New Mine Sapphire Syndicate Records, 1889-1967 Overview of the Collection Creator New Mine Sapphire Syndicate Title New Mine Sapphire Syndicate Records Dates 1889-1967 (inclusive) 1889 1967 Quantity 5 linear feet, (10 boxes and 1 oversize box) Collection Number Mss 028 Summary The New Mine Sapphire Syndicate mined sapphires in Utica, Montana, in Judith Basin County. The collection contains the company's governing documents, financial records, correspondence, legal documents and court papers, reports, clippings, publicity and printed materials, and photographs. Repository University of Montana, Mansfield Library, Archives and Special Collections Archives and Special Collections Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library University of Montana 32 Campus Dr. #9936 59812-9936 Missoula, MT Telephone: 406-243-2053 Fax: 406-243-4067 library.archives@umontana.edu Access Restrictions Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of Archives and Special Collections, the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, and the University of Montana-Missoula. Languages Sponsor English Funding for creating this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Historic Publications and Records Commission. Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Historical Note Originally discovered by prospectors in search of placer gold, the rich sapphire-bearing ledge of Montana was located and claimed by three Montanans in 1896. The New Mine Sapphire Syndicate, based solely on the Yogo Sapphire District near Utica, Montana, in Judith Basin County, was incorporated in 1898. S.S. Hobson served as vice president, and Mathew Dunn and George A. Wells, both Great Falls residents, served respectively as president and secretary-treasurer. Soon after the turn of the century, the corporation came under the control of British investors and was to remain so until 1949. The Yogo mines operated profitably until 1927, when a flash flood destroyed the surface http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv38991 1
workings of the Syndicate's operation. After that, little was done to exploit the remaining sapphires. In 1956, Thomas Sidwell succeeded in purchasing the controlling interest in the Syndicate. Lack of capital hampered his operations until 1956-1957, when the Syndicate's stock was re-issued and some work resumed at the mine. Law suits, prior claims, poor management, and bad luck combined to ruin the renewed operations of the corporation, and the venture was bankrupt by 1961. Content Description The collection contains the company's governing documents, financial records, correspondence, legal documents and court papers, reports, clippings, publicity and printed materials, and photographs. Use of the Collection Restrictions on Use Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with 17 U.S.C. and any other applicable statutes. Copyright not transferred to The University of Montana. Preferred Citation [Name of document or photograph number], New Mine Sapphire Syndicate Records, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana-Missoula. Administrative Information Arrangement The collection is arranged in ten series: Series I: Governance and History, 4 folders, 1898-1960 Series II: Correspondence, 1 linear foot, 1898-1963 Series III: Financial Records, 3 linear feet, 1909-1960 Series IV: Court Papers, 4 folders, 1956-1960 Series V: Legal Documents, 4 folders, 1889-1967 Series VI: Reports, 1 folder, 1910-1959 Series VII: Maps and Blueprints, 1 folder, undated Series VIII: Clippings, 1 folder, 1950-1960 Series IX: Publicity, 2 folders, 1950-1960 Series X: Photographs, 22 items, 1924-1925 Custodial History http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv38991 2
The records were in the possession of John Wight and Marvel Lowrance, owners of the Syndicate's assets, until time of donation. Acquisition Information Gift of Marvel Lowrance and John Wight, 1970. Processing Note The original processors arranged the records in two collections, LC 28 and LC 223, separated photographs to the photograph collection, and produced a finding aid. In 2004, the two collections were combined, photographs were intellectually re-united with the collection, and a new finding aid was produced and encoded. Detailed Description of the Collection Series I: Governance and History, 1898-1960 4 folders This series contains documentation on the governance and history of the company. It includes corporate histories written within and without the company, founding documents (articles of incorporation, resolutions), and some minutes of Board of Directors meetings, mostly from the earliest years of the company. 1/1 Company history 1956 and undated 1/2 Organization 1898-1948 1/3 Organization 1948-1962 1/4 Board of Directors minutes 1898-1960 Series II: Correspondence, 1898-1963 1 linear foot This series contains incoming and outgoing correspondence from the company. http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv38991 3
1/5 1898-1899 1/6 1910-1914 1/7 1918-1923 1/8 1924-1927 1/9 1928-1931 1/10 1932-1939 1/11 1945-1951 1/12 1952-1953 1/13 1956 1/14 January- September, 1957 1/15 October- December, 1957 2/1 January-March, 1958 2/2 April-June, 1958 2/3 July-December, 1958 2/4 January-March, 1959 2/5 April-June, 1959 2/6 July-September, 1959 2/7 October- December, 1959 http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv38991 4
