Through their
public libraries, Arizona residents may explore thousands of online
articles and images from journals, newspapers, and current, accurate
research materials.
These databases are provided for Arizonans
with funding from the Maricopa County Library District and Tucson Pima
Public Library, and through a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum
and Library Services to the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public
Records under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act.
at the Arizona Historical Foundation
by James R. Allen II,
Library Supervisor Senior
Thank you for choosing the Arizona Historical Foundation (AHF) to conduct
your research in the area of mining in Arizona. AHF has a broad range of
mining materials. However, starting your reference search can be the most
difficult aspect of a research project. To help you with this process,
we have created this guide to finding materials on mining in our collection.
We hope this will facilitate the researchers understanding of AHF research
materials. The guide will detail the various options each reference access
guide/reference tool provides. It is the researcher’s discretion which
reference tool will be the most productive. However, our reference staff
can and will assist researchers with this and all questions they may have.
The Mining Information Cards
The mining cards are located in AHF's Reference Information Card Cabinet.
They are designated by pink labels. The mining cards are divided into three
subject areas.
The mining cards consists of citations to various newspapers. The AHF
or ASU Libraries may not hold all of the newspapers listed. A search in
the Arizona State University catalog will indicate if AHF or ASU Libraries
hold the newspapers.
The mining cards should not be discounted if AHF does not hold the newspapers
cited. The information contained on the cards is very thorough and succinct.
1. Mining Biographies
This section details information pertaining to individuals with a connection
to the mining industry in Arizona. The connections have a broad range.
For example, mine owners, commissioners, and even post traders are included.
This diversity of mining connections assists researchers in obtaining a
historical overview of the mining industry in Arizona.
2. General Mining Subjects
This section provides information regarding individual mines and mining
districts, mills, smelting companies, and much more. The cards are listed
alphabetically by the names of the mines and mining districts. This finding
aid is great if the researcher is searching for mines in a specific area
without knowing their specific names.
3. Chronology Of Mining In Arizona
This section details the events, individuals’ contributions and other facts
pertaining to the mining industry in Arizona. In a chronological order
starting from March 1864 to November1905 a broad ranges of subject areas
are represented. Unfortunately the following years are missing: 1865, 1873,
1893-94, 1900, 1904-1905.
Special Note: Researchers are encouraged to cross reference each
section. There might be information represented in one section not cited
in the other sections.
General Information Card Catalog
The cards in this catalog are citations to Arizona subjects that appear
in periodicals, journals, newspapers, and other sources. As with the Mining
Information Cards AHF and ASU may not hold all of the materials cited.
A search on the ASU Online Catalog will be needed to determine ASU's holdings.
In the event AHF does not hold the titles cited the information on the
cards is very helpful. Mining information in this catalog may indeed be
different from that of the Mining Information Cards. Therefore, researchers
are encouraged to cross reference.
Arizona State University's Online Catalog
AHF's research materials can be found in the following areas on the AHF
Libraries page: in the Catalog, in the Arizona Southwest Index, and
in the Map Index.
The Arizona and the Southwest Index affords the researcher with
citations to AHF research materials that are in the form of ephemera items,
photographs, small manuscripts, brochures, road maps and more. It is very
similar to that of a vertical file that one finds in Public Libraries.
Mining information can be located in the Southwest Index. Due to the diversity
of the formats of materials the types of information will vary greatly.
For example, small manuscripts could detail personal experiences while
ephemera items will be more informational in general terms. This is a very
valuable reference tool to use.
The ASU Map Index provides citations to maps. Maps relating to
Arizona are included here.
Special note: The Arizona and the Southwest Index and the ASU Map
Index provide listings for materials of AHF as well as other departments
within the library. AHF materials have the Arizona HF location.
Online Catalog
Books, monographs, journals, newspapers, serials are cited in the Online
Catalog. The materials cited are for ASU Libraries in general. AHF
materials have the Arizona HF location following the call numbers of the
items listed. AHF has may reference books that to help you start your research
on mining in Arizona. For example, The History of Mining in Arizona
Volumes 1–2, Arizona Mines and Mining Companies provides an excellent
starting point for mining researchers.
