Guide to Federal Records

Records of the U.S. Bureau of Mines


(RECORD GROUP 70)
1860-1996 (Bulk 1910-90)

OVERVIEW OF RECORDS LOCATIONS

Table of Contents

  • 70.1 ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY
  • 70.2 GENERAL RECORDS 1900-96 (bulk 1910-90)
  • 70.2.1 Correspondence
  • 70.2.2 Other general records
  • 70.2.3 Records of the Assistant Director for Programs
  • 70.2.4 Records of Special Assistant to the Director and Chief of the War Minerals Supply Division, Harry S. Milliken
  • 70.2.5 Records of the Office of Public Information
  • 70.3 RECORDS OF THE TECHNOLOGIC BRANCH 1914-42
  • 70.3.1 Records of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Division
  • 70.3.2 Records of the Nonmetals Division (College Park, MD)
  • 70.3.3 Records of the Mining Division
  • 70.4 RECORDS OF THE ECONOMICS BRANCH 1900-52
  • 70.4.1 Records of the Coal Division
  • 70.4.2 Records of the Mineral Resources and Statistics Division
  • 70.4.3 Records of the Foreign Minerals Division
  • 70.4.4 Records of the Common Metals Division
  • 70.5 RECORDS OF THE HEALTH AND SAFETY UNITS 1910-72
  • 70.5.1 General records
  • 70.5.2 Records of the Health Division
  • 70.5.3 Records of the Safety Division
  • 70.5.4 Records of the Mineral Production Security Division
  • 70.6 RECORDS OF THE SYNTHETIC LIQUID FUELS DIVISION, FUELS AND EXPLOSIVES BRANCH 1945-56
  • 70.7 RECORDS OF THE MINERALS DIVISION
  • 70.8 RECORDS OF THE DIVISION OF ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVITIES 1956-65
  • 70.9 RECORDS OF THE DIVISION OF MINERALS AVAILABILITY 1975-84
  • 70.10 RECORDS RELATED TO SPECIAL PROJECTS 1908-62
  • 70.11 RECORDS OF FIELD OFFICES 1915-67
  • 70.11.1 Records of the Knoxville, TN, Office
  • 70.11.2 Records of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Division, San Francisco, CA Office
  • 70.12 RECORDS OF REGIONAL OFFICES 1860-1970 (bulk 1940-65)
  • 70.12.1 Records of the Eastern Regional Office (College Park, MD)
  • 70.12.2 Records of Region IV (AZ, CO, NM, UT, WY)
  • 70.12.3 Records of Region VII (AL, GA, FL, MS, TN, NC, SC)
  • 70.12.4 Records of the Western Field Operations Center, Spokane, WA
  • 70.13 RECORDS OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS 1917-65
  • 70.13.1 Records of the Southern Experiment Station (Tuscaloosa, AL)
  • 70.13.2 Records of the Intermountain Experiment Station (Salt Lake City, UT; Boulder, CO; Amarillo, TX; and other sites)
  • 70.13.3 Records of the North Central Experiment Station (Minneapolis, MN)
  • 70.13.4 Records of Pittsburgh Experiment Station (Pittsburgh, PA)
  • 70.13.5 Records of the Bartlesville Petroleum Research Center and its predecessor, the Petroleum Research Center (Bartlesville, OK)
  • 70.13.6 Other records
  • 70.14 RECORDS OF THE FEDERAL COAL MINE SAFETY BOARD OF REVIEW 1952-70
  • 70.15 RECORDS OF THE STRIP AND SURFACE MINING STUDY POLICY COMMITTEE 1963-70 (bulk 1965-67)
  • 70.16 CARTOGRAPHIC RECORDS (GENERAL) 1942-70
  • 70.17 MOTION PICTURES
  • 70.18 VIDEO RECORDINGS (GENERAL) ca. 1970-1986
  • 70.19 SOUND RECORDINGS (GENERAL)
  • 70.20 MACHINE-READABLE RECORDS (GENERAL)
  • 70.21 STILL PICTURES (GENERAL) 1910-78

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70.1 ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY

Established: In the Department of the Interior by the National Geologic Mapping Act of 1992 (106 Stat. 172), May 18, 1992.

Predecessor Agencies:

Fuels Division, Technologic Branch, Geological Survey, Department of the Interior (1907-10)

  • Bureau of Mines (BM), Department of the Interior (DOI, 1910-25)
  • BM, Department of Commerce (1925-34)
  • BM, DOI (1934-92)

Functions: Administered research programs to improve extraction, processing, distribution, and utilization of mineral resources. Collected, compiled, analyzed, and published statistical and economic information on all phases of nonfuel mineral resource development.

Abolished: By the Omnibus Consolidated Rescissions and Appropriations Act of 1996 (110 Stat. 1321), April 26, 1996, which appropriated $64 million to cover closure expenses.

Successor Agencies: (1) U.S. Geological Survey, DOI (minerals information and analysis functions, formerly performed at USBM headquarters by Divisions of Mineral Commodities, International Minerals, and Statistics and Information Services, and by Office of Special Projects, and in Denver, CO, by Minerals Availability Field Office; and functions formerly performed by Division of Finance); (2) Bureau of Land Management, DOI (mineral assessments on public lands in Alaska; helium operations); and (3) Department of Energy (mine and mineral industry health and safety research, formerly performed at Pittsburgh [PA] and Spokane [WA] Research