Inventory of the R.A.F. Penrose miscellaneous correspondence
Finding aid prepared by Hoover Institution Library and Archives Staff
Hoover Institution Library and Archives
© 2011
434 Galvez Mall
Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-6003
hoover-library-archives@stanford.edu
Title: R.A.F. Penrose miscellaneous correspondence
Date (inclusive): 1897-1928
Collection Number: 2005C23
Contributing Institution: Hoover Institution Library and Archives
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
1 manuscript box
(0.4 Linear Feet)
Abstract: Consists primarily of letters received from Herbert Hoover, relating to international mining, World War I Belgian relief,
and American politics.
Creator:
Hoover, Herbert, 1874-1964
Creator:
Penrose, R. A. F.
Physical Location: Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Access
The collection is open for research; materials must be requested in advance via our reservation system. If there are audiovisual
or digital media material in the collection, they must be reformatted before providing access.
Use
For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
Acquisition Information
Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library & Archives in 2004.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], R.A.F. Penrose miscellaneous correspondence, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution
Library & Archives.
Alternative Forms of Material Available
Several of the letters in this collection are reproduced in the book,
Life and Letters of R.A.F. Penrose, edited by Helen R. Fairbanks and Charles P. Berkey (New York: Geological Society of America, 1952).
Biographical/Historical Note
| 1863, December 17 |
Born, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| 1885 |
Obtains Ph.D. from Harvard University |
| 1886-1888 |
Manager of mines, Anglo-Canadian Phosphate Company |
| Circa 1880s-1890s |
Works as field geologist, best known for his work of surveying mines and claims at Cripple Creek, Colorado (1894-1895) |
| 1892-1911 |
Associate, and later full, Professor of Economic Geology, University of Chicago |
| 1895-1903 |
Co-founder, and later president, Commonwealth Mining and Milling Company, Territory of Arizona |
| 1899-1915 |
Director of Cripple Creek Sampling and Ore Company, Colorado; member of executive committee of the Hanover Bessemer Iron Ore
Association, Fierro, New Mexico
|
| 1903 |
Co-founds Utah Copper Company, which subsequently develops the Bingham Canyon mine |
| 1920-1921 |
Founder and first president, Society of Economic Geologists |
| 1930 |
Elected President, Geological Society of America |
| 1931, July 31 |
Dies, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
Scope and Content of Collection
The R.A.F. Penrose miscellaneous correspondence consists primarily of letters received from Herbert Hoover, relating to international
mining and World War I Belgian relief, as well as related correspondence from others about Hoover and his activities, such
as Belgian relief and Hoover's campaign for the presidency in 1928.
Hoover's first contact with Penrose appears to have been during his days as a geology student at Stanford University. The
earliest correspondence from Hoover to Penrose in this collection, however, dates from 1897, two years after Hoover's graduation,
when he sought a recommendation letter from Penrose for a job he was applying for: that of a mining engineer with the British
firm of Bewick, Moreing and Company. Hoover's successive appointments with Bewick, Moreing in Western Australia and in China
laid the foundation for his successful career as a mining engineer, and several of his letters to Penrose detail his earliest
activities, plans, and ambitions in these places. In addition, Hoover provided detailed descriptions of mining prospects,
wrote to Penrose seeking recommendations on staff to hire, and on one occasion asked Penrose for information regarding gold
deposits in Colorado, which Penrose had surveyed during the previous decade.
Later correspondence to Penrose, as well as correspondence from others to Penrose, dealt largely with Hoover's activities
as the chairman of the Commission for Relief in Belgium in World War I. Included is a group of letters between Penrose and
his brother, U.S. Senator Boies Penrose, who was reluctant to lend his support to Hoover's activities.
The collection was acquired in 2004 from Custodians of History, in Plymouth, Massachusetts.
Sources:
Dictionary of American Biography, 1936; Website, National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum, www.mininghalloffame.org/ , accessed May 2011.
Arrangement
The R.A.F. Penrose Miscellaneous correspondence collection is divided into two series: Correspondence, Herbert Hoover to R.A.F.
Penrose; and Other correspondence related to Herbert Hoover. Both series are arranged chronologically.
Related Materials
Sir Alfred Chester Beatty correspondence, Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Bewick, Moreing and Company miscellaneous records, Hoover Institution Library & Archives
William Joseph Loring papers, Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Broken Hill Mines, engravings, Hoover Institution Library & Archives
R.A.F. Penrose correspondence and papers, American Philosophical Society
Pre-Commerce papers, Herbert Hoover papers, Herbert Hoover Presidential Library, West Branch, IA
Subjects and Indexing Terms
World War, 1914-1918 -- Civilian relief
Mines and mineral resources
United States -- Politics and government -- 1923-1929
Commission for Relief in Belgium (1914-1930)
Correspondence, Herbert Hoover to R.A.F. Penrose
1897-1917
Scope and Contents note
Contains correspondence from Hoover to Penrose, related primarily to mines and mining in various parts of the world, as well
as humanitarian relief work in Belgium during World War I. Arranged chronologically.
box 1, folder 1
February 7, Berkeley, California
box 1, folder 3
March 17, Berkeley, California
box 1, folder 5
November 21, Coolgardie, Western Australia
box 1, folder 6
April 2, Coolgardie, Western Australia
box 1, folder 7
July 9, Tientsin (Tianjin), China
box 1, folder 8
January 20, Tientsin (Tianjin), China
box 1, folder 9
February 15, Tientsin (Tianjin), China
box 1, folder 13
May 17, Monterey, California
Other correspondence related to Herbert Hoover
1906-1928
Scope and Contents note
Primarily correspondence about Hoover's activities related to humanitarian relief, as well as his campaign for president in
1928. Arranged chronologically.
box 1, folder 24
F.A. Govett to Herbert Hoover
1906
box 1, folder 25
Lou Henry Hoover to R.A.F. Penrose, concerning Herbert Hoover's book, Principles of Mining, circa
1909
box 1, folder 26
R.A.F. Penrose to Herbert Hoover
1915
box 1, folder 27
Ellen Coit Elliott to R.A.F. Penrose, concerning Belgian relief fundraising activities at Stanford University
1916
box 1, folder 28
R.A.F. Penrose to Alonzo Taylor
1916
box 1, folder 29
Correspondence between R.A.F. Penrose and his brother, Senator Boies Penrose, regarding Hoover's activities
1917
box 1, folder 30
Bradley Stoughton to R.A.F. Penrose, regarding election of Herbert Hoover honorary as honorary member of the American Institute
of Mining Engineers
1917
box 1, folder 31
Correspondence to R.A.F. Penrose from the Hoover Business League
1928
box 1, folder 32
George Wharton Pepper to R.A.F. Penrose, undated
