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Amax Inc. Aerial Photograph and Geologic Plane Table Collection, 1920-1968

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Amax Inc.
Title
Amax Inc. Aerial Photograph and Geologic Plane Table Collection
Dates
1920-1968 (inclusive)
Quantity
62.5 linear ft.
Collection Number
Mss 612
Summary
Since incorporation in 1887, Amax Inc. has been a giant in the mineral exploration and mining industry. This collection includes aerial photographs and geologic plane table sheets dating from the 1920s through the 1960s compiled by Amax Inc. during their exploration of Central and Eastern Montana’s potential mineral wealth.
Repository
University of Montana, Mansfield Library, Archives and Special Collections
Archives and Special Collections
Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library
University of Montana
32 Campus Dr. #9936
59812-9936
Missoula, MT
Telephone: 406-243-2053
library.archives@umontana.edu
Access Restrictions

Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of Archives and Special Collections, the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, and the University of Montana--Missoula.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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Historical Note

The American Metal Co., Ltd was incorporated in 1887 with headquarter offices in New York City, New York. Over the next decades the American Metal Co. grew to become one of the nation’s leading intergraded mineral resource companies, active in mining, manufacturing, and mineral and oil exploration. In 1957, in an effort to further diversify their holdings, the company merged with the Climax Molybdenum Company of Colorado to form American Metal Climax Inc. During the following two decades the company continued to expand production and geographical reach both in the United States and on the international market. In 1974, American Metal Climax Inc. officially changed its name to Amax Inc.

After decades of experiencing spectacular financial growth, the 1980s brought difficult economic times for Amax Inc. These financial troubles eventually led to a 1993 merger with Cyprus Minerals Company, based in Englewood, Colorado. At that time, corporate offices were moved from New York City to Englewood, and the newly formed company became official known as the Cyprus-Amax Minerals Company. Cyprus-Amax operated as the nation’s largest mining enterprise until 1999, when Phelps Dodge Corp, a leader in the copper industry, purchased the company in a 1.8 billion dollar deal.

Amax Inc.’s ongoing desire to expand their holdings perked interest in Montana’s natural resources, and in the period prior to their 1993 merger the company explored the potential for profitable mineral and oil development in the state. The Montana locations covered in their exploration include contemporary environmental hotspots such as the Rocky Mountain Front and Pryor Mountains as well as other potentially important areas in Central and Eastern Montana.

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Content Description

This collection contains aerial photographs and corresponding index sheets of locations in Central and Eastern Montana produced by the United States Department of Agriculture, as well as other governmental agencies and private companies during the years 1937 through 1968. Also included are undated controlled and uncontrolled aerial mosaics, many of which have transparent overlays depicting geological and historical information. Finally, the collection includes a set of geologic plane table sheets mapping locations in Central Montana created from 1920 to 1961.

Series I, Aerial Photographs and Index Sheets, includes reference maps and flight indexes to the aerial photographs in this collection, as well as index sheets and aerial photographs of locations in Montana. This series is divided into three sub-series.

Sub-series 1, Reference Maps and Flight Indexes, contains reference maps illustrating the geographic location of each set of index sheets and aerial photographs. A second index in this sub-series appears to contain information on individual flight passes for many of the aerial photographs held in this collection.

Sub-series 2, Aerial Photograph Index Sheets, contains oversized index sheets to be used in conjunction with corresponding aerial photographs in Sub-series 3. Prior to their arrival at the University of Montana-Missoula, index sheets in this collection were arranged numerically by assigned serial numbers. This original order has been maintained. In addition, they are typically grouped together and placed in labeled folders when they were produced at the same time by the same agency, and cover the same geographical area. For example, index sheets 60042-60047, taken in Beaverhead County by the USDA Agricultural Adjustment Administration in 1942, are located in one folder, while index sheets 60048-60052, created by the USDA Commodity Stabilization Service for Beaverhead County in 1955, are in the next folder. Finding aid entries for index sheets list their county location, producing agency, serial numbers, the date the aerial photographs were taken, and the current physical location of any corresponding aerial photographs.

