Table of Contents


Collection Overview

Biographical Chronology

Scope and Content

Restrictions

Subject Headings

Administrative Information

Contents:

I. Edmund Munroe Correspondence

II. Henry Smith Munroe Correspondence

III. Articles and Reports

IV. Personal Writings

V. Financial Papers

VI. Columbia University

VII. Barrell Lands

VIII. St. Lawrence Pyrites Company: Financial Statements

IX. Maps, Plans and Engineering Diagrams

X. Memorabilia

XI. Whitney Estate

XII. Felix Grundy Mining Co.

Henry Smith Munroe Papers

A Guide to the Henry Smith Munroe Papers at the Connecticut Historical Society



Collection Overview

Repository : Connecticut Historical Society
Creator : Munroe, Edmund and Henry Smith
Title : Henry Smith Munroe Papers
Dates : 1804 - 1934
Extent : 6.5 linear feet (13 boxes)
Abstract : Collection consists of personal correspondence between Henry Smith Monroe and his family, and correspondence dealing with Munroe's mining and engineering works, as consultant and as a teacher of mining at universities in the United States and Japan. A significant portion of the correspondence, and its supporting documents, relate to lands and land deals in Tennessee. Also included are numerous maps and plans and diagrams of mine workings, surveying statistics and engineering diagrams. Some material touches on Munroe's role as professor of mining at Columbia University.
Location: Ms Munrh1933
Language: English

Biographical Chronology

1850 -- Born in Brooklyn, NY

1869 -- E.M. Columbia University

1870-1871 -- Assistant Geologist, Ohio State Geological Survey

1870-1872 -- Assistant Chemist, United States Department of Agriculture

1872-1875 -- Assistant Geologist and Mining Engineer, Geological Survey of Yesso, Japan

1875-1876 -- Professor of geology and Mining, University of Tokio

1877 -- Ph.D., Columbia University

1877-1891 -- Adjunct Professor of Mining, Columbia University

1891-1915 -- Professor of Mining, Columbia University

1897-1899 -- Dean, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Columbia University

1917 -- Consulting Engineer, United States Bureau of Mines

1933, May 4th -- Died at home in Litchfield, Connecticut

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Scope and Content

Collection consists of personal correspondence between Henry Smith Monroe and his family, and correspondence dealing with Munroe's mining and engineering works, as consultant and as a teacher of mining at universities in the United States and Japan. A significant portion of the correspondence, and its supporting documents, relate to lands and land deals in Tennessee. Also included are numerous maps and plans and diagrams of mine workings, surveying statistics and engineering diagrams. Some material touches on Munroe role as professor of mining at Columbia University.

Arrangement

Papers are organized into seven series based predominantly on original order and the creator (viz. "collector") of a given series. This is particularly apparent in Series I: Edmund Munroe Correspondence, the latter part of which consists almost exclusively of letters authored and written by Harry Smith Munroe.

Series I: Edmund Munroe Correspondence consists of letters to and from Edmund Munroe, Henry Smith's Father, and from members of his immediate family. Much of the correspondence in this series concerns Edmund's dealing with land agents and with land owners in Tennessee, particularly Samuel Barrell of Knoxville, and the Honourable Felix Grundy of Nashville. From ca. 1869 onward the series consists almost solely of letters authored by Harry Smith Munroe, addressed to his parents, and father in particular.

Series II: Henry Smith Munroe Correspondence consists mixed personal and business correspondence, arranged chronologically. Much of the earlier correspondence concerns land acquisitions and dealings with lawyers, particularly Charles Seymour, and surveyors in Tennessee. Such correspondence and other supporting documents relates closely to that of Edmund Munroe and the Barrell Lands. Later correspondence concerns mining and engineering projects, and his work at the Columbia University as Professor of Mining.

Series III: Articles, Reports and Essays consists of written mining and engineering reports, frequently containing technical diagrams and related evidence.

Series IV: Personal Writings consists of diaries, notebooks, travel accounts, jottings and rough calculations.

Series V: Financial Papers consists of bills and receipts of sale, small account books, indentures and agreements, and insurance papers.