3/1 1960 3/2 1961 3/3 1962 3/4 1963 Series III: Financial Records, 1909-1960 3 linear feet This series contains the company's financial records, including those related to taxes, stockholders, unemployment compensation, operating statements, general ledgers, check stubs, ledgers, and journals. There are also some of Thomas Sidwell's personal financial materials. 3/5 Employer's Federal tax returns 1957-1961 3/6 U.S. Corporation Income Tax Returns 1909-1930 3/7 U.S. Corporation Income Tax Returns 1952-1959 3/8 U.S. Income Tax return (Sidwell) 1959 3/9 Montana State Income Tax 1957-1960 3/10 Montana State Income Tax return (Sidwell) 1959 3/11 Montana Corporation License Tax 1921-1930 3/12 Montana Corporation License Tax 1956-1959 3/13 Montana Net Proceeds Tax 1903-1930 3/14 Montana Net Proceeds Tax 1957-1958 3/15 Unemployment Compensation Reports 1957-1960 3/16 Judith Basin County Real Estate Tax 1956-1961 http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv38991 5
3/17 Annual Report to the Secretary of State of Montana 1956-1961 3/18 Annual Reports 1898-1929 3/19 Stockholders' list 1938 4/1 Stockholders' list 1957-1965 Box-volume 11OS/7 Stock Certificates Book 1959-1967 4/1 Register of Shares 1914-1949 4/2 Cancelled stock certificates undated 4/3 Cancelled stock certificates undated 4/4 Stock sales, prospect lists undated 5/1 Stock subscriptions and sales records undated 5/2 Stock transfers 1957-1960 5/3 Stock releases 1967 5/4 New Mine properties and titles undated Box-volume 5/2 General ledger 1914-1936 6/3 General ledger 1958-1960 6/1 General ledger 1955-1958 6/2 Sapphire Stock inventories 1922-1933 http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv38991 6
6/3 Accounts payable 1957-1960 6/4 Payroll withholding statements 1957 6/5 Trial balances 1911-1912 6/6 Financial statements 1957-1960 6/7 Operating statements 1919-1932 6/8 Operating statements 1955-1960 6/9 Check stubs 1956-1959 Box-volume 7/8 Check stubs 1959-1960 7/9 Check stubs 1959-1960 7/1 Miscellaneous 1909-1938 7/2 Miscellaneous 1957-1960 Box-volume 7/1 Journal 1931-1949 8/4 Private ledger 1922-1953 8/5 Cash book 1911-1936 Series IV: Court Papers, 1956-1960 4 folders This series contains court papers related to a 1956-1960 case, Gadsden vs. New Mine Sapphire Syndicate. At issue were Gadsden's assets after her husband, Charles T. Gadsden (a New Sapphire manager of many years) died in 1954. http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv38991 7
8/1 1956-1959 8/2 Maude Margaret Gadsden Vs. New Mine Sapphire Syndicate 1956 9/1 Maude Margaret Gadsden vs. New Mine Sapphire Syndicate 1956-1958 9/2 Maude Margaret Gadsden vs. New Mine Sapphire Syndicate 1959-1960 Series V: Legal Documents, 1889-1967 4 folders This series contains legal documents, including deeds, patents, and materials related to the company's mining claims. 9/3 Deeds and Patents 1889-1928 9/4 Agreements 1896-1920 9/5 Miscellaneous 1894-1944 10/1 Mining claims undated 10/2 Mining claims undated 10/3 Miscellaneous undated Series VI: Reports, 1910-1959 1 folder This series consists of one folder of reports produced or commissioned by the New Mine Sapphire Syndicate. Most relate to mining claims. http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv38991 8
10/4 Series VII: Maps and Blueprints, undated 1 folder This series consists of two folders of maps and blueprints related to the operations of the New Mine Sapphire Syndicate. Some relate to mining claims, and others are unidentified. 10/5 and OS Series VIII: Clippings, 1950-1960 1 folder This series contains newspaper and magazine clippings, mostly from Montana publications, about the Yogo sapphires. 10/6 Series IX: Publications and Publicity, 1950-1960 2 folders This series contains printed and other publicity materials produced by and for the company. 10/7 11OS Series X: Photographs, 1924-1925 and undated 22 items http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv38991 9
This series contains photographs of the New Mine Sapphire Syndicate operation in Utica, Montana. Most were taken around 1924-1925, and show the buildings, mechanicals, and other aspects of the mine site and mining equipment. Several images show damage after floods. 10/8 undated 79-0002: Workings at New Mine Sapphire Syndicate, Utica, Montana 79-0003: Shaft house and compressor house, New Mine Sapphire Syndicate, Utica, Montana 79-0004: Workings at New Mine Sapphire Syndicate, Utica, Montana 79-0005: "The shaft house, old blacksmith shop, new blacksmith shop, carpenter shop, railway on left to dump, New Mine Sapphire Syndicate, Utica, Montana" 79-0006: "Dam no. 1, showing how 1-inch board heave up. 2- inch lay much better. These boards have been in since 1910, but do not rot in lower part of dam where they are wet but do heave up" circa 1925 circa 1925 circa 1925 circa 1925 1925 79-0007: "Looking down in the mine" circa 1925 79-0008: "Dam no. 1" 1925 79-0009: New Mine Sapphire Syndicate, Utica, Montana circa 1925 79-0010: "Dirt at old camp washed once in 1920, center cut out wider by cloudburst, 1923" 1924 79-0011: "Wash rock washed [illegible] of first flood" 1924 79-0012: "Pile under trestle only new dirt left" 1924 79-0013: New Mine Sapphire Syndicate, Utica, Montana circa 1925 79-0014: New Mine Sapphire Syndicate, Utica, Montana circa 1925 79-0015: New Mine Sapphire Syndicate, Utica, Montana circa 1925 http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv38991 10
79-0016: New Mine Sapphire Syndicate, Utica, Montana circa 1925 79-0017: New Mine Sapphire Syndicate, Utica, Montana circa 1925 79-0018: New Mine Sapphire Syndicate, Utica, Montana circa 1925 79-0019: New Mine Sapphire Syndicate, Utica, Montana circa 1925 79-0020: Sapphires, probably from Yogo mines, near Utica, Montana undated 79-0021: "Underground workings" [probably Yogo mines] undated Names and Subjects Subject Terms : Investments, British--Montana--Yogo Creek Region Mining corporations--montana--yogo Creek Region Sapphire mines and mining--montana--yogo Creek Region Form or Genre Terms : Business records--montana--yogo Creek Region Finding aid prepared by Dale L. Johnson (1970) and Jodi Allison-Bunnell (2004) 2004 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Creative Commons Licenses in Archives West: http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/cc-attr.shtml http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv38991 11