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AHJ_ah00664 Inventory of the Midwest Oil Corporation records, 1889-1960 Midwest Oil Corporation records Processed by Jamie Greene University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.

American Heritage Center Dept. 3924, 1000 E. University Avenue University of Wyoming Laramie, WY 82071 Phone: 307.766.2574 Fax:307.766.5511 Email:ahcref@uwyo.edu URL:http://ahc.uwyo.edu/

2013

University of Wyoming

Finding aid encoded by Jamie Greene January 2013 Finding aid is in English Collection Summary Midwest Oil Corporation Midwest Oil Corporation records 1889-1960 00664 48.15 cubic ft. (107 boxes) University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center. English 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. History of the Midwest Oil Corporation

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).

Scope and Content

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.

Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the collection is open to the public.

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

Related Materials

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

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 Information

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

Preferred Citation

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

Access Terms Midwest Oil Company. Pennsylvania Oil & Gas Company -- Records. Petroleum Maatschappij Salt Creek of Wyoming -- Records. Central Wyoming Oil and Development Company -- Records. Societe Belgo-Americaine des Petroles du Wyoming -- Records. Franco Petroleum Company -- Records. Natrona Pipe Line & Refining Company -- Records. Wyoming Oil Fields Company -- Records. Midwest Refining Company -- Records. Mountain Producers Corporation -- Records. Salt Creek Producers Association, Inc. -- Records. Central Salt Creek Company -- Records. Wyoming Associated Oil Corporation -- Records. Wyoming Associated Royalty Company -- Records. Saltmount Oil Company -- Records. Saltmount Oil Corporation -- Records. Argo Oil Corporation -- Records. Petroleum industry and trade--West (U.S.) Oil fields--West (U.S.) Petroleum--Taxation--United States Petroleum law and legislation--United States--Cases Petroleum mining--United States Salt Creek Oil Field (Wyo.) Wyoming--History, 1890-1918 Wyoming--History, 1919-1945 Wyoming--History, 1946- Articles of incorporation Minutes Tax returns Financial Statements Legal files <?xm-replace_text {Title as Subject}?> Agriculture and Natural Resources Mines and Mineral Resources Business, Industry, Labor, and Commerce Businesses and Corporations Energy Production Wyoming Container List Series I. Salt Creek Oil Field (General files) 1889-1940

This series contains general files about the Salt Creek Oil Field and the various individuals and companies, as they relate to Midwest Oil Corporation, involved in the oil fields development.

1 Claims 1911 1 Land and mining deeds, claims, and affidavits 1889-1920 1 Land and stock transfers and sales 1910-1921 1 Lease and permit average distribution summaries 1921 1 Lease assignments 1920-1923 Legal proceedings 1890-1931: 1 F.G. Bonfils, Lease application 1920 1 James H. Bury vs. W. G. Henshaw; Midwest vs. Bury 1893-1917 1 Cy Iba claims 1890-1918 1 Frederick J. Lobell claims 1890-1920 1 H.E. Stock vs. Little Reed Companies 1931 1 Location certificates 1910-1911 2 Maps 1900-1940 3 Newspaper clippings 1916-1925 3 Production reports and valuations 1919-1934 3 Publications, reports, and drafts about the Salt Creek Oil Field and it's history 1910-1925 3 Pennsylvania Oil and Gas meeting minutes, including first charter meeting 1895-1904 Research data 1900-1932: 4 Federal regulations - Leasing Act 1910-1932 4 Federal regulations - Withdrawal order 1900-1930 4 Lease serial numbers undated 5 Scrapbook of stock notices and reports (i.e. annual reports, meeting and dividend notices, and proxies) for related Midwest Oil companies 1910-1940 6 Salt Creek unit agreement 1939 6 Stanolind operations 1938 6 Status of titles 1913-1920 6 Stock holdings 1920-1923 Taxes 1919-1938: 6 Analysis of dividend payments for all companies 1920-1923 6 Capitol stock taxes 1935-1938 6 Correspondence 1919-1932 6 Depletion 1932-1936 7 Statute of limitation cases 1924-1929 7 Taxes paid 1919-1928 7 Unitization undated 7 Valuations and data summaries March 1, 1913 Series II. Predecessor Companies: Subsidiaries, Affiliates, and Merged Companies 1903-1954

This series contains corporate records, correspondence, meeting minutes, financial statements and reports, legal proceedings, and tax records regarding the predecessor companies of Midwest Oil Corporation.

