Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Midwest Oil Corporation records, 1889-1960
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Midwest Oil Corporation
- Title
- Midwest Oil Corporation records
- Dates
- 1889-1960 (inclusive)Date of CollectionDate of Collection
- Quantity
- 48.15 cubic ft. (107 boxes)
- Collection Number
- 00664
- Summary
- The Midwest Oil Corporation was an oil company that contributed to the development of the Salt Creek Oil Field in Wyoming. The collection contains records of the predecessor companies that merged over the years to create the Midwest Oil Corporation.
- Repository
-
American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
American Heritage Center
University of Wyoming
1000 E. University Ave.
Dept. 3924
Laramie, WY
82071
Telephone: 3077663756
ahcref@uwyo.edu - Access Restrictions
-
Access Restrictions
There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the collection is open to the public.
- Languages
- English
Historical NoteReturn to Top
The Midwest Oil Corporation was the result of a merger between the Midwest Oil Company, Saltmount Oil Company, and Mountain Producers Corporation in 1951. However, their origins began with the discovery of oil in the Salt Creek Oil Field of Wyoming during the late 19th century. Development of this field began with a rush on the area in the 1900’s were men such as Cy Iba, Frederick J. Lobell, and Verner Z. Reed began to acquire oil claims, leases, and permits to drill for oil. Over time a variety of companies were formed by these men to acquire capitol in order to mine and continue developing the Salt Creek Oil Field. Many of these companies invested in each other leading to mergers, take-overs, and other business dealings that have caused legal disputes over oil mining claims, leases, accounting practices, and taxes.
Midwest Oil Corporation can be traced back to some of these oil claims made by Cy Iba, Frederick J. Lobell, and Verner Z. Reed. Their companies and investments are the predecessors of the Midwest Oil Corporation. Most of these companies were subsidiaries or affiliates of each other and have merged over the years to create the Midwest Oil Corporation. They include the Pennsylvania Oil and Gas Company (1895-1904); Petroleum Maatschappij Salt Creek of Wyoming (1907-1928); Central Wyoming Oil and Development Company (1907-1936); Societe Belgo-Americaine des Petroles du Wyoming (1903-1926); Franco Petroleum Company (1913-1914); Natrona Pipe Line and Refining Company (1911-1935); Wyoming Oil Fields Company (1911-1936); Midwest Oil Company (1911-1951); Midwest Refining Company (1914-1926); Mountain Producers Corporation (1920-1951); Salt Creek Producers Association, Inc. (1918-1940); Central Salt Creek Company (1920-1921); Wyoming Associated Oil Corporation (1919-1942); Wyoming Associated Royalty Company (1922-1933); Saltmount Oil Company (1929-1951); Saltmount Oil Corporation (1930-1940); and the Argo Oil Corporation and subsidiaries (1916-1936).
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The Midwest Oil Corporation records contain the business records of the predecessor companies of the Midwest Oil Corporation, the largest being the Midwest Oil Company (1911-1951) and affiliates. They include corporate records regarding incorporation, annual reports, stock records, board meeting minutes, and dissolution; agreements and contracts; financial statements and reports; correspondence regarding business operations and tax issues; engineers and revenue agent reports; legal proceedings files containing correspondence and legal documents; maps; oil production, reserve, depletion, and property valuation reports; and tax records regarding income taxes, refund claims, depletion calculations, and legal tax case files for each predecessor company.
The collection also contains an annual report, correspondence, charts, and stock and property holdings regarding the reorganization of these companies from 1920-1951, as they became the Midwest Oil Corporation. There are also depletion and valuation reports, correspondence, memorandum, stock records, and tax records of the Argo Oil Corporation and affiliates that the Midwest Oil Company maintained because they had owned stock in the Argo complex of companies.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
Copyright InformationThe researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.
Preferred Citation
Preferred CitationItem Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Collection Name, Collection Number, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Related Materials
Related MaterialsThere are no known other archival collections created by the Midwest Oil Corporation at the date of processing.
Acquisition Information
Acquisition InformationThis material was received from D.R. Murphy, President and Douglas W. Knox, Vice President of the Midwest Oil Corporation from 1958-1962.
