Day Development Company Records, 1917-1963

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Day Development Company
Title
Day Development Company Records
Dates
1917-1963 (inclusive)
Quantity
5 cubic feet
Collection Number
MG298 (collection)
Summary
Minutes, correspondence concerning company operations and potential mining properties, a capital stock ledger and journal, and financial records of a mineral exploration company based in Wallace, Idaho, and operating throughout the western United States. Included are records of a predecessor firm, the Hercules Exploration Company.
Repository
University of Idaho Library, Special Collections and Archives
Special Collections and Archives
University of Idaho Library
875 Perimeter Drive
MS 2350
Moscow, ID
83844-2350
Telephone: 2088850845
libspec@uidaho.edu
Languages
English
Sponsor
Funds for processing were provided by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Historical NoteReturn to Top

The Day Development Company was created in October of 1930 when the Hercules Exploration Company, which had existed since November 1928, officially changed its name. Day Development was a geological exploration company whose purpose was to "seek for and secure openings for employment of capital in the U.S. and throughout the world, and the view thereto to prospect, inquire, examine, explore and test, to dispatch and employ expeditions, commissions, experts and other agents." The company was organized under the laws of Delaware and maintained an office there as well as in Wallace.

The stockholders in the company were Eleanor Day Boyce, Harry L. Day, Henry L. Day, Jerome J. Day, Wray Farmin, W.B. Heitfeld, F. Wallace Rothrock, Frank M. Rothrock, and William H. Simons. After Jerome's death in 1941, part of his stock went to his wife directly and part went into trusts for his wife and his daughter. Ownership of stock in the company was quite expensive. There were only 10,000 shares, each with a par value $100 and only 518 shares were ever issued.

Harry Day and Eleanor Day Boyce were the principal shareholders, each with over 100 shares. Apparently ownership of stock in the company was by invitation only. All the stockholders were either members of the Day family or close family friends. Whenever the company needed money, it invited the stockholders to buy more stock.

Information on how successful the mines were is not contained in this record group. Most of the correspondence represents the efforts of persons attempting to get the Days to invest in their properties. The exploration included properties primarily in the western United States. Several companies located outside the U.S., usually in the Northwest Territories of Canada, did ask Day Development to have a look at their property. But, for the most part Henry Day refused to expand out of the United States, no matter how good the prospect might have looked.

The board of directors of the Hercules Exploration Company consisted of Jerome, Harry, and Henry Day, Frank Rothrock, and J.M. Perry of Yakima Washington. John Wourms acted as designated agent until his death in 1945; Paul Jessup was appointed to replace him.

In 1936 Day Development sold all of its machinery. The company was dissolved on December 29, 1947 apparently because Day Mines had its own exploration arm.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The records of the Day Development Company span the years 1917 to 1963, with the bulk of the material covering the years 1928 to 1935. Much of the early material consists of reports or correspondence describing mining properties. Included are a minute book, correspondence with suppliers, information on the mining properties, tax returns, reports to state agencies, capital stock records, and financial records.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The records of the Day Development Company are divided into four series.

The first series, Records of the Board of Directors and Stockholders contains a minute book spanning the years 1928 to 1933

The second series, General Correspondence and Related Records, is divided into two subseries. Series A appears to have been maintained by Harry L. Day and includes mainly organizational records relating to the company such as correspondence with suppliers, tax returns, reports to state agencies, and financial statements. There is, however some material related to specific mining properties such as the Bresnahan Group and the Center Star Group. The Hercules Exploration folder contains many letters from Henry to Harry about mining properties, as well as financial reports, and minutes of meetings. Series B contains records relating to each of the properties in which Day Development Company had an interest. Folders are arranged alphabetically by property or correspondent and include reports on the property, assays for ore sent to the Days, maps showing the location of the property,

Capital Stock Records, the third series contains a combined stock journal and ledger.

Financial Records, the fourth series, contains a voucher register, general ledger, property distribution ledger and check register.

By combining less bulky folders and discarding duplicates the bulk of this group was reduced by three cubic feet.

Acquisition Information

The records of the Day Development Company are part of the records of Day Mines, Inc., donated to the University of Idaho by Henry Day in 1984 and 1985.