Sub-series 3, Aerial Photographs, contains groups of aerial photographs that correspond with index sheets in Sub-series 2. Like the index sheets, the aerial photographs are arranged numerically by serial numbers assigned to each group of photographs prior to their arrival at The University of Montana. When index sheets and a group of aerial photographs match (i.e. cover the same geographical area, were produced by the same agency at the same time), they have the exact same serial number. Aerial photographs are listed in the finding aid by county location, date the photographs were taken and serial number. There are several index sheets in this collection with no matching aerial photographs and a few groups of photographs with no matching index sheet. When no corresponding aerial photographs or index sheets exist an entry in the container list has been added to indicate this fact.

Series II, Controlled and Uncontrolled Aerial Mosaics, contains individual oversized aerial mosaics produced by private aerial photography companies. Also included are two reference maps plotting the land area covered by each aerial mosaic. These items are not dated, but supplementary information suggests they were produced in the 1960s. Many of the items in this series have transparent overlays depicting geologic and historical information, such as the location of mineral deposits or old homesteads. This series is divided into two sub-series. Sub-series 1, Controlled Mosaics, includes all controlled mosaics as well as a reference map to the land area covered by each mosaic. Sub-series 2, Uncontrolled Mosaics, contains all uncontrolled mosaics and a reference map plotting their geographic location. Both sub-series are arranged numerically by serial numbers assigned to each mosaic prior to their arrival at the University of Montana-Missoula.

Series III, Geologic Plane Table Sheets, contains original geologic drawings of locations in Central Montana dating from 1920 through 1961. These drawings provide a wealth of geological, and often historical, information for each mapped location. Also housed in this series is a reference map that plots the location of each set of plane table sheets. This series is divided into sub-series based on the regional divisions of the reference map. The drawings are then arranged chronologically by date.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with 17 U.S.C. and any other applicable statutes. Copyright not transferred to The University of Montana

Preferred Citation

[Name of document or photograph number], Amax Inc. Aerial Photograph and Geologic Plane Table Collection, Archives and Special Collections, The University of Montana—Missoula.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

Series I: Aerial Photographs and Index Sheets, 56.5 linear feet, 1937-1968 and undated

Sub-series 1: Reference Maps and Flight Indexes to Aerial Photographs

Sub-series 2: Aerial Photograph Index Sheets

Sub-series 3: Aerial Photographs

Series II: Controlled and Uncontrolled Aerial Mosaics, 4 linear feet, undated

Sub-series 1: Controlled Mosaics

Sub-series 2: Uncontrolled Mosaics

Series III: Geologic Plane Table Sheets, 2 linear feet, 1920-1961 and undated

Sub-series 1: Region I

Sub-series 2: Region III

Acquisition Information

The Arthur Lakes Library at the Colorado School of Mines donated this collection to the K. Ross Toole Archives in 1997. Previously it was held in a corporate library of Cyprus-Amax Metals Company in the Denver, Colorado area.

Processing Note

During the processing of this collection, materials in Series I and Series II were kept in their original order. Both series are arranged numerically by serial numbers assigned to each item or group of items prior to their arrival at The University of Montana-Missoula. Container list entries citing the county location, producing agency, date, and serial number of each index sheet, group of aerial photographs and individual aerial mosaic were created. Materials in Series III, Geologic Plane Table Sheets, were arranged into two regional sub-series based on a reference map discovered during processing. The materials were then arranged by date within each sub-series.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

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Subject Terms

  • Geological mapping--Montana
  • Mines and mineral resources--Montana
  • Petroleum--Prospecting--Montana

Form or Genre Terms

  • Aerial photographs--Montana
  • Maps--Montana

Finding aid prepared by Jessie Nunn
2005

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

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