Processing Note
Processing InformationThe collection was processed by Jamie J. Greene in January 2013.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Series I. Salt Creek Oil Field (General files), 1889-1940Return to Top
This series contains general files about the Salt Creek Oil Field and the various individuals and companies, as they relate to Midwest Oil Corporation, involved in the oil fields development.
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box | ||
1 | Claims |
1911 |
1 | Land and mining deeds, claims, and affidavits |
1889-1920 |
1 | Land and stock transfers and sales |
1910-1921 |
1 | Lease and permit average distribution summaries |
1921 |
1 | Lease assignments |
1920-1923 |
Legal proceedings |
1890-1931: | |
Box | ||
1 | F.G. Bonfils, Lease application |
1920 |
1 | James H. Bury vs. W. G. Henshaw; Midwest vs. Bury |
1893-1917 |
1 | Cy Iba claims |
1890-1918 |
1 | Frederick J. Lobell claims |
1890-1920 |
1 | H.E. Stock vs. Little Reed Companies |
1931 |
Box | ||
1 | Location certificates |
1910-1911 |
2 | Maps |
1900-1940 |
3 | Newspaper clippings |
1916-1925 |
3 | Production reports and valuations |
1919-1934 |
3 | Publications, reports, and drafts about the Salt Creek Oil Field and it's history |
1910-1925 |
3 | Pennsylvania Oil and Gas meeting minutes, including first charter meeting |
1895-1904 |
Research data |
1900-1932: | |
Box | ||
4 | Federal regulations - Leasing Act |
1910-1932 |
4 | Federal regulations - Withdrawal order |
1900-1930 |
4 | Lease serial numbers |
undated |
Box | ||
5 | Scrapbook of stock notices and reports (i.e. annual reports, meeting and dividend notices, and proxies)
for related Midwest Oil companies |
1910-1940 |
6 | Salt Creek unit agreement |
1939 |
6 | Stanolind operations |
1938 |
6 | Status of titles |
1913-1920 |
6 | Stock holdings |
1920-1923 |
Taxes |
1919-1938: | |
Box | ||
6 | Analysis of dividend payments for all companies |
1920-1923 |
6 | Capitol stock taxes |
1935-1938 |
6 | Correspondence |
1919-1932 |
6 | Depletion |
1932-1936 |
7 | Statute of limitation cases |
1924-1929 |
7 | Taxes paid |
1919-1928 |
Box | ||
7 | Unitization |
undated |
7 | Valuations and data summaries |
March 1, 1913 |
Series II. Predecessor Companies: Subsidiaries, Affiliates, and Merged Companies, 1903-1954Return to Top
This series contains corporate records, correspondence, meeting minutes, financial statements and reports, legal proceedings, and tax records regarding the predecessor companies of Midwest Oil Corporation.
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Sub-series 1. Societe Belgo-Americaine des Petroles du Wyoming Company records |
1903-1927 | |
Box | ||
8 | Combined corporation records - Articles, by-laws, organization, meeting minutes, and stockholders accounts |
1903-1912 |
8 | Taxes: Correspondence |
1926-1927 |
8 | Taxes: Income tax returns |
1903-1926 |
Sub-series 2. Central Wyoming Oil and Development Company |
1907-1926 | |
Box | ||
8 | Correspondence |
1920 |
8 | Depletion reports |
1926 |
8 | Financial statements and reports |
1921-1924 |
8-11 | Legal proceedings |
1910-1918 |
12 | Meeting minutes |
1907-1921 |
Sub-series 3. Fitzhugh-Henshaw |
1911-1929 | |
Box | ||
12 | Depletion reports |
undated |
Legal proceedings |
1911-1929: | |
Box | ||
12 | Affidavits and statements |
1911-1929 |
13 | Fitzhugh litigation - California Oil Co. vs. Fitzhugh and Midwest Oil Co. |
1913 |
13 | Fitzhugh litigation - Wm. M. Fitzhugh and Mary E. Fitzhugh vs. Midwest Oil Co. |
1917 |
13 | Bill of complaint |
1917 |
14 | Brief for defendants |
1917 |
14 | Fitzhugh deposition |
1917 |
Box | ||
14 | Location notices and certificates |
1910-1916 |
14 | Maps |
1919 |
Sub-series 4. Reed Companies |
1910-1932 | |
Box | ||
14 | Land claims |
1917-1918 |
14 | Legal estate documents of Verner Zevola Reed |
1910-1932 |
14 | Oil reserves |
1920 |
14 | Predecessor companies - Little companies, powers of attorney |
1918 |
15 | Reorganization and take over by Wyoming Associated Oil Corp. |