Processing Note

Initial processing of this manuscript group was done by Dixie Miller in April 1988.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series I. Records of the Board of Directors and Stockholders , 1928-1933Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/1
Minute book
1928-1933

Series II. General Correspondence and Related Records , 1917-1963Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
A. Organizational Records
1928-1948
Box/Folder
1/2
Alexander Freidenrich Company
1930-1931
1/3
Annual reports - Delaware
1930-1947
1/4
Annual statement - Idaho
1929-1947
1/5
Assays
1930-1931
1/6
B; Leo Bresnahan - Note and mortgage
1930-1939
1/7
Bresnahan - Lease and bond
1929-1931
1/8
C (Cracker Creek District, Oregon)
1930
1/9
Center Star Group; Center Star - Lease and bond
1930-1932
1/10
Claim for exemption - Capital stock tax
1933-1945
1/11
Corporation Trust Company
1928-1930
1/12
D; Day, Harry L
1930-1943
1/13
F-H
1929-1932
1/14
Hercules Exploration Co.
1928-1930
1/15
Special stockholders meeting
November 6, 1930
1/16
I
1931
1/17
Income tax return, Federal
1928-1948
1/18
Income tax return, State
1931-1948
1/19
K-M
1929-1933
1/20
Minutes of meetings
February 16, 1931
1/21
Rogers Peale; R; F.M. Rothrock
1929-1933
1/22
S; State Inspector of Mines - Reports
1929-1948
1/23
Statements, Financial
1928-1942
1/24
Stock subscriptions; Stockholder list; W
1929-1943
B. Property Records
1917-1963
Box/Folder
1/25
A; Adams, J.E.; Advance; Ajax
1928-1941
1/26
Alaska Continental; Alaska Dano; Alaska Treasury; Allan
1931-1939
1/27
Allison Ranch; Alps; American Eagle; American Mine
1930-1931
1/28
American Property; American Tungsten; Andy-O; Arizona
1928-1939
1/29
Arizona Placer; Atkinson, S.K.; Atlantic; Auxer
1929-1934
1/30
B
1929-1947
1/31
Baker District; Baltimore, Barkas; Basin Bell
1926-1936
1/32
Basin Placer; Batopilas Silver Mines; Batchelor; Bayhouse
1928-1935
1/33
Belshazzar; Bennett, C.E.; Beowawe; Bertois, Mr. & Mrs.
1930-1938
1/34
Betsy Baker; Billy Mack; Blackbird Mining District; Black boy
1927-1939
1/35
Black Friday; Black Pine; Blossom; Blue Bell
1930-1933
1/36
Blue Bird; Blue Bird Consolidated; Blue Creek; Blue Creek Mining Company
1927-1937
1/37
Blue Point Mine
1932
1/38
Blue Ribbon; Boulder; Boss Tweed & Clipper; Boundary County; Boyer
1929-1942
1/39
Bresnahan
1928-1931
1/40
Brooklyn; Brooklyn & Olympia; Buckeye; Buckhorn
1926-1939
1/41
Budge, Hon. Alfred; Buffalo; Buffalo Hump
1928-1938
1/42
Bullion
1929
1/43
Bunker Hill Copper; Burns; Burnt Cabin; Butte; Butterfly Consolidated
1925-1938
1/44
C
1931-1939
1/45
California Placer; Callahan, California; Canyon Placers; Carissa; Carpie
1929-1938
2/46-49
Center Star
1930-1936
2/50
Century Drift; Chandler; Channel Gold Mines; Chapman
1927-1939
2/51
Cherry Hill, Manzanita, & West Bend properties; Cimmaron; Cinnabar, Clancy, Clark, George C.
1928-1939
2/52
Clarks Creek dredge
1932
2/53
Clarksfork Mill
1928-1930
2/54
Clayton; Clearwater Timber; Cochron Hill; Columbia Northern
1928-1935
2/55
Combination; Comeback; Commonwealth
1929-1935
2/56
Continental
1932
2/57
Copper Queen; Corbett
1931-1933
2/58
Corncracker; Cornucopia; Cow Creek
1932
2/59
Cracker Creek
1926-1963
2/60
Critic; Crystal
1928-1929
2/61
D
1929-1943
2/62
Darrah, Ben; Davis, P.M.; Day, H.L.V.
1928-1939
