Series 24163
CLIFTON MINING DISTRICT (UTAH). RECORDER [3136]MINERS' MEETING MINUTES, 1869-1932.1 microfilm reel
A separate agency history is available.
DESCRIPTION: The Clifton Mining District, organized in October 1869 in the Deep Creek Mountains of western Tooele County (Utah), included the mining camps Clifton and Gold Hill. Travelers and prospectors found an abundance of mineral deposits in the Deep Creek Mountains, and according to established precedent, mineral deposits in the public domain were free and open to exploration, and locators of the same had exclusive right of possession. In local areas miners organized mining districts and elected district recorders to oversee mining operations and keep records of claims. Congress validated these precedents in a federal mining law passed in 1872 (See Statutes at Large, Treaties, and Proclamations, of the United States of America, 1872, vol. 17, 1872, chap. 152). Beginning with a meeting to organize a district, claim holders in Clifton and Gold Hill gathered at annual and special meetings to elect recorders for the district, to establish or review district by-laws, and to address other concerns. These books, labeled 'By-laws,' contain the minutes of miners' meetings and copies of district by-laws as they were adopted and revised. Of particular interest, Clifton District miners' meeting minutes contain details of a controversy over the recordership of George W. Brown (1874, 1883). Miners in the district questioned and investigated his competence and integrity.
ARRANGEMENT: Miners' meeting minutes are arranged chronologically by meeting date.
RESEARCH NOTE: By-laws Book 2 also includes a copy of the index to Notices of Location Book L and proof of labor documents for 1899.
RELATED RECORDS: In addition to minutes of miners' meetings, the Clifton Mining District recorder recorded details of claims filed in LOCATION NOTICES, series 24331, and affidavits showing PROOF OF LABOR on those claims, series 24332. Affidavits showing proof of labor for 1899, as well as an index for Location Notices Book L are also included in By-laws Book 2. Additional miners' meeting minutes were filed in Location Notices Book X (see gap note).
PROCESSING NOTE: Records for the Clifton Mining District were processed by Rosemary Cundiff in October 2002. Because of the poor quality of the microfilm Utah State Archives refilmed these books and updated the inventory in May 2003.
PREFERRED CITATION: Cite the Utah State Archives and Records Service, the creating agency name, the series title, and the series number.
GAPS: The Clifton District minute books do not include minutes for the years 1890-1898. However, minutes for Jan 1890-Apr 1894 are in the back of Location Notices Book X, series 24331.
CONTAINER LIST
| Reel |
Description |
| 1 |
1869, Dec-1889, Jan (By-laws Book 1) |
| 1 |
1899, Dec-1932, May (By-laws Book 2) |