1925-1927 |
15 | Taxes |
1914-1928 |
Sub-series 5. Wyoming Oil Fields Company |
1911-1937 | |
Box | ||
15 | Acquisition of capital stock by Salt Creek Producers Association and Midwest Oil Company |
1921-1937 |
15 | Agreements and contracts |
undated |
15 | Depletion reports |
1921-1935 |
16 | Engineers and revenue agents reports |
1918-1935 |
16 | Federal regulations on pipe lines |
1920 |
16-18 | Financial statements and reports |
1911-1935 |
19 | Incorporation records |
undated |
19 | Meeting minutes |
1911-1914 |
Taxes |
1912-1937: | |
Box | ||
19 | Claims for refund |
1918-1937 |
20 | Correspondence |
1919-1932 |
21 | Tax returns |
1912-1936 |
Box | ||
21 | Titles - Transactions of Joseph H. Lobell in regards to Salt Creek Oil Field |
undated |
21 | Valuations |
1922 |
Sub-series 6. Natrona Pipe Line and Refining Company |
1911-1933 | |
Box | ||
22 | Contracts - Correspondence |
1912-1929 |
22 | Financial statements and reports |
1920-1924 |
22 | Meeting minutes |
1911-1933 |
22 | Stockholders |
1919-1921 |
Taxes |
1912-1933: | |
Box | ||
22 | Claims for refund |
1917 |
22 | Tax returns |
1912-1933 |
Sub-series 7. Midwest Oil Company |
1911-1954 | |
Box | ||
23 | Agreements, contracts, and leases |
1918-1939 |
Corporate records |
1911-1923: | |
Box | ||
23 | Acquisitions and transfers |
1911-1921 |
23 | Franco Petroleum monthly reports |
1913-1914 |
23 | Special reports |
1913 |
23 | Stockholders and directors |
1911 |
23 | Stock purchases |
1911-1923 |
Box | ||
23 | Correspondence |
1923 |
24 | Depletion reports |
1919-1928 |
25 | Employee plan for retirement annuities |
1934 |
25-26 | Engineers and revenue agents reports |
1911-1951 |
26-36 | Financial statements and reports |
1912-1950 |
36 | History - "When Salt Creek Roared," by Oliver H. Shoup |
undated |
Legal proceedings |
1911-1954: | |
Box | ||
37 | Memorandum as to status of Salt Creek cases |
1920-1935 |
37 | Miscellaneous legal documents |
1911-1937 |
37-38 | Case files involving Midwest Oil Company |
1912-1954 |
Box | ||
39 | Maps |
1913-1914 |
39 | Oil reserves |
1918-1920 |
39 | Powers of attorney |
undated |
39 | Production reports |
undated |
39 | Proof of discovery |
1918-1920 |
39 | "Report on the Midwest Oil Company, Oil Trespass, Salt Creek Field, Wyoming," by H. B. Durham and C.M. Rath |
1915 |
Taxes |
1912-1950: | |
Box | ||
40-41 | Claims for refund |
1917-1948 |
41 | Correspondence |
1918-1938 |
42 | Excess profit tax |
1917-1945 |
43-45 | Income tax returns |
1912-1951 |
46 | Tax legal cases and miscellaneous tax matters |
1914-1933 |
Box | ||
46 | Valuation reports |
1917-1944 |
Sub-series 8. Midwest Refining Company |
1914-1932 | |
Box | ||
47 | Agreements and contracts |
1914-1929 |
Corporate records |
1914-1927: | |
Box | ||
47 | Annual reports |
1914-1916 |
47 | Investment in stock of other companies |
1924-1927 |
47 | Officers and directors of affiliated companies |
1922-1927 |
47 | Ownership |
1923-1927 |
Box | ||
47 | Correspondence |
1920-1929 |
47 | Depletion reports |
1915-1920 |
48 | Financial statements and reports |
1914-1928 |
49 | Land sales - oil |
1910-1918 |
49 | Maps |
1916-1925 |
49 | Powers of attorney |
1927-1928 |
49 | Production reports |
1931-1932 |
49 | Publication - "The Midwest Review," published by the Midwest Refining Company |
1920-1921 |
49 | Report on holdings in Wyoming oil fields |
1915 |
49 | Research data |
1917-1921 |
Box | ||
49 | Stock holdings |
1920-1921 |
49 | Brief of the Midwest Refining Company |
1917 |
Taxes |
1917-1924: | |
Box | ||
50 | Claims for refund |
1919-1924 |
50 | Corporate income and excess profits tax |
1917-1919 |
50 | Depreciation rates |
undated |
50 | Schedules for income tax |
1917 |
50 | Tax legal cases |
1919-1924 |
Box | ||
50 | Value of assets acquired in Salt Creek Field, Wyoming |
1917-1919 |
Sub-series 9. Mountain Producers Corporation and Wyoming Associated Oil Corporation |
1919-1951 | |
Box | ||
51 | Correspondence |
1920-1944 |
