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James Westfield photograph collection, 1950-1970

Overview of the Collection

Col
Westfield, James; United States. Bureau of Mines
Title
James Westfield photograph collection
Dates
1950-1970 (bulk)
Quantity
1.9 linear feet, (5 archives boxes)  :  1342 items
Collection Number
P1941
Summary
James Westerfield (1904-1976) was a graduate of the University of Utah who worked a variety of positions for the United States Bureau of Mines, including the position of Assistant Director of Health and Safety. This collection contains press coverage of the Rovena mine safety day rally in 1955, photos from National First Aid and Mine Rescue contests, awards ceremonies, safety practices. Also included are photos from various mining operations and disasters around the country.
Repository
University of Utah Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library
University of Utah
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City, UT
84112-0860

Telephone: 8015818863
special@library.utah.edu
Access Restrictions

Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.

Languages
English
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Historical Note

William James Westfield Jr. was born on 1904 January 28 in Sunnyside, Carbon County, Utah to Jessie Helen Henderson and William James Westfield. He attended the University of Utah, where he was a member of Sigma Gamma Epsilon. James Westfield graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Mining Engineering from the University of Utah. In 1933, Westfield married Mary L. Roe; together, they had at least one child.

Westfield worked for the United States Bureau of Mines throughout his career. He began as a first-aid miner and participated in the training of the first two classes of coal-mine inspectors. In 1943, Westfield became engineer-in-charge of the rescue work in the Ninth Service Command, covering most of the Western States with the rank of Major. Westfield then returned to the Bureau of Mines as district supervisor of the health and safety activities in the Midwest. He later became the Assistant Director of Health and Safety for the Bureau of Mines.

William James Westfield, Jr. died on 1976 October 12.

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Content Description

The James Westfield photograph collection consists of 5 boxes containing approximately 1,340 photographs and negatives, primarily black-and-white photograph prints. The images mostly depict mining activities in the Eastern United States and primarily date from the 1950s and 1960s. Subjects primarily include mining accidents and disasters and safety demonstrations, inspections, and conferences. The majority of the images were created by the United States Bureau of Mines and were collected by James Westfield during the course of his work as Assistant Director of Health and Safety for the Bureau of Mines.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library's Use Agreement and Reproduction Request forms.

Preferred Citation

Collection Name, Collection Number, Box Number, Folder Number. Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library, The University of Utah.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

Items are kept in original order. Most of the photographs arrived in fifteen 3-ring binders and four smaller binders, but were removed from the binders because they were not archival. When they were removed from binders, the photos were placed in folders, and the order in which they were stored was maintained when they were processed.

Acquisition Information

Donated by Dolores Westfield in 2014.

Processing Note

Processed by Special Collections staff.

Click here to read a statement on harmful language in library records.

Separated Materials

See also the James Westfield papers (ACCN 2834) in the Manuscripts Division of Special Collections.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

  • Description: Press Coverage of Robena Mine Safety Rally, Pennsylvania
    Dates: 1955 April 30
    Container: Box 1, Folder 1
  • Description: Atha and Llwelyn mines
    Container: Box 1, Folder 2
  • Description: Conferences, individual and group photographs
    Dates: 1963-1965
    Container: Box 1, Folder 3
  • Description: Castle Gate mine, T.G.S. explosion, Moab, Utah
    Dates: circa 1924
    Container: Box 1, Folder 4
  • Description: National First Aid and Mine Rescue Contest
    Dates: 1951 October 2-1951 October 4
    Container: Box 1, Folder 5
  • Description: Mine machinery, some rivers, event photos, Bond Valley Mine explosion
    Dates: 1945 January
    Container: Box 1, Folder 6
  • Description: Mining event
    Container: Box 1, Folder 7
  • Description: United States Department of the Interior Bureau of Mines: Various training classes and groups, mines
    Dates: 1952-1953
    Container: Box 1, Folder 8
  • Description: Jamison number 9 mine, Farmington, West Virginia
    Dates: circa 1965-1969
    Container: Box 2, Folder 1
  • Description: Mine safety demonstrations and conferences

    Locations include: Sunnyside Mine, Colorado; Consolidation Coal Company, McRoberts, Kentucky

    Dates: circa 1950s
    Container: Box 2, Folder 2
  • Description: "Coal Mine Inspection and Investigation Work"

    Typewritten report that includes photographs and descriptions. Locations include mines in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Utah, and Oklahoma.

    Container: Box 2, Folder 3
  • Description: Workers at the Federal Bureau of Mines, West Virginia
    Container: Box 3, Folder 1
  • Description: Mine rescue maneuvers, Bruceton, Pennsylvania
    Dates: 1954 October
    Container: Box 3, Folder 2
  • Description: Photos from binder 8: Jamison Coal Mine, Department of Interior award
    Container: Box 3, Folder 3
  • Description: Coal mine explosion at Moore Shaft, mine #58, Bethlehem mines corporation
    Dates: 1957 September 23
    Container: Box 3, Folder 4
  • Description: Three men in a mine
    Container: Box 3, Folder 5
  • Description: Mining scenes in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania; Cincinnati mining convention
    Dates: 1950
    Container: Box 4, Folder 1
  • Description: Major mine inundation disaster: River Slope mine, Pennsylvania

    Also known as the Knox Mine Disaster.

    Dates: 1959 January 22
    Container: Box 4, Folder 2
  • Description: Conditions and damage from explosion in Marianna #58 mine, Bethlehem mines corporation, Pennsylvania
    Container: Box 4, Folder 3
  • Description: Marianna #58 mine explosion, continued
    Container: Box 4, Folder 4
  • Description: Mine rescue contest and safety awards ceremony
    Dates: 1959 October-1959 November
    Container: Box 4, Folder 5
  • Description: United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines: Rivers, awards ceremony
    Dates: 1952
    Container: Box 4, Folder 6
  • Description: Mine rescue training and safety devices
    Container: Box 5, Folder 1
  • Description: Car number 3, Cleaton, Kentucky
    Dates: 1912 December 15
    Container: Box 5, Folder 2

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Coal mine accidents--United States
  • Mine safety

Form or Genre Terms

  • Black-and-white prints (photographs)

Other Creators

  • Personal Names

    • Westfield, James (col)
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