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Consolidated Virginia Mining Company Records: Finding Aid

Processed by Huntington Library staff; supplementary encoding and revision supplied by Xiuzhi Zhou and Diann Benti.
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens
Manuscripts Department
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2129
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
© 2000
The Huntington Library. All rights reserved.

Overview of the Collection

Title: Consolidated Virginia Mining Company Records
Dates (inclusive): 1876-1955
Collection Number: mssConsolidated Virginia Mining Company
Creator: Consolidated Virginia Mining Company.
Extent: Approximately 1,300 pieces
Repository: The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens. Manuscripts Department
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2129
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
Abstract: This collection contains correspondence, business papers, ledger books, maps and reports of the Consolidated Virginia Mining Company of Virginia City, Nevada, dating from 1876-1955. The materials document mines and mineral resources in Nevada; the Comstock Lode and other mines, and the mining industry and finance.
Language: English.

Access

Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.

Administrative Information

Publication Rights

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]. Consolidated Virginia Mining Company Records, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Provenance

Purchased from Neil Weinstein, May 9, 1975.

Historical Note

The Consolidated Virginia Mining Company on the Comstock Lode at Virginia City, Nevada, was organized in 1867, but the sinking of a shaft was delayed for two years. The lode was difficult to find, work stopped, and the stock fell considerably in 1870. In 1871, James Flood began to buy stock in Consolidated Virginia and, joined by John Mackay, James Fair, and William O'Brien, formed the Bonanza Firm. They bought the land owned by the Consolidated Virginia Mining Co. and hoped to find rich ore in that section between the Gould & Curry and the Ophir mines. In 1873, they struck the Big Bonanza, which produced over $100 million of ore from 1873-1882. The firm bought control of the adjoining Ophir and Mexican mines in 1877. Although the firm dominated the Comstock from 1876-95, when Mackay sold the interests to San Francisco stockbrokers, the last dividend was paid in 1880. The Con-Virginia was the most successful mine on the Comstock and one of the few to pay more in dividends than it levied in assessments. In the 1930s, the company was reactivated to mine and mill the lower grade ore still remaining. The reactivated firm in 1933 collected old maps and also made detailed new maps of the older workings, level by level.
Some high-grade veins were found and production continued until 1942 when gold mining activity was curtailed because of war-time restrictions. After this time, the mine operated only sporadically and correspondence ceases in 1955.

Scope and Content

This collection contains correspondence, business papers, 16 ledger books, maps and reports of the Consolidated Virginia Mining Company of Virginia City, Nevada, dating from 1876-1955. The 112 rolled maps in collection, dating from 1876 to 1947 document the early period, the general mining district, and other mines and mining claims on the Comstock Lode such as the Ophir mines and the Mexican Gold and Silver Mining Company. One map is signed by Charles Frederick Hoffmann. The collection includes an account book and many letters of Zeb Kendall, president of the firm.
Some notable items include:
  • Hoffmann Charles Frederick. General Map of Comstock Mines [c. 1879]. Map 1
  • Osborne, W. L. Consolidated Virginia and Ophir Mines: Assay Plans (10 maps showing details of original level workings). 1933-1934. Map Roll 16
  • Consolidated Virginia Mining Co. Minutes of the Board of Directors. 1932-1935. Box 1
  • Con-Virginia Diamond Drill Logs and correspondence. 1950. Box 4

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the Huntington Library's Online Catalog.  

Subjects

California Mining Company (Virginia City, Nev.).
Consolidated Virginia Mining Company -- Archives.
Mexican Gold and Silver Mining Company.
Ophir Hill Consolidated Mining Company.
Gold mines and mining -- Nevada.
Mines and mineral resources -- Nevada.
Mining corporations -- Nevada.
Silver mines and mining -- Nevada.
Comstock Lode (Nev.) -- History -- Sources.
Virginia City (Nev.) -- History -- Sources.

Forms/Genres

Business records -- Nevada.
Maps -- Nevada.