52 | Corporate records |
1920-1946: |
Box | ||
52 | Certificate of incorporation |
1920 |
52 | Proceedings and report of stockholders special committee |
1945-1946 |
52 | Depletion reports |
1919-1924 |
52-58 | Financial statements and reports |
1920-1950 |
58 | General accounting work file |
1922-1939 |
58 | "History Relating to Capital Structure and Income for Base Period for Basis of Excess Profits Tax Credits," |
1942 |
58 | Powers of attorney |
1923-1942 |
59 | Revenue agents reports |
1919-1951 |
Taxes |
1920-1951: | |
Box | ||
60 | Correspondence |
1921-1938 |
61 | Claims for refund |
1925-1950 |
61 | Excess profits tax |
1941-1951 |
62-64 | Income tax returns |
1920-1951 |
65 | Tax legal cases - 1924 tax case |
1941-1943 |
65-68 | Tax legal cases - 1925 tax case |
1929-1935 |
69 | Tax legal cases - Miscellaneous |
1924-1941 |
69 | Tax matters - liabilities, protests, and reports |
1925-1950 |
Sub-series 10. Wyoming Associated Oil Corporation |
1918-1942 | |
Box | ||
70 | Collateral agreement, Empire State Oil Co. |
1932 |
70 | Corporate records - Organization, contracts, stock records, and dissolution |
1920-1940 |
70-71 | Correspondence |
1918-1933 |
71-72 | Depletion reports |
1919-1933 |
73 | Engineers and revenue agents reports |
1919-1935 |
73-77 | Financial statements and reports |
1919-1936 |
77 | Leases |
1925 |
77-78 | Proof of discovery reports |
1920 |
Taxes |
1919-1936: | |
Box | ||
78 | Claims for refund |
1919-1935 |
78 | Excess profits tax |
1919-1922 |
78-79 | Income tax returns |
1919-1936 |
79-80 | Tax legal cases |
1924-1942 |
80 | Tax matters - liability, protests, and reports |
1919-1933 |
Box | ||
80 | Valuations - Oil and gas properties and production |
1919-1931 |
Wyoming Associated Royalty Company records |
1922-1934: | |
Box | ||
81 | Corporate records - Articles and by-laws |
1922-1923 |
81 | Stock purchases and the Isenberg stock transfers |
1921-1922 |
81 | Depletion reports |
1923 |
81 | Meeting minutes |
1933-1934 |
81 | Taxes - Claims and income tax returns |
1922-1928 |
Sub-series 11.Saltmount Oil Company and Saltmount Oil Corporation |
1929-1951 | |
Box | ||
82 | Accounting work papers (ledgers) |
1943 |
82 | Annual statements |
1938 |
82-88 | Financial statements and reports |
1930-1950 |
88 | Production reports - Oil and gas |
1940 |
89 | Revenue agents reports |
1930-1951 |
Taxes |
1930-1950: | |
Box | ||
89 | Claims for refund |
1935-1940 |
89-92 | Income tax returns |
1929-1950 |
Box | ||
93 | Valuation reports |
1941-1946 |
Sub-series 12. Salt Creek Producers Association, Inc. |
1917-1937 | |
Corporate records |
1917-1936: | |
Box | ||
94 | Incorporation, organization, and dissolution |
1918-1936 |
94 | Stock records |
1917-1928 |
95 | Virginia - Permits and taxes |
1918-1936 |
Box | ||
95-96 | Correspondence |
1918-1937 |
96 | Depletion reports |
1923-1936 |
96-97 | Engineers and revenue agents reports |
1918-1936 |
98-99 | Financial statements and reports |
1922-1936 |
100 | Leases - Salt Creek Oil Field |
1928 |
100 | Legal proceedings |
1920-1931 |
100 | Powers of attorney |
1937 |
100 | Production - Oil and gas |
1919 |
Taxes |
1918-1936: | |
Box | ||
100 | Claims for refund |
1920-1936 |
100 | Correspondence |
1925-1931 |
100 | Excess profits tax |
1919-1926 |
101-103 | Income tax returns |
1918-1936 |
104 | Tax legal cases |
1919-1933 |
104 | Tax matters - Consolidated returns and tax liability |
1919-1931 |
Central Salt Creek Company |
1917-1928: | |
Box | ||
105 | Corporate records - Incorporation, dissolution, and stock records |
1917-1928 |
105 | Tax appeals for the estate of Frank G. Curtis, et. al. |
1924 |
105 | Taxes - Income tax return |
1920-1921 |
Series III. Reorganization records, 1919-1960Return to Top
This series contains annual reports, correspondence, charts, stock records and financials relating to the reorganizations that Midwest Oil Company and it's affiliates and subsidiaries went through before becoming Midwest Oil Corporation.