Series VI: Columbia University consists of teaching material(notes for lectures), statements of grades, student reports, notebooks on 'academic politics' and material specifically relating to the Summer School of Mining held annually at the School of mines. General interdepartmental memoranda and correspondence, and formal university proclamations may be found in Series 2: Henry Smith Correspondence under the appropriate year.

Series VII: Barrell Lands consists of undated notes and memoranda concerning the Barrell Lands (lands formerly of Samuel Barrell) in Tennessee. Also contains two volumes, one being a survey of those lands by J. W. Davis, the second being minutes of the Trustees of the Barrell Lands for the years 1886-1888. Series II: Henry Smith Munroe Correspondence contains much material relating to transactions and other dealings in regard of these lands, particularly correspondence with land agents and the law office of Charles Seymour of Knoxville. Additional material on the Barrell lands can also be found in Series I: Correspondence of Edmund Munroe.

Series VIII: St. Lawrence Pyrites Company consists of monthly and annual general balance sheets of the St. Lawrence Pyrite Company. Other financial breakdowns include some external contracts, and analyses of milling and extracting operations.

Series IX: Maps, Plans and Engineering Diagrams consists town maps and builders blueprints, engineering diagrams and other technical drawings and illustrations. Some photographs of mining projects are included in this series. Alongside illustrative material are rough calculations and notes relating to mining works.

Series X: Memorabilia consists of invitations, business cards, menus, and tickets.

Series XI: Whitney Estate consists of deeds, agreements and accounts concerning the estates of Sarah Whitney and George Whitney.

Series XII: Felix Grundy Mining Co. consists of two volumes of minutes of the Grundy Mining Company, TN.

Series divisions are based on original order, folders and volumes being arranged chronologically within each series. Series I: Edmund Munroe Correspondence, from ca. 1869 to onward consists principally of letters written by Edmund's son, Harry. These letters have been preserved in this series, rather than moved to Series II: Harry Smith Munroe Correspondence, in the interest of preserving the integrity of the creator of this series, rather than, necessarily, that of the author.

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Restrictions

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions on access to the collection.

Use Restrictions

Use of the material requires compliance with the Connecticut Historical Society's Research Center regulations.

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Subject Headings

Personal Names

Barrell, Samuel.
Grundy, Felix, 1777-1840.
Munroe, Edmund.

Subjects

Explosions.
Mining schools and education Japan Tokyo.
Mining schools and education New York New York.

Geographic Names

Yesso (Japan) Surveys.

Genre Forms

Holographs; holographs, signed; typescripts; typescripts, signed; maps and sketches of mining workings.

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Item, Collection Title, Collection number (Box #, Folder #). Connecticut Historical Society, Hartford, Connecticut.

Processing Details

EAD instance compiled by Stephen Yearl in August 1999, based on a previous arrangement. Updated to EAD 2002 in December 2010.

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Contents:

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I. Edmund Munroe Correspondence

