Coeur d'Alene Mine Owners Association papers, 1899-1906
Table of Contents
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Coeur d'Alene Mine Owners Association
- Title
- Coeur d'Alene Mine Owners Association papers
- Dates
- 1899-1906 (inclusive)18991906
- Quantity
-
3 cubic feet
- Collection Number
- MG 682
- Summary
- The materials in the Coeur d'Alene Mine Owners Association collection showcase many aspects of mining operations during the early 1900s. Financial records and cheques detailing the spending and profit, daily notable activity logs such as operatives who were looking for union activity, and record keeping on employees and nationalities.
- 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 - Access Restrictions
-
Collection is open for research
- Languages
- English
Content Description
This collection contains information on finances, employees, and unionization through the Coeur d'Alene Mining District, which was centered in Wallace, Idaho. Notes on men deemed a threat to operations, including photos, were kept along with tallies on the nationalities of employees with the fear of socialism spreading through unionization trends throughout the country.
Through this collection, there is evidence of the day-to-day operational tasks and management of the mine owners but also signs of the social and political tensions of the time. Ledger books, operative reports, invoices, and distributions.
Historical Note
Wallace, Idaho is a historical mining town, part of the silver boom that took over Northern Idaho in 1878 when gold was found near the modern-day site of the town. As more precious metals were found in the mountains, more mining communities started developing. The Coeur d'Alene Mining District, named after the indigenous population, was started and acted as a central control for the many operations and sites around North Idaho including Mullan, Kellogg, and Burke. Wallace was considered the center of the district as industrialization swept through the Silver Valley.
The Mine Owners Association was started in the late 1880s in opposition to growing unionization and the fear socialism control from the increase of immigrant workers in blue collar fields like mining.
While under the Coeur d'Alene Mining District, individual mines operated under their own companies but have compiled resources and materials through the district's records.
Other Descriptive Information
Accession arrived as "Wallace Mine Owners Association" but appears to be "Coeur d'Alene Mine Owners Association." Record updated to reflect that.
Use of the Collection
Preferred Citation
FOR PHOTOS: Photographer, "Title," date. Collection name, object ID. University of Idaho Library Special Collections and Archives, Moscow, ID.
FOR DOCUMENTS: Author, Description or "Title" of item, date. Collection name, collection number, box, folder. University of Idaho Library Special Collections and Archives, Moscow, ID.
Administrative Information
Arrangement
Materials were organized for ease of access
Related Materials
MG 5849 Mining Strike Damage photograph
Acquisition Information
Materials received from Kenton Bird in 2025 (MA 2025-20).
Detailed Description of the Collection
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Series I:
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Description: Operative Reports I1 items : Reports from operatives on the watch for illegal or union activities and rumors, particularly from non-Americans, to prevent a workers strikeDates: 1905Container: Box 1, Folder 1
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Description: Operative Reports II1 items : Reports from operatives on the watch for illegal or union activities and rumors, particularly from non-Americans, to prevent a workers strikeDates: 1902Container: Box 1, Folder 2
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Description: Operative Reports III1 items : Reports from operatives on the watch for illegal or union activities and rumors, particularly from non-Americans, to prevent a workers strikeDates: 1904Container: Box 1, Folder 3
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Description: Operative Reports IV1 items : Reports from operatives on the watch for illegal or union activities and rumors, particularly from non-Americans, to prevent a workers strikeDates: 1903Container: Box 1, Folder 4
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Description: Cheques and Vouchers I29 items : Checks and receipts for book-keeping purposesDates: 1904Container: Box 1, Folder 5
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Description: Cheques and Vouchers II45 items : Checks and receipts for book-keeping purposesDates: 1899-1903Container: Box 1, Folder 6
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Description: Cheques and Vouchers III32 items : Checks and receipts for book-keeping purposesDates: 1900-1904Container: Box 1, Folder 7
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Description: Cheques and Vouchers IV21 items : Checks and receipts for book-keeping purposesDates: 1904Container: Box 1, Folder 8
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Description: Miscellaneous26 items : Correspondence, receipts, nationality tallies of workers, and map of mining districtsDates: 1900-1905Container: Box 1, Folder 9
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Description: Check Stubs3 items : Booklets of check stubsDates: 1901-1905Container: Box 1, Folder 10
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Description: Book I1 items : Written reports and entries on daily activities of noteDates: 1904Container: Box 1, Folder 11
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Description: Book II1 items : Financial records bookDates: 1900-1904Container: Box 1, Folder 12
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Description: Book III1 items : Log book from mining operationsDates: 1899-1904Container: Box 1, Folder 13
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Description: Book IV1 items : Book of letters, receipts, and statements from the Mine Owners AssociationDates: 1901-1904Container: Box 1, Folder 14
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Description: Fugitive Papers1 items : Lists of fugitives and their crimes. Numbers beside names match numbers on the back of photographs in folder 16.Dates: undatedContainer: Box 1, Folder 15
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Description: Pictures65 items : Photos on card of men deemed a threat to mining operations, including fugitives and immigrants. Numbers on back of photographs match names in folder 15.Dates: undatedContainer: Box 1, Folder 16
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Description: Materials from Company Logs III8 items : Loose photos of three men (WM Haywood, Chas Moyer, and JH Simpkins) and two photos of a house, list of men from Gem, and a letter from L.U.Dates: 1904Container: Box 1, Folder 17
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Description: Obituaries2 items : Obituaries for Ira Allen Robson and Robert Robson who had close connection to the mining town of KelloggDates: 1972-2006Container: Box 1, Folder 18
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Description: Taxes75 items : Documents for taxes, deeds, and book-keeping materialsDates: 1884-1906Container: Box 2, Folder 19
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Description: Receipts359 items : Financial materials for checks and book-keeping materialsDates: 1899-1906Container: Box 3, Folder 20
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Description: Company Logs I1 items : Letter Copying Books of employment logs, mine building assignment, copies of communication from the mining companies, and includes nationality tallies.Dates: 1906-1907Container: Box 4, Object 21
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Description: Company Logs II1 items : Letter Copying Books of company communication and reports, copies of The Mining Review print, and nationality tallies. Also includes boards used when stamping pages.Dates: 1907Container: Box 4, Object 22
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Description: Company Logs III1 items : Letter Copying Books of company communication and reports, and nationality talliesDates: 1904-1906Container: Box 4, Object 23
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Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Detectives
- Labor Unions
- Labor unions--Idaho--History
- Miners
- Mining corporations--Idaho
- Protest movements
- Suspects (Criminal investigation) URI(s)
Geographical Names
- Coeur d'Alene Mining District (Idaho)
- Wallace, Idaho