 

Correspondence and business papers

Box 1

1921-1939 December

Box 2

1939-1948 (bound group); 1940-1942

Box 3

1943-1946

Box 4

1947-1953

Box 5

1954-1955

 

Volumes

 

Consolidated Virginia Mining Company

Volume 1

1919-1920 Ledger

Volume 2

1920-1923 Stock Ledger & Transfer Journal

Volume 3

1921-1924 Stock Ledger & Transfer Journal

Volume 4

1921-1932 Stock Certificate Account Book

Volume 5

1923-1934 Cash Book

Volume 6

1926-1935 Ledger

Volume 7

1928-1935 Journal (account book)

Volume 8

1932-1935 Cash Book

Volume 9

1933-1934 Cash Book

Volume 10

1935-1937 Loans and Interest Journal

Volume 11

1935-1937 Pay Roll Ledger

Volume 12

1935-1946 Stock Certificate Account Book

Volume 13

1937-1939 Pay Roll Ledger

 

Other Material

Volume 14

1921-1935 Ophir Mining Co. - Stock Ledger & Transfer Journal

Volume 15

1931-1935 Zeb Kendall, Mrs. Zeb Kendall, Abe L. Kendall - Joint Account Book

Volume 16

1936-1938 Mexican Gold & Silver Mining Co. - Account Book

 

Map Rolls

 

General

Rolled map 1

General map of surface claims for Comstock Mines, including California, Consolidated Virginia, Best & Belcher, Gould & Curry, Savage, Hale & Norcross, Chollar, Potosi, Bullion, Exchequer, Yellow Jacket, and Sutro Tunnel. Cloth-backed - ink. Hoffmann, Charles Frederick, cartographer. [1879?]

Rolled map 2

General map of levels and inclines for Ophir, Consolidated Virginia, Best & Belcher, Gould & Curry, Savage. Draft, pencil and ink. Cloth-backed.

Rolled map 3

General map of surface claims for Capital, Alta, Lady Washington, Justice Mill Site, Woodville, North Monumental, Monumental, Echo, Silver Hill Mining Co., Gold Canon Creek, Devil's Gate Toll Road. Ink on brown paper.

Rolled map 4

General map of surface claims from Lone Cabin Placer to Sunshine. Ink and pencil draft on white paper.

Rolled map 5

General map of surface claims, including Fairfax, July Lode, Plutus, Miami, Ohio, Shamo, March, Rocky Bar. Ink and pencil on printed Plat Claim Form. 1900

 

Individual Mines

Rolled map 6

Alpha, Emma, Star of the West, Ohio, Como Chief. Surface claims. On verso: pencil notations. Ink on white paper.

Rolled map 7

Alpha, Exchequer, Bullion. Surface claims. Black and red ink on brown paper.

Rolled map 8

Auer, John (ground claimed by), Bailey Mine, including Lafayette Consolidated Mining Co., Great Eastern. Surface claims. Red and black ink on brown paper. On verso: Sutro tunnel Shaft.

Rolled map 9

Bonanza (North) - Flowery Dist. Surface claim. Ink on brown paper.

Rolled map 10

Bryan (L.G.). Surface buildings, tunnels, hoist, mill, Flowery Ravine, etc. Red ink on brown paper.

Rolled map 11

Champion Consolidated Mining Co., including Kossuth, Webber, Silver Central Co., Carson Co.. Surface claims. Ink on brown paper.

Rolled map 12

Comstock (North), Pioneer (including also Spanish Co., Scorpion Silver Mining Co.). Surface claims. Red and black ink on brown paper. On verso: Gold Hill Co., Scorpion, & Sierra Nevada.

Rolled map 13

Consolidated Virginia, California, Ophir, Vermont. Workings. (Includes Virginia & Truckee Railroad track and Sutro tunnel). Ink and color on brown paper.

Rolled map 14

Consolidated Virginia, California Mining Co. and surrounding mines. Surface claims. Black and red ink on brown paper.

Rolled map 15

Consolidated Virginia Mining Co., Ophir, California, and Consolidated Virginia Mines. On oil skin. Squires, Howard W., cartographer. 1936, Feb.