Box Folder
1 1 Personal and family correspondence of Edmund Munroe; includes grant of land (in Calais, ME) from Edmund Munroe to Theodore Wright and Benjamin Servall. 1804 - 1833
1 2 Personal and family correspondence of Edmund Munroe; principal correspondents, Frederick Smith, and Samuel Barrell to Hon. Felix Grundy (Nashville, TN). 1834 - 1836
1 3 Personal and family correspondence of Edmund Munroe; principal correspondents, Frederick Smith, and Samuel Barrell to Hon. Felix Grundy (Nashville, TN), concerning land in Tennessee. January - June, 1837
1 4 Personal and family correspondence of Edmund Munroe; principal correspondents, Frederick Smith, and Samuel Barrell to Hon. Felix Grundy (Nashville, TN), concerning land in Tennessee. July - December, 1837
1 5 Personal and family correspondence of Edmund Munroe; principal correspondents, Frederick Smith, and Samuel Barrell to Hon. Felix Grundy (Nashville, TN), concerning land in Tennessee. 1838 - 1839
1 6 Personal and family correspondence of Edmund Munroe; concerning land in Tennessee. Correspondence with Hon. Felix Grundy and Samuel Barrell. 1840 - 1844
1 7 Personal and family correspondence of Edmund Munroe; concerning land in Tennessee. Correspondence with Hon. Felix Grundy and Samuel Barrell. 1845 - 1846
1 8 Family correspondence, to and from Edmund's mother and sister, Susan. 1847
1 9 Correspondence pertaining to the Tennessee land holdings of Samuel Barrell; major correspondent, Thomas Anderson (Boston, MA). 1848 - 1849
1 10 Personal and family correspondence of Edmund Munroe. 1850
1 11 Personal and family correspondence of Edmund Munroe. 1851 - 1852
Box Folder
2 1 Personal and family correspondence of Edmund Munroe. 1853 - 1854
2 2 Personal and family correspondence of Edmund Munroe. 1855 - 1856
2 3 Personal and family correspondence of Edmund Munroe. 1857 - 1858
2 4 Personal and family correspondence of Edmund Munroe. 1859
2 5 Personal and family correspondence of Edmund Munroe. 1860
2 6 Personal and family correspondence of Edmund Munroe. 1861 - 1863
2 7 Personal and family correspondence of Edmund Munroe. 1864 - 1865
2 8 Personal and family correspondence of Edmund Munroe; letters from Harry Smith Munroe while at Columbia's School of Mines, and from Edmund's other children. 1866
2 9 Personal and family correspondence of Edmund Munroe; letters from Harry Smith Munroe while at Columbia's School of Mines, and from Cleveland, Ohio. 1867 - 1869
2 10 Personal and family correspondence of Edmund Munroe; letters largely from Harry Smith Munroe when assistant geologist in Cleveland. 1870
2 11 Personal and family correspondence of Edmund Munroe; letters largely from Harry Smith Munroe while in Washington D.C. January - June, 1871
Box Folder
3 1 Correspondence; letters largely from Harry Smith Munroe while in Washington D.C. July - December, 1871
3 2 Correspondence; letters largely from Harry Smith Munroe while in Yesso, Japan. 1872
3 3 Correspondence; letters largely from Harry Smith Munroe while in Yesso, Japan. 1873
3 4 Correspondence; letters largely from Harry Smith Munroe while in Yesso, Japan. January - May, 1874
3 5 Correspondence; letters largely from Harry Smith Munroe while in Yesso, Japan. June - December, 1874
3 6 Correspondence; letters largely from Harry Smith Munroe while in Yesso, Japan, and at the University of Tokio [Tokyo]. June - December, 1875
3 7 Correspondence; letters largely from Harry Smith Munroe while in Yesso, Japan, and at the University of Tokio [Tokyo]. June - December, 1875

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II. Henry Smith Munroe Correspondence