Sub-series 1. Societe Belgo-Americaine des Petroles du Wyoming Company records 1903-1927

8 Combined corporation records - Articles, by-laws, organization, meeting minutes, and stockholders accounts 1903-1912 8 Taxes: Correspondence 1926-1927 8 Taxes: Income tax returns 1903-1926 Sub-series 2. Central Wyoming Oil and Development Company 1907-1926

8 Correspondence 1920 8 Depletion reports 1926 8 Financial statements and reports 1921-1924 8-11 Legal proceedings 1910-1918 12 Meeting minutes 1907-1921 Sub-series 3. Fitzhugh-Henshaw 1911-1929

12 Depletion reports undated Legal proceedings 1911-1929: 12 Affidavits and statements 1911-1929 13 Fitzhugh litigation - California Oil Co. vs. Fitzhugh and Midwest Oil Co. 1913 13 Fitzhugh litigation - Wm. M. Fitzhugh and Mary E. Fitzhugh vs. Midwest Oil Co. 1917 13 Bill of complaint 1917 14 Brief for defendants 1917 14 Fitzhugh deposition 1917 14 Location notices and certificates 1910-1916 14 Maps 1919 Sub-series 4. Reed Companies 1910-1932 14 Land claims 1917-1918 14 Legal estate documents of Verner Zevola Reed 1910-1932 14 Oil reserves 1920 14 Predecessor companies - Little companies, powers of attorney 1918 15 Reorganization and take over by Wyoming Associated Oil Corp. 1925-1927 15 Taxes 1914-1928 Sub-series 5. Wyoming Oil Fields Company 1911-1937

15 Acquisition of capital stock by Salt Creek Producers Association and Midwest Oil Company 1921-1937 15 Agreements and contracts undated 15 Depletion reports 1921-1935 16 Engineers and revenue agents reports 1918-1935 16 Federal regulations on pipe lines 1920 16-18 Financial statements and reports 1911-1935 19 Incorporation records undated 19 Meeting minutes 1911-1914 Taxes 1912-1937: 19 Claims for refund 1918-1937 20 Correspondence 1919-1932 21 Tax returns 1912-1936 21 Titles - Transactions of Joseph H. Lobell in regards to Salt Creek Oil Field undated 21 Valuations 1922 Sub-series 6. Natrona Pipe Line and Refining Company 1911-1933

22 Contracts - Correspondence 1912-1929 22 Financial statements and reports 1920-1924 22 Meeting minutes 1911-1933 22 Stockholders 1919-1921 Taxes 1912-1933: 22 Claims for refund 1917 22 Tax returns 1912-1933 Sub-series 7. Midwest Oil Company 1911-1954