Consists of:
  • 1) 60' level
  • 2) 145' level
  • 3) 245' level
  • 4) shovel-pit assay map.
Rolled map 16

Consolidated Virginia and Ophir Mines: Assay plans. 1933-1934

 

1) 75' level workings

Physical Description: (1 oil skin, 1 colored blue line print)
 

2) 123'-104' levels

Physical Description: (1 oil skin and 1 blue line print)
 

3) 138'-111' levels

Physical Description: (1 oil skin)
 

4) 207'-187'-163' levels

Physical Description: (1 oil skin)
 

5) 237' level

Physical Description: (1 oil skin)
 

6) California claim - East ore body

Physical Description: (1 oil skin)
 

7) Ophir claim - North Extension - 146' level

Physical Description: (1 oil skin)
 

8) Ophir - A & A Workings (Blocks C-D-E-F)

Physical Description: (1 oil skin)
 

9) Ophir - Mexican and Boucher Winze 250' level

Physical Description: (1 ink and color and 1 oil skin colored)
 

10) Composite map of Ophir and Consolidated Virginia workings - negative photostat. Osborne, W. L., cartographer.

Rolled map 17

Consolidated Virginia corresponding to Ophir (level 1921 maps). Oil skin ink and color.

 

1) Con Virginia 1000'

 

2) Con Virginia 1200

 

3) Con Virginia 1500

 

Ophir 1366

 

4) Con Virginia 1550

 

Ophir 1400

 

5) Con Virginia 1600

 

Ophir 1445

 

6) Con Virginia 1650

 

Ophir 1500

 

7) Con Virginia 1700

 

8) Con Virginia 1750

 

Ophir 1600

 

9) Con Virginia 1800

 

10) Con Virginia 1950

 

11) Con Virginia 2050

 

Ophir 1900

 

12) Con Virginia 2150

 

Ophir 2000

Rolled map 18

Consolidated Virginia - Bonanza. Shaft map, cross section. On oil skin.

Rolled map 19

Consolidated Virginia Mining Co. - Cyanide Mill designed by Lou M. Louis. 1935, Aug. 21

Physical Description: Twenty blue prints (and 3 duplicate copies). Powell, C. A., cartographer.
Rolled map 20

Consolidated Virginia - Savage & Norcross - Ventilating. Map to accompany report on ventilating system at North End Mines. Blue print. Liddell, Chas. A., cartographer. 1914, Jan.

Rolled map 21

Consolidated Virginia Mining Co. - Mine Dumps (printed with MS. notations) 1947, Dec.

 

1) Con Virginia Dump

Physical Description: (2 blue prints)
 

2) Ophir Dump

 

3) Ophir Dump

 

4) C.C. Dump

 

5) C.C. Dump, Brewery Dump.

 

SQUIRES, Howard W., cartographer.

Rolled map 22

Cosmopolitan Stope (incomplete?). Ink on brown paper.

Rolled map 23

Croton & North Ophir, Conflict between. Surface claims. Ink and pencil on brown paper.

Rolled map 24

Fairfax, Spring Garden, Butcher. Surface claims. Ink on brown paper.

Rolled map 25

Fairfax, Vermont, Venis [sic] and others. Surface claims. Ink and color on oil skin.

Rolled map 26

Gold Lead, Margarita, Comstock. Surface claims. Black and red ink on brown paper.

Rolled map 27

Golden Eagle Mine & Independent. Inclines. Draft, pencil.

Rolled map 28

Joe Scates. Surface claim. Pencil draft on brown paper.

Rolled map 29

Juniper Claim, Golden Era Claim, Prospect Claim. Surface claims. Ink on brown paper.

Rolled map 30

Justice Blaine. Surface claim. Pencil draft on brown paper. On verso: draft. Moran, W. T., cartographer. 1901, Oct. 5

Rolled map 31

Margarita, Marsano, Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, Esperance, Manhattan Consolidated. Surface claims. Ink on brown paper.

Rolled map 32

Mary Ann, Northern Light, Butcher, Vermont, Venis [sic], also North Consolidated Virginia, Kearsarge, Light, California Consolidated, Joe Scates. Surface claims. Ink, outlined in color on brown paper.