Box
14 Letter book kept while at Yesso, Japan June 14 - September 26, 1874
14 Letter book kept while at Yesso and Tokio [Tokyo ]University, Japan. September 26, 1874 - January 29, 1876
Box Folder
3 8 Correspondence concerning his work at the University of Tokio [Tokyo], and some letters to his parents; includes a statement of grades for his students. 1876
3 9 Correspondence, largely from family members, but also concerning his PhD studies at Columbia University. 1877
Box Folder
4 1 Correspondence; largely personal, to and from his mother and sister. 1878
4 2 Correspondence; largely personal, to and from his mother and sister. January - August, 1879
4 3 Correspondence; largely personal, to and from his mother and sister. Includes some notes on Samuel Barrell, and letters to Charles Munroe from Charles Seymour, attorney, of Knoxville, TN concerning the Barrell lands and the formation of a company. Includes legal deed of sale of ease portions of the land. September - December, 1879
4 4 Correspondence, largely with and concerning Charles Seymour, regarding lands in Tennessee. 1880
4 5 Correspondence, largely with and concerning Charles Seymour, regarding lands in Tennessee. 1881
4 6 Correspondence, largely with and concerning Charles Seymour, regarding lands in Tennessee. Includes some personal and family letters. January - May, 1882
4 7 Correspondence and telegrams with bankers and Charles Seymour concerning land in Tennessee. Letters to his mother touching on Tennessee land. June - December, 1882
4 8 Correspondence and telegrams with bankers and Charles Seymour concerning land in Tennessee. January - May, 1883
4 9 Correspondence concerning mining and engineering components and requests for admission to the Mining Summer Program at Columbia University. June - December, 1883
Volume
2 Letter book. 1884
Volume
3 Letter book. 1884-1889
Box Folder
4 10 Correspondence, personal and business relating to lands in Tennessee. January - March, 1884
4 11 Correspondence, personal and business relating to lands in Tennessee. Some correspondence with colleagues in Colorado. April - December, 1884
Box Folder
5 1 Correspondence concerning mining and engineering components and requests for admission to the Mining Summer Program at Columbia University. January - September, 1885
5 2 Correspondence and telegrams concerning land in Tennessee. Also includes copies of deeds and other agreements pertaining to this land. October - December, 1885
5 3 Correspondence; largely personal, to and from his mother and sister. Includes some notes on Samuel Barrell, and letters to Charles Munroe from Charles Seymour, attorney, of Knoxville, TN concerning the Barrell lands and the formation of a company. Includes legal deed of sale of ease portions of the land. January - April, 1886
5 4 Correspondence and telegrams relating to lands in Tennessee. June - December, 1886
5 5 Correspondence. Includes Deed of the Barrell Lands, and design and cost estimate of a new mining tower. 1887
5 6 Correspondence. Includes blueprint of the land of R. C. Black. January - July, 1888
5 7 Correspondence and telegrams, some personal letters. August - December, 1888
5 8 Correspondence; largely professional, to and from engineering journals and associations. Some correspondence relating to lands in Tennessee, principally to and from Charles Seymour. January - June, 1889
5 9 Correspondence and supporting documents concerning mining and engineering projects. Correspondents include iron mining and railroad companies in New England and Tennessee. August - December, 1889
5 10 Correspondence and supporting documents concerning mining and engineering projects. Includes drafts of letters to the president of Columbia University. January - May, 1890
5 11 Correspondence concerning real estate transactions, internal Columbia correspondence, and business with machinists and engineering instrument suppliers. June - December, 1890
Box Folder
6 1 Correspondence; largely internal Columbia University mail. January - June, 1891
6 2 Correspondence concerning real estate transactions, internal Columbia correspondence, and business with machinists and engineering instrument suppliers. July - December, 1891
6 3 Correspondence; letters to his mother. June - December, 1895 - 1901
6 4 Correspondence concerning the Whitney's estate, mining operations in Bolivia (Oruro tin and silver mine). 1892 - 1906
6 5 Correspondence and supporting documents concerning mining operations; includes a report on the Allatoona gold mine, Georgia. 1907
6 6 Correspondence concerning legal action against Mr. Dresser, and negotiated dealings with the St. Lawrence Pyrite Company. Includes copy of engineering report. January - July, 1908