23 Agreements, contracts, and leases 1918-1939 Corporate records 1911-1923: 23 Acquisitions and transfers 1911-1921 23 Franco Petroleum monthly reports 1913-1914 23 Special reports 1913 23 Stockholders and directors 1911 23 Stock purchases 1911-1923 23 Correspondence 1923 24 Depletion reports 1919-1928 25 Employee plan for retirement annuities 1934 25-26 Engineers and revenue agents reports 1911-1951 26-36 Financial statements and reports 1912-1950 36 History - "When Salt Creek Roared," by Oliver H. Shoup undated Legal proceedings 1911-1954: 37 Memorandum as to status of Salt Creek cases 1920-1935 37 Miscellaneous legal documents 1911-1937 37-38 Case files involving Midwest Oil Company 1912-1954 39 Maps 1913-1914 39 Oil reserves 1918-1920 39 Powers of attorney undated 39 Production reports undated 39 Proof of discovery 1918-1920 39 "Report on the Midwest Oil Company, Oil Trespass, Salt Creek Field, Wyoming," by H. B. Durham and C.M. Rath 1915 Taxes 1912-1950: 40-41 Claims for refund 1917-1948 41 Correspondence 1918-1938 42 Excess profit tax 1917-1945 43-45 Income tax returns 1912-1951 46 Tax legal cases and miscellaneous tax matters 1914-1933 46 Valuation reports 1917-1944 Sub-series 8. Midwest Refining Company 1914-1932 47 Agreements and contracts 1914-1929 Corporate records 1914-1927: 47 Annual reports 1914-1916 47 Investment in stock of other companies 1924-1927 47 Officers and directors of affiliated companies 1922-1927 47 Ownership 1923-1927 47 Correspondence 1920-1929 47 Depletion reports 1915-1920 48 Financial statements and reports 1914-1928 49 Land sales - oil 1910-1918 49 Maps 1916-1925 49 Powers of attorney 1927-1928 49 Production reports 1931-1932 49 Publication - "The Midwest Review," published by the Midwest Refining Company 1920-1921 49 Report on holdings in Wyoming oil fields 1915 49 Research data 1917-1921 49 Stock holdings 1920-1921 49 Brief of the Midwest Refining Company 1917 Taxes 1917-1924: 50 Claims for refund 1919-1924 50 Corporate income and excess profits tax 1917-1919 50 Depreciation rates undated 50 Schedules for income tax 1917 50 Tax legal cases 1919-1924 50 Value of assets acquired in Salt Creek Field, Wyoming 1917-1919 Sub-series 9. Mountain Producers Corporation and Wyoming Associated Oil Corporation 1919-1951 51 Correspondence 1920-1944 52 Corporate records 1920-1946: 52 Certificate of incorporation 1920 52 Proceedings and report of stockholders special committee 1945-1946 52 Depletion reports 1919-1924 52-58 Financial statements and reports 1920-1950 58 General accounting work file 1922-1939 58 "History Relating to Capital Structure and Income for Base Period for Basis of Excess Profits Tax Credits," 1942 58 Powers of attorney 1923-1942 59 Revenue agents reports 1919-1951 Taxes 1920-1951: 60 Correspondence 1921-1938 61 Claims for refund 1925-1950 61 Excess profits tax 1941-1951 62-64 Income tax returns 1920-1951 65 Tax legal cases - 1924 tax case 1941-1943 65-68 Tax legal cases - 1925 tax case 1929-1935 69 Tax legal cases - Miscellaneous 1924-1941 69 Tax matters - liabilities, protests, and reports 1925-1950 Sub-series 10. Wyoming Associated Oil Corporation 1918-1942 70 Collateral agreement, Empire State Oil Co. 1932 70 Corporate records - Organization, contracts, stock records, and dissolution 1920-1940 70-71 Correspondence 1918-1933 71-72 Depletion reports 1919-1933 73 Engineers and revenue agents reports 1919-1935 73-77 Financial statements and reports 1919-1936 77 Leases 1925 77-78 Proof of discovery reports 1920 Taxes 1919-1936: 78 Claims for refund 1919-1935 78 Excess profits tax 1919-1922 78-79 Income tax returns 1919-1936 79-80 Tax legal cases 1924-1942 80 Tax matters - liability, protests, and reports 1919-1933 80 Valuations - Oil and gas properties and production 1919-1931 Wyoming Associated Royalty Company records 1922-1934: 81 Corporate records - Articles and by-laws 1922-1923 81 Stock purchases and the Isenberg stock transfers 1921-1922 81 Depletion reports 1923 81 Meeting minutes 1933-1934 81 Taxes - Claims and income tax returns 1922-1928 Sub-series 11.Saltmount Oil Company and Saltmount Oil Corporation 1929-1951 82 Accounting work papers (ledgers) 1943 82 Annual statements 1938 82-88 Financial statements and reports 1930-1950 88 Production reports - Oil and gas 1940 89 Revenue agents reports 1930-1951 Taxes 1930-1950: 89 Claims for refund 1935-1940 89-92 Income tax returns 1929-1950 93 Valuation reports 1941-1946 Sub-series 12. Salt Creek Producers Association, Inc. 1917-1937 Corporate records 1917-1936: 94 Incorporation, organization, and dissolution 1918-1936 94 Stock records 1917-1928 95 Virginia - Permits and taxes 1918-1936 95-96 Correspondence 1918-1937 96 Depletion reports 1923-1936 96-97 Engineers and revenue agents reports 1918-1936 98-99 Financial statements and reports 1922-1936 100 Leases - Salt Creek Oil Field 1928 100 Legal proceedings 1920-1931 100 Powers of attorney 1937 100 Production - Oil and gas 1919 Taxes 1918-1936: 100 Claims for refund 1920-1936 100 Correspondence 1925-1931 100 Excess profits tax 1919-1926 101-103 Income tax returns 1918-1936 104 Tax legal cases 1919-1933 104 Tax matters - Consolidated returns and tax liability 1919-1931 Central Salt Creek Company 1917-1928: 105 Corporate records - Incorporation, dissolution, and stock records 1917-1928 105 Tax appeals for the estate of Frank G. Curtis, et. al. 1924 105 Taxes - Income tax return 1920-1921 Series III. Reorganization records 1919-1960

This series contains annual reports, correspondence, charts, stock records and financials relating to the reorganizations that Midwest Oil Company and it's affiliates and subsidiaries went through before becoming Midwest Oil Corporation.

106 Annual report for Midwest Oil Corporation 1960 106 Correspondence 1932-1936 106 Historical chart - "Principal Operators in the Salt Creek Field, Midwest Oil Corporation," 1956 106 Memorandum on reorganization and relationships between predecessor companies of Midwest Oil 1934-1936 106 Stock records - Ratios, schedules, and values 1919-1951 106 Taxes - Excess profits tax 1943 Series IV. Argo Oil Corporation Records (Argo Complex) 1916-1941

This series contains research records belonging to the Midwest Oil Corporation about the companies that would merge and become the Argo Corporation. The series contains corporate records, depletion reports, correspondence, and tax records of Salt Creek Consolidated Oil Company, New Bradford Oil Company, Parkman Oil Company, and Mountain and Gulf Oil Company.

106 Argo Oil Company holdings undated Salt Creek Consolidated Oil Company 1916-1920: 106 Correspondence 1921-1929 106 Depletion reports 1916-1921 107 Memorandum on transactions to 1921 1921 107 Taxes 1916-1921 107 Valuation of oil properties 1924 New Bradford Oil Company 1919-1941: 107 Agreements and taxes 1917-1926 107 Correspondence 1920-1941 107 Revenue agent reports 1919-1923 107 Parkman Oil Company and Mountain and Gulf Oil Company stock records 1917-1925