2/63
Daybreak; Deer Creek; Demming Mines; Detillian H.G.
1928-1937
2/64
DeVaux, Mrs. Renee; Dewey Dailey; Diamond Butte; Annie Dillon
1930-1938
2/65
Dodge Mine; Dominion; Dull Pick Mine; Dunphy Dyke
1824-1935
2/66
E
1928-1942
2/67
East Camp; Edison-Ajax; Edna Mae; El Crucero
1927-1934
2/68
Electrum; Eliza; Elk City; Elkhorn Mine (Sofia Syndicate)
1930-1938
2/69
Elliott; Dr. Robt. H. Ellis; Emmons Hydraulic Placers
1932-1939
2/70
Empress; Enterprise; Enterprise Quartz; Era Mining and Development Co.
1928-1939
2/71
Ermont
1930-1940
2/72
F
1928-1943
2/73
Falcon; Falls Creek; Fausnat, J.L.; Fical
1929-1934
2/74
Financial, etc
1928-1947
2/75
Fisher Mine; Flint; Forty Five
1927-1932
2/76
Fremont; Frisco; Fryett
1931-1936
2/77
G
1927-1941
2/78
Gallagher; Garrett-Walsh; Gem; General Custer
1927-1938
2/79
Gilt Edge; Giraffe; Goat Mountain; Gold Blossom
1929-1934
2/80
Gold Coin; Gold Creek; Gold Crown; Gold Dust
1928-1932
2/81
Gold Fissure Group; Gold Flotation Development Co.; Gold Fork; Gold Hill
1929-1935
3/82
Gold Leaf; Gold Mountain; Gold Nugget; Gold Valley Placer
1930-1933
3/83
Golden Bowl; Golden Eagle; Golden West; Goldstone
1926-1932
3/84
Granite, Fall & Canyon Creek dredging area, Boise Basin; Granite Group; Granite-Poorman; Grattan Placers
1932-1936
3/85
Great Bear Lake; Green; Grunter
1930-1932
3/86
H
1930-1938
3/87
Hahns Peak; Hall-Interstate; Hansom Mine; Hartery Property; Haywire Mining and Milling Co.
1932-1935
3/88
Helena; Helena Silver-lead; Hennessy; Henrietta
1928-1947
3/89
Hercules Exploration
1928-1930
3/90
Hermit; Hewer; Hidden Treasure; Hobby Horse
1929-1932
3/91
Homestake; Homestead; Horse Heaven Mines, inc.; Horse Mountain Copper Co.
1929-1939
3/92
I; I.X.L.; Ibex
1924-1931
3/93
Imperial Group
1934
3/94
Imperial Mine
1934
3/95
Independence Mine
1928-1942
3/96
Indian Creek Placers; Indio Gold-Silver Prospect; International Lead & Iron Co., Iron Mountain
1927-1939
3/97
J
1930-1940
3/98
Jacy; Japan; Lean Lee; Jefferson & Franklin
1928-1934
3/99
Jewel Box; Jib Consolidated; Johnny
1929-1931
3/100
K
1930-1942
3/101
K.C.; Katherine; Kennon Property (Pony Gulch); Keystone (California)
1930-1939
3/102
Keystone (B.C.); Kimberly Placers; Kleesattel; Klondyke Mines
1931-1938
3/103
L
1927-1941
3/104
LaBelle Mine; Lady Brian; Lee's Ferry; Lehigh
1931-1935
3/105
Letterman, T.S.; Liberty; Liberty Gem Co.; Liberty Gold Mining Co.
1929-1939
3/106
Lindberg, Jafet; Linden Property; Little Arctic; Lion Hill
1931-1939
3/107
Little Chieftain; Little Gem; Log Cabin (Collins); Log Cabin (Massam)
1926-1932
3/108
Lone Star; Long Chance; Long Tom
1927-1937
3/109
Lowden Hydraulic Mine; Lucky Boy (Oregon); Lucky Boy (Idaho); Lucky Strike
1927-1935
3/110
M
1927-1945
3/111
Mackay Mine; Magrath; Mammoth; Marysville Gold
1929-1938
3/112
Mascot; Masonic; May, J.A., Mayflower
1930-1931
3/113
McBroom; McCaffrey; McConnel Creek Placer Area; McKinnon, D.B.
1929-1934
3/114
McPhee; Meadow Creek; Melrose; Metal Cove
1929-1939
3/115
Mexican Graphite; Mica Bay - Kroetch; Midas Mine; Middleport
1932-1935
3/116
Mike Horse; Mill Creek Mine
1928-1929
3/117
Minerva Mine; Mohawk; Molybdenum; Montana Park
1930-1934
3/118
Moore's Creek dredging proposition; Morning Star Group; Morrison Carlock; Mother Lode
1931-1935
3/119
Mountain King; Mulkey, Charles
1929-1933
