Between 1870 and 1871

Abstract: The stereographs in this collection contain photographs from between 1870 and 1871. They show hydraulic mining performed by the Gold Point Mining Company, Blue Point Gold Mine, Union Claim Mine, S.C.H.M. Company, and Rose Bar Claim at Sucker Flat, Yuba County, California.

Language of Materials note: English

Alternate Form of Material: No other forms of material.

creator: Mains & Shippy Photographs.

Arrangement note

Original

Biographical/Historical note

These stereographs depict images from the Sucker Flat Mine, Yuba County, California. The first hydraulic mining in the California decade of the Gold Rush (re: 1849-1860) was done at the Blue Point Mine in Sucker Flat near the town of Smartsville (Yuba County), California. It was here that the first large scale primitive methods of washing auferious gravels began. Because of the primitiveness of the water hoses, nozzles, and engineering used, the easy gold played out. Later (1864-1871) hydraulic mining technology was perfected, allowing for stronger penetration into gravels (and the greater loss of soil to the rivers) and mining again brought people to Sucker Flat.

These images depict the new mining operation, the town, and the day that the corporation (Blue Point Mining Company) was robbed (1871). Millions of dollars in gold were pulled from the ground at Sucker Flat, much of it shipped east to supply Union soldiers during the Civil War and the Indian Wars that followed (1865-Wounded Knee).

Mains and Shippy were transient photographers moving from place to place throughout the west

Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research without restriction.

Usage Restrictions

No restrictions.

Immediate Source of Acquisition note

Purchase, 1984

Scope and Contents note

The stereographs in this collection contain photographs from between 1870 and 1871. They show hydraulic mining performed by the Gold Point Mining Company, Blue Point Gold Mine, Union Claim Mine, S.C.H.M. Company, and Rose Bar Claim at Sucker Flat, Yuba County, California.

Two of the stereographs show a safe that was used by the mines at Sucker Flat. In one of them a man is standing next to a safe at Sucker Flat, and the following is written on the photograph, "Great clean up of the Blue Point Gold Mining Company", which portrays the robbery in 1871 of the Blue Point Mining Company. These stereographs are all from the series, "Scenes in California".

Material Cataloged Separately

Each stereograph has been cataloged separately and filed with the Historic Photograph Collection.

sc16764 -sc16771

Preferred Citation note

Sucker Flat Mine Stereographs, MSS 303, Special Collections, Meriam Library, California State University, Chico.

Processing Information note

Processing of the Sucker Flat Mine Stereographs was generously funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and administered by the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR). The [ABC repository] was awarded a Cataloging Hidden Special Collections and Archives grant from 2010-2012, "Uncovering California's Environmental Collections," in collaboration with eight additional special collections and archival repositories throughout the state and the California Digital Library (CDL). Grant objectives included processing of over 33 hidden collections related to the state's environment and environmental history. The collections document an array of important sub-topics such as irrigation, mining, forestry, agriculture, industry, land use, activism, and research. Together they form a multifaceted picture of the natural world and the way it was probed, altered, exploited and protected in California over the twentieth century. Finding aids are made available through the Online Archive of California (OAC).

Publication Rights

The library can only claim physical ownership of the collection. Users are responsible for satisfying any claimants of literary property.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Blue Point Gold Mine.

Gold Point Mining Company.

Rose Bar Claim.

S.C.H.M. Company.

Union Claim Mine.

Hydraulic Mining--California--Yuba County--Photographs.

Mines and mineral resources--California--Yuba County--Photographs.

Sucker Flat (Calif.)--Photographs.

Uncovering California's Environmental Collections Project

Yuba County (Calif.)--Photographs.

Item 1: sc16764 Photograph shows hydraulic mining at the Gold Point Mining Co., Sucker Flat, Yuba County, Calif. Stereograph from the series, "Scenes in California".

Item 2: sc16765 Photograph shows hydraulic mining at the Blue Point Gold Mine Company at Sucker Flat, Yuba County, Calif. Stereograph from the series, "Scenes in California"

Item 3: sc16766 Photograph shows hydraulic mining at the Union Claim Mine., Sucker Flat, Yuba County, Calif. Stereograph from the series, "Scenes in California".

Item 4: sc16767 Photograph shows hydraulic mining at the S.C.H.M. Company at Sucker Flat, Yuba County, Calif. Stereograph from the series, "Scenes in California".

Item 5: sc16768 Photograph shows hydraulic mining at the S.C.H.M. Company at Sucker Flat, Yuba County, Calif. Stereograph from the series, "Scenes in California".

Item 6: sc16769 Photograph shows a safe for use by mines at Sucker Flat, Yuba County, Calif. Stereograph from the series, "Scenes in California".

Item 7: sc16770 Photograph shows hydraulic mining at the Rose Bar Claim at Sucker Flat, Yuba County, Calif. Stereograph from the series, "Scenes in California".

Item 8: sc16771 Photograph shows a man standing next to a safe at Sucker Flat, Yuba County, Calif. Stereograph from the series, "Scenes in California". Written on photograph, "Great clean up of the Blue Point Gold Mining Company".