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Midwest Oil Corporation records, 1889-1960

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Midwest Oil Corporation
Title
Midwest Oil Corporation records
Dates
1889-1960 (inclusive)
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
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Historical Note

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).

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Content Description

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.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Copyright Information

The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

Preferred Citation

Preferred Citation

Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Collection Name, Collection Number, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

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Administrative Information

Related Materials

Related Materials

There are no known other archival collections created by the Midwest Oil Corporation at the date of processing.

Acquisition Information

Acquisition Information

This 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 Information

The collection was processed by Jamie J. Greene in January 2013.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Container List

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.

Processed by Jamie Greene
2013

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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