Archives West Finding Aid

The National Copper Mining Company was incorporated in 1906 in the Hunter Mining District, Shoshone County, Idaho. Its claims consisted of the Victor, Victor #2, Bull Frog, Bill #1, Bill #2, Mabel May, Little Bert, and Nellie lodes, and the Mabel May millsite. The first board of directors included D.E. Keys, president; A.P. McRae, vice president; M.J. McHugh, secretary-treasurer; F. Cushing Moore and W.F. Nichols. The board appointed Charles McKinnis the first general manager.

In 1910 the board of directors amended the by-laws of the company to increase the number of directors from five to seven. To secure funds for equipment and construction of a mill, the corporation increased its capital stock in 1913, from 1,250,000 shares to 2,000,000, with a par value of $1 each. Over 600,000 shares were sold at 50 cents per share. The following year National Copper increased its stock to 2,500,000 shares in a successful attempt to acquire the Nellie Lode from the Continental Mining Company. In exchange for the Nellie, Continental shareholders received 500,000 shares of National Copper.

Stockholders were saddled with 18 assessments during the life of the company. The assessments were levied to cover debts, develop the property, or purchase other claims. Mining operations were shut down in 1920 after steadily declining production, and the corporation's charter was forfeited in 1925. Following the 1920 shutdown, National Copper stockholders urged the board of directors to utilize corporate funds in the development of the Homestake property. Members of National Copper's board of directors had been interested in a takeover of Homestake since 1916, and so in 1921 acquired a controlling interest in Homestake Mining Company with 700,000 shares. National increased its holdings to 1,238,955 shares in 1942.

National Copper's charter was reinstated in 1932. By 1935, however, the company had begun to sell off its real and personal property. The Day Mining Company dominated National Copper from 1941 until its dissolution in 1943. National Copper's last board of directors consisted of John Wourms, Henry Buhrmester (both of whom sat on the boards of Homestake and King at the time), F.M. Rothrock, C.O. Dunlop, W.J. Kirby, William Stratton, and Wray Farmin. The board agreed to a stock conversion with King Mining Company, wherein 7.8 shares of National Copper equalled 1 share of King. Ultimately, 209,808 shares of King capital stock were distributed pro rata to National Copper stockholders of record.