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box | ||
106 | Annual report for Midwest Oil Corporation |
1960 |
106 | Correspondence |
1932-1936 |
106 | Historical chart - "Principal Operators in the Salt Creek Field, Midwest Oil Corporation," |
1956 |
106 | Memorandum on reorganization and relationships between predecessor companies of Midwest Oil |
1934-1936 |
106 | Stock records - Ratios, schedules, and values |
1919-1951 |
106 | Taxes - Excess profits tax |
1943 |
Series IV. Argo Oil Corporation Records (Argo Complex), 1916-1941Return to Top
This series contains research records belonging to the Midwest Oil Corporation about the companies that would merge and become the Argo Corporation. The series contains corporate records, depletion reports, correspondence, and tax records of Salt Creek Consolidated Oil Company, New Bradford Oil Company, Parkman Oil Company, and Mountain and Gulf Oil Company.
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box | ||
106 | Argo Oil Company holdings |
undated |
Salt Creek Consolidated Oil Company |
1916-1920: | |
Box | ||
106 | Correspondence |
1921-1929 |
106 | Depletion reports |
1916-1921 |
107 | Memorandum on transactions to 1921 |
1921 |
107 | Taxes |
1916-1921 |
107 | Valuation of oil properties |
1924 |
New Bradford Oil Company |
1919-1941: | |
Box | ||
107 | Agreements and taxes |
1917-1926 |
107 | Correspondence |
1920-1941 |
107 | Revenue agent reports |
1919-1923 |
Box | ||
107 | Parkman Oil Company and Mountain and Gulf Oil Company stock records |
1917-1925 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Oil fields--West (U.S.)
- Petroleum industry and trade--West (U.S.)
- Petroleum law and legislation--United States--Cases
- Petroleum mining--United States
- Petroleum--Taxation--United States
Geographical Names
- Salt Creek Oil Field (Wyo.)
- Wyoming--History, 1890-1918
- Wyoming--History, 1919-1945
- Wyoming--History, 1946-
Form or Genre Terms
- Articles of incorporation
- Financial Statements
- Legal files
- Minutes
- Tax returns
Other Creators
-
Corporate Names
- Argo Oil Corporation -- Records.
- Central Salt Creek Company -- Records.
- Central Wyoming Oil and Development Company -- Records.
- Franco Petroleum Company -- Records.
- Midwest Oil Company.
- Midwest Refining Company -- Records.
- Mountain Producers Corporation -- Records.
- Natrona Pipe Line & Refining Company -- Records.
- Pennsylvania Oil & Gas Company -- Records.
- Petroleum Maatschappij Salt Creek of Wyoming -- Records.
- Salt Creek Producers Association, Inc. -- Records.
- Saltmount Oil Company -- Records.
- Saltmount Oil Corporation -- Records.
- Societe Belgo-Americaine des Petroles du Wyoming -- Records.
- Wyoming Associated Oil Corporation -- Records.
- Wyoming Associated Royalty Company -- Records.
- Wyoming Oil Fields Company -- Records.