Arthur L. Chaffin papers

Arthur L. Chaffin papers, 1920-1976

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Chaffin, Arthur L.
Title: Arthur L. Chaffin papers
Dates: 1920-1976 (inclusive)
19201976
Quantity: 7.75 linear feet
Collection Number: ACCN 1638
Summary: The Arthur L. Chaffin papers (circa 1920-1976) contains correspondence, financial records, mining documents, and other records concerning Chaffin's owning and operating of the Chaffin Ferry and his mining career. Arthur L. Chaffin operated the ferry across the Colorado River at Hite, Utah until the site was covered by Lake Powell in the 1960s. He was also extensively involved in mining in southeastern Utah.
Repository: University of Utah Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library
University of Utah
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City, UT
84112-0860

Telephone: 8015818863
special@library.utah.edu
Access Restrictions: Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.
Languages: English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Arthur L. Chaffin was a farmer who grew up in Teasdale, Utah. He owned and operated the Chaffin Ferry (also called the Hite Ferry). Established in 1946, the ferry service was designed to transport people and their vehicles across the Colorado River. The river created a gap in the Hite Road, which was the main route through Southeastern Utah, including San Juan County. The ferry was the only crossing along a 200-mile stretch of the river. Chaffin was also extensively involved in mining operations in southeastern Utah, specifically the Lucky Strike and Green Copper Mines.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The Arthur L. Chaffin papers (circa 1920-1976) contains correspondence, financial records, mining documents, and other records concerning Chaffin's owning and operating of the Chaffin Ferry and his mining career.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library’s Use Agreement and Reproduction Request forms.

Preferred Citation

Collection Name, Collection Number, Box Number, Folder Number. Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library, The University of Utah.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Gift of William and Jenny Barclay in 1997.

Separated Materials

Photographs and audio-visual materials were transferred to the Multimedia Division of Special Collections (P0769 and A0512).

Processing Note

Processed by Xan Morris in 1998.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

CorrespondenceReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
1	1-6	Correspondence from Arthur L. Chaffin	1945-1958
1	7-20	Correspondence to Arthur L. Chaffin	1934-1976
2	1-3	Correspondence from Bert Seaholdt This folder contains correspondence concerning Chaffin's mining friend, who died in 1947.
2	4	Correspondence Related to Arthur L. Chaffin	1946-1957

Introductory Information, Agreements, Court Documents, and Employer InformationReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description
Box	Folder
3	1-5	Introductory Information
3	6	Agreements
3	7-12	Court Documents
3	13	Employer Information

Financial MaterialsReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
4	1	Documents Used to Make 1949 and 1950 Income Tax Returns
4	2	Quarterly Tax Returns
4	3-7	Income Tax Returns
4	8	Income Tax Adjustments	1951
4	9-15	Income Tax Documents	1952
4	16	Tax Assessment	1953
4	17-25	Documents Used for 1954 Tax Returns
4	26	Income Tax Adjustments	1957
5	1-9	Richfield Commercial and Savings Bank Checking	1959-1960
5	10	State Bank of Wayne Checking	1946
5	11-22	The First National Bank Checking	1953
5	23-26	Ferry Statements	1956-1957
6	1-10	Receipts	1954-1955
6	11-14	Invoices	1946-1957
7		Invoices	1948-1957

Chaffin Ferry MaterialsReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box
8		Chaffin Ferry Account Books This box contains notes, notebooks, and ledgers on ferry ledgers and prices.	1945-1955
	Folder
9	1	Ferry Account	1955
9	2-3	Ferry Notes	1948-1957

General MaterialsReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box
10		Financial Ledgers	1939-1951
11		Financial Ledger	1949-1952
	Folder
12	1-4	Annual Reports	1952-1955
12	5-8	Time Books	1947-1956
12	9-10	Guest Registers	1952-1955
12	11-13	News Clippings	1950-1960

MiningReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
13	1-11	Mining Correspondence	1942-1971
13	12	"Geologic Report on the Lucky Strike and Green Copper Groups"
13	13	Uranium Claim papers for the Green Copper and Lucky Strike Groups	1954
13	14-22	Location Notices for the Green Copper and Lucky Strike Mines	1953-1957
13	23	"Old Contract With Schuck" This folder contains copies of mining leases.
13	24	Assay Reports This folder contains reports assessing the value of ores found in mines.	1937-1964
13	25	Bureau of Land Management, "Lode and Placer Mining Regulations"	1955
14	1	"Mining Claims Restoration Act of 1955"
14	2-3	Deeds and Leases	1950
14	4-12	Legal papers	1958-1966
14	13	Rental Memo	1964
14	14	Financial Documents	1974
14	15	Maps of Mining Areas
14	16	Notes About Colorado River Placers
14	17	Notes

Subject FilesReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
15	1	Insurance Policy for the Chaffin Ferry	1953-1954
15	2	Chaffin Ferry Tickets	1953-1955
15	3	Operational Certificate of Registry	1953
15	4	Land Free Use Application and Permit	1951
15	5-6	Motor Vehicle Registration Forms	1950
15	7	Rodeo Announcement	1925
15	8	"Forgive Me When I Whine!" This folder contains an anonymous poem about taking things for granted.
15	9	"Notes Made of Trip for P.W. Tompkins of Curtis and Tompkins, Ltd."	1939
15	10	Postcards from Virginia City, Nevada
15	11	Map of the Colorado River
15	12	Questions and Answers About the Glen Canyon Dam
15	13	Brochure About the Flaming Gorge Dam	1961
15	14	United States Dept. of the Interior, "Vernal Unit: Central Utah Project"	1961
15	15	United States Dept. of the Interior, "Curecanti Unit: Colorado River Storage Project"	1961
15	16	United States Dept. of the Interior, "Homesteading: Past and Present"	1961
15	17	United States Dept. of the Interior, "Yellowtail Unit: Missouri River Basin Project"
15	18	"Natural Bridges National Monument"	1954
15	19	"Buzz' Footsteps: 1909-1946"
15	20	F.E. Masland, Jr., "By the Rim of Time"
15	21	Surveyor's Document
15	22	Wayne County Centennial Celebration Program	1947
15	23	National Park Service Report on Capital Gorge
15	24	Johnny Marsing This folder includes a statement by Chaffin as well as other documents concerning Marsing's drowning.
15	25	Calendar	1949
15	26	National Parks Magazine	1954
15	27	Ford Times and Ford Truck Times Magazines	1951
15	28	Farm Vehicle papers	1952-1953
15	29	Bureau of Land Management, "Homesteading"
15	30	U.S. Geological Survey Booklet	1963
15	31	Map of U.S. Geological Survey, Southern Utah
15	32	"Flavell's Log" This folder contains an account of a trip made through Narrow Canyon and Glen Canyon.
15	33	Arthur L. Chaffin and Harry Aleson, "Notes on Hall's Crossing Trip"	1957
15	34	"Lincoln's Day Broadcast--February 13, 1950"
15	35	Center Line This folder includes a magazine containing an article about the Chaffin Ferry.	1976
15	36	Z.C.M.I. Advertisements	1925
15	37	Government Title 43 on Public Lands	1955
15	38	Land Leveling and Soil Conservation papers	1951
15	39	Notes on the Flow of Water
15	40	Notes

Oversize DocumentsReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
16	1	Assessment Notice	1955
16	2	Map of Southern Utah
16	3	Blueprint for the Hite Reservoir Dam
16	4	Map of Township No. 34	1924

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

Ferries--Utah--Hite
Mines and mineral resources--Utah--History--Sources

Personal Names

Chaffin, Arthur L.--Archives

Geographical Names

Colorado River (Colo.-Mexico)
Glen Canyon (Utah and Ariz.)

Form or Genre Terms

Correspondence
Financial records
Reports

Archives West Finding Aid

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