Rolled map 33

Mexican Shaft and Mt. Blanc Shaft. Pencil draft on oil skin.

Rolled map 34

Monte Cristo Mine. Surface Claim. Draft, pencil and ink.

Rolled map 35

New York-Nevada Mining Co. Claims, Gold Hill Mining District, Storey Co. Blue print with MS. notations. Nickerson, Geo. S., cartographer.

Rolled map 36

Northern Belle, Golden Eagle, Oest, Boston. Surface claims. Blue print. On verso: pencil notations.

Rolled map 37

North Ophir, Scorpion & others. Surface claims. Ink on brown paper.

Rolled map 38

Ophir - shaft and stope maps

Consists of:
  • 1) Portion of Ophir works - 2000'-2700' level
  • 2) Mexican shaft, Walsh shaft
  • 3) Belcher shaft, Crown Point shaft
  • 4) Consolidated Virginia shaft
  • 5)?
Rolled map 39

Ophir Claim - North Section, Potential Ore Reserves. G. Mc.M. Ross, data. Blue line print with manuscript notations and traced copy. Osborne, W. L., cartographer. 1934

Rolled map 40

Palmyra District. West Rapidan. Surface claims. Ink on brown paper.

Rolled map 41

Potosi. Cross section. Ink on brown paper. MORAN, W. T., cartographer.

Rolled map 42

Russian Gold & Silver Mining Co. Claim and North Point Mine. Surface claims. Ink on brown paper.

Rolled map 43

Savage Incline. Black and red ink, pencil.

Rolled map 44

Savage & Norcross Combination Shafts.

Rolled map 45

Savage, Norcross & Co.: Sacramento Surface claims. Draft, pencil and ink.

Rolled map 46

Senator, showing Sutro tunnel and Julia Consolidated mine. Surface claims. Ink on brown paper.

Rolled map 47

Shamo Co. Also containing Fairfax, Spring Garden and Butcher. Surface claims. Ink on brown paper.

Rolled map 48

Sheerin & Holman, Corey Jay Boer. Surface claims. Pencil and ink draft on brown paper. On verso: two other mines.

Rolled map 49

Sheridan Co. Lassen Lode, Virginia Claim. Surface claims. On brown paper.

Rolled map 50

Silver Hill and adjoining mining claims (Succor White Lead, Snell, Justice & others). Ink draft on brown paper. On verso: Vivian Mine.

Rolled map 51

Silver Hill-Dageet Survey. Workings. Including Sheerin, Holman & Cory Jay. Blue print. Taylor, C. C., cartographer. 1908, Dec.

Rolled map 52

Silver Leaf. Surface claim and shaft. Ink on brown paper. 1889, Oct. 13

Rolled map 53

Utah, also Allen Consolidated Mining Co. located as the Peruvian Claim, and Blue Jacket. Surface claims. Ink on brown paper.

Rolled map 54

Utah, Ward, Orleans. Surface claims. Ink on brown paper. On verso: Atlantic Company's tunnel.

Rolled map 55

Unidentified.

 

Other maps

Rolled map 56

Falette Tract. Surveyed for R. Marcoux. Showing also the Virginia & Truckee Railroad, Roux Gardens, and American Flat road. On brown paper. 1876, Dec. 13

Rolled map 57

Truckee River, proposed dam. Blue print. 1911, June 9

Rolled map 58

Virginia & Gold Hill Water Co. Pencil, traced copy.

Rolled map 59

Virginia City. Mill Street and A, B, C Streets and Mexican Shaft. Pencil draft on brown paper. 1935, Oct. 15

Rolled map 60

Virginia City. Official map of Virginia City, as adopted, June 6, 1865. Traced by Walter G. Reid. Blue line print. 1955, Mar.

Rolled map 61

Virginia City. Topographical maps for Virginia City Mining Co., showing Consolidated Virginia Mining Co. and adjoining claims. Two sheets. Blue prints. 1944, Sep.

Rolled map 62

Virginia City, showing Consolidated Virginia, Ophir, Mexican and Union Mining claims and town lots. Blue print. [c.1944?]

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