3/120
Muscovite; Musick Mine; Mutual Gold; Myheerah
1927-1932
3/121
N; Naciemiento; National Gold
1925-1941
3/122
Neely; Neocene; Nesbitt, A.P.; Nevada Creek
1927-1933
3/123
Never Sweat; Norambagua; North Fork Mining Co., Northern Consolidated
1928-1935
3/124
O; Oest Mine; Ohio-Keating
1929-1940
4/125
Old Baker Mine; Old Dominion (1931); Old Dominion Mine (1924)
1924-1933
4/126
Olympia; Ophir Consolidated Mining & Milling Co., Oriental Mine; Oro Mine
1925-1938
4/127
P
1928-1940
4/128
Pacific McGregor; Paramount Mines Corp., Peerless; Phillips, C.A.
1928-1934
4/129
Phoenix Group; Pidgeon, A.J.; Pine Hill Mine; Pioneer Lode Mining Co.
1934-1939
4/130
Platner; Plymouth Mining Co., Port Wine Channel; Portland Consolidated
1927-1938
4/131
Primrose; Prospect; Prowell, M.W.
1925-1932
4/132
Quail Mining Property; Quartz Hill; Queen of the West; Quick Action
1930-1936
4/133
R
1926-1940
4/134
Rae-Wallace; Rainbow; Rand Group; Rasche
1917-1930
4/135
Red Bird; Red Chief Mine; Revenue Mine
1933-1935
4/136
Revett, Ben Stanley
1922-1923
4/137
Revlis Co., Rice, B.W.; Rice Placer; Ross, J.M.; Rowland, R.L., Ruby Creek
1930-1938
4/138
S
1931-1941
4/139
Financial Statements
1935-1943
4/140
Sacramento; Sadie Lynn; San Juan Queen; Scossa Red Top
1929-1933
4/141
Selle; Shamrock Mine; Sheep Ranch Mine; Shenandoah
1931-1935
4/142
Shenandoah Wulfenite; Shook, H.H.; Silver Butte; Silver Dome; Silver Hill
1927-1938
4/143
Silver King; 1926-1927
4/144
Silver Star; Simons, W.H.
1927-1933
4/145
Simmons Group; Smigaj; Snook
1931-1935
4/146
Snow Creek
1926-1933
4/147
Snowdrift; Snowshoe; Snowstorm; Sofia Syndicate; Sombrio Placers
1927-1938
4/148
South Eureka; South Fork; South Mountain; South Mountain District; Spring Hill
1926-1932
4/149
St. Elmo Mines Co.; Stein, H.; Sterling; Stroble; Sulphide
1926-1939
4/150
Summit; Sunbeam; Sunny Slope Mine; Sunset
1926-1935
4/151
Sunshine Silver Queen; Surprise Claim; Sylvanite; Syringa
1930-1933
4/152
T
1927-1942
4/153
Tango
1928
4/154
Theodore; Three Queens; Tri-Metal
1928-1931
4/155
Troy Canyon Mine; Trust Buster; Twenty Grand; Tyson Creek
1932-1936
4/156
U; United Treasure; V; Vermillion
1928-1942
4/157
W
1929-1938
4/158
Wagner Mines; Walker, H.G.; War Eagle; Warm Springs Mining Co., Waterloo
1931-1936
4/159
Waverly Mining Company
1921
4/160
Weaver Mine; Weed Estate; Weisenberger; Wells
1931-1934
4/161
Wenatchee; Westerner; White Elephant
1926-1931
4/162
Whitedelf Mine (Compton I. White)
1939
4/163
Wild Rose Prospect
1935
4/164
Winchester Copper; Wishard; Wishard Mountain; Wolf Lake; Wonder; World's Fair Mine
1928-1935
4/165
Y; Yakima-Shoshone Mining Co., Yellow Nugget; Young America
1929-1946
4/166
Ypres; Yuba Mine; Yukon Gold
1931-1935
4/167
Z; Zaballos; Zulu Property
1933-1938

Series III. Capital Stock Records , 1928-1943Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
5/168
Stock journal and ledger
1928-1943

Series IV. Financial Records , 1922-1951Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
5/169
Voucher register
1928-1948
5/170
General ledger
1929-1948
5/171
Property distribution ledger
1922-1934
5/172
Check register
1938-1951

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Mining corporations -- Records -- Idaho

Corporate Names

  • Day Development Company
  • Hercules Exploration Company