6 7 Correspondence with and concerning St. Lawrence Pyrite Co. August, 1908
6 8 Correspondence with and concerning St. Lawrence Pyrite Co. September, 1908
6 9 Correspondence with and concerning St. Lawrence Pyrite Co. October, 1908
6 10 Correspondence with and concerning St. Lawrence Pyrite Co. November, 1908
6 11 Correspondence with and concerning St. Lawrence Pyrite Co. December, 1908
Box Folder
7 1 Correspondence with and concerning St. Lawrence Pyrite Co. December, 1908
7 2 Correspondence with and concerning St. Lawrence Pyrite Co. December, 1908
7 3 Correspondence with and concerning St. Lawrence Pyrite Co. December, 1908
7 4 Correspondence and supporting documents re. Saint Lawrence Pyrite Co.; Supporting documents include surgeon's accident report and an indenture. April, 1909
7 5 Correspondence with and concerning St. Lawrence Pyrite Co. Includes a comparative statement of the Anna mine. December, 1908
7 6 Correspondence with and concerning St. Lawrence Pyrite Co. Contains several reports on sulphur composition of mine core samples. December, 1908
7 7 Correspondence and supporting documents re. Saint Lawrence Pyrite Co.; includes a report on dryer installation at Stellaville. July, 1909
7 8 Correspondence and supporting documents re. proposed work at the Stellaville site. July, 1909
7 9 Correspondence and supporting documents re. proposed work at the Stellaville site. August & September, 1909
7 10 Correspondence with engineering firms October, 1909
7 11 Correspondence with engineering firms; includes sample of Draper's patented self-recording thermometer readout November, 1909
Box Folder
8 1 Correspondence with engineering firms; includes promotional material from John Muirhead & Son, Contractors December, 1909
8 2 Correspondence with engineering firms (particularly regarding dryers) January, 1910
8 3 Correspondence with engineering firms; includes plan of the town of Canton. February, 1910
8 4 Correspondence with engineering firms concerning the Stella and Anna mines. March, 1910
8 5 Correspondence with engineering firms concerning the Stella and Anna mines; includes copy of an agreement between Charles and Taggert and St. Lawrence Pyrite Co., a general balance report for the St. Lawrence Pyrite Co., and plans of the Stella Mine. April, 1910
8 6 Correspondence with engineering firms concerning the Stella and Anna mines; includes balance report for Christchurch Women's Auxiliary. April, 1910
8 7 Correspondence with engineering firms concerning the Stella and Anna mines. June 1910
8 8 Correspondence with engineering firms concerning the Stella and Anna mines; includes balance annual milling statistics for the Stella mine. August - December, 1910
Box Folder
9 1 Correspondence with engineering and analytical chemistry firms, particularly Floyd J. Metzger. Includes photographs of girder deterioration and new girder plans. 1911
9 2 Correspondence, largely from within Columbia University concerning the 50th Anniversary of the School of Mines. 1912 - 1914
9 3 Correspondence, largely from within Columbia University concerning a celebratory dinner for Munroe, and the award to Munroe's son, Robert, of a scholarship to the School of Mines January - August, 1915
9 4 Correspondence, largely from within Columbia University; considerable correspondence and supporting documents re. the Mining and Metallurgical Society of America and its awards. September - December, 1919
9 5 Correspondence re. engineering and mining projects, particularly with Lieutenant Colonel O. B. Perry of Camp Mede. Includes sketch plan of Senff Tower at the Mount Tom Reservation 1916 - 1921
9 6 Correspondence, drafts of letters and supporting documents, largely with external mining agencies. Includes a progress report on milling methods presented to the American Institute of Mining Engineers. 1922 - 1927
9 7 Correspondence, drafts of letters and supporting documents. Contains printed matter from the Society for the Promotion of Engineering Education, and a block-printed Chinese poster. 1928-1934
9 8 Correspondence, letter drafts and copies, undated, relating to mining. 1928-1934
9 9 Personal and family correspondence. 1906-1918
9 10 Personal and family correspondence. 1920-1933
9 11 Correspondence: personal and family letters (1). [187-?]
Box Folder
10 1 Correspondence: personal and family letters (2). [187-?]
10 2 Correspondence: personal and family letters (3). [187-?]
10 3 Correspondence: personal and family letters (4). [187-?]
10 4 Correspondence: personal and family letters (5). [188-?]
10 5 Correspondence: personal and family letters (6). [188-?]
10 6 Correspondence: personal and family letters (7). [188-?]

