Oregon Quicksilver Incorporated mining records

Collection — Box: 1-2

Identifier: Coll 423

Scope and Contents

The Oregon Quicksilver Incorporated mining records consists of time cards, stock certificates, correspondence, supply invoices, and legal documents. The information in this collection details the exploits of George S. Barton, mostly from his time with Oregon Quicksilver Incorporated, but there is also information on George Barton's earlier endeavors in mining at the Prosperity and Bonanza Bar mines in southern Washington State.

This collection is arranged into 22 folders in 2 boxes. The first box contains Superintendent's Reports that note the workers' schedule, stock certificates, correspondence, and legal documents such as mining contracts, agreements, and notices of placer claims.

The second box contains timecards, a notice for a stockholder's meeting about dissolving Oregon Quicksilver, supply invoices, photographs of miners and the Nisbet mine, and also photographs of the Bonanza Bar mine, and finally information on the Prosperity and Bonanza Bar Mines which include placer claims, drawings of the locations, assays, and notes.

Dates

Creation: 1937-1942

Creator

Oregon Quicksilver Incorporated (Organization)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open to the public. Collection must be used in Special Collections and University Archives Reading Room. Collection or parts of collection may be stored offsite. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives in advance of your visit to allow for transportation time.

Conditions Governing Use

Property rights reside with Special Collections and University Archives, University of Oregon Libraries. Copyright resides with the creators of the documents or their heirs. All requests for permission to publish collection materials must be submitted to Special Collections and University Archives. The reader must also obtain permission of the copyright holder.

Biographical / Historical

Oregon Quicksilver Incorporated was formed in 1940 by George S. Barton. The company operated at the Nisbet Cinnabar mine which was located along the southwest bend of the Clackamas River Oak Grove Fork. Here, Oregon Quicksilver mined for mercury, which was a valuable commodity in the United States until the end of World War II. The mine was purchased via Mines Service Incorporated from George Nisbet (1878-1958) who had originally discovered it in 1925. The mine was developed through five tunnels and one shaft and it extended 500 feet. Oregon Quicksilver Incorporated was a short-lived company and was dissolved early in 1941 after not being able to uphold their lease agreement with George Nisbet. George S. Barton eventually settled in Eugene, Oregon where he passed away in 1972.

Extent

1 linear feet (2 containers) : 2 manuscript boxes

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

This collection contains information about Oregon Quicksilver Incorporated and Mines Service Incorporated, both located in Oregon. The collection contains superintendent's reports, timecards, stocks, invoices, correspondence, photographs, and legal documents. Also contained in this collection is information about the Prosperity Mine and the Bonanza Bar in the form of placer claims, drawings of locations, legal documents and notes.

Arrangement

Collection is organized into the following series:

Series I: Timekeeping Subseries A: Superintendent's Reports Subseries B:Time cards Series II: Stock Certificates Series III: Supply Invoices Series IV: Correspondence Series V: Photographs Series VI: Legal Documents Series VII: Prosperity and Bonanza Bar mines

Processing Information

Collection processed by Ryan Dahlquist

This finding aid may be updated periodically to account for new acquisitions to the collection and/or revisions in arrangement and description.