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III. Articles and Reports

Box Folder
10 6 Report on the composition of samples from Oruro, Bolivia. Drafts. 1907
10 7 Report on the recent explosion at Grand Central Depot, New York, NY. 1910
10 8 Report on tunneling machines. 1918
10 9 Reports by other authors, often with annotations and commentary. On ventilation at Columbia University; Mill Hill mine, Roxbury; The methods of operation of sulphur ore and copper mine, Clay County, AL; report on the Stella mines. [19--]
10 10 Essay on the determination of pace, and ranging. [186?]
10 11 Central Park Survey: explanation of plane tables, 47-56. [19-?]
10 12 Central Park Survey: explanation of plane tables, 59-484. [19-?]
10 12 Central Park Survey: explanation of plane tables, 59-484. [19-?]
Box Folder
11 1 Central Park Survey: explanation of plane tables, 485-505. [19-?]
11 2 Central Park Survey: explanation of plane tables, 506-535. [19-?]
11 3 Incomplete and non-engineering related reports; includes an essay on Bismark, an essay on the capture of Quebec, and writings on Lincoln County. [18-?]
11 3a Report to Eureka Gold and Copper Manufacturing Co., North Carolina. June 1878

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IV. Personal Writings

Box Folder
11 4 Notes, jottings and rough calculations (1). [18-?]-[19-?]
11 5 Notes, jottings and rough calculations (2). [18-?]-[19-?]
11 6 Chinese and Japanese manuscript/block printed papers. [18?]
11 7 Geological Survey of Yesso: Journal of Travel. Includes outline map of "Yê-zo or the Hõ-kai-dõ." 1873 - 1875
Volume
1 Travel Journal: Japan [187-?]
Volume
4 Notes on Geology and metallurgy for a class taught by Professor Newberry. 1867-1868
Box
14 Notes on the metallurgy of iron, volume 2. 1868-1869
14 Engineering Notebook, [Yesso?] Japan [187-?]
14 Geological Notebook, [Yesso?] Japan [187-?]
14 Travel account and mining survey notebook, Tennessee and North Carolina. [1878]
14 Notes on practical mining. 1889

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V. Financial Papers

Box Folder
11 8 Receipts and bills of sale (1). Includes book of accounts with Grocer E. Landen, New Rochelle, NY and cash account book of his mother, Susan, for the year 1844. 1844-[189-]
11 9 Receipts and bills of sale (2). [188-]-[189-]
11 10 Insurance Papers. 1889-1916
11 11 Indentures and agreements. 1886-1893

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VI. Columbia University

Box Folder
12 1 Lecture notes for Mining 81 and 91. 1909
12 2 Lecture notes for Mining 56. 1910
12 3 Columbia School of Mines and Summer School of Mining: Student information, grade schedules, class sheets and society information. 1887-1911

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VII. Barrell Lands

Box Folder
12 4 Barrell Lands: Undated notes and memoranda. [187-]-[19--]
12 5 Barrell Lands: Undated notes and memoranda. [187-]-[19--]
12 Barrell Lands Survey by J. W. Davis (Office Book no. 3) [188-]
12 Trustees of the Barrell Lands: Minutes. 1886-1888

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VIII. St. Lawrence Pyrites Company: Financial Statements

Box Folder
12 6 St. Lawrence Pyrites Company: financial statements. 1906-1907
12 7 St. Lawrence Pyrites Company: contracts and production statistics. 1908
12 8 St. Lawrence Pyrites Company: financial statements. 1908
12 9 St. Lawrence Pyrites Company: financial statements. 1909

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IX. Maps, Plans and Engineering Diagrams

Box Folder
13 1 Maps, plans and engineering diagrams (1). [19-?]
13 2 Maps, plans and engineering diagrams (2). Includes photograph of aluminum drainage pipe. [19-?]
13 3 Maps, plans and engineering diagrams (3). Plans relate to land in Grundy County, TN. [183-/]
13 4 Maps, plans and engineering diagrams (4). Plans relate to land around DeKalb, and Grundy County, TN, and Litchfield, CT. 1898-[19-?]
13 5 Maps, plans and blue-prints relating to the Anna mine. 1908-1910
13 6 Surveys of Litchfield, CT. 1884-1887
13 7 Engineering notes prepared by Juan Webster [?] relating to the Ouro mine, Bolivia. 1884-1887
13 8 Undated engineering notes and jottings. [18-?] - [19-?]
13 9 Undated engineering notes and jottings. [18-] - [19-]

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X. Memorabilia

Box Folder
13 10 Invitations, business cards, menus, and tickets. [19-]

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XI. Whitney Estate

Box Folder
13 11 Whitney estate. 1886-1889

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XII. Felix Grundy Mining Co.

Volume
5 Grundy Mining Company: Minutes. 1879-1880
Volume
6 Grundy Mining Company: Minutes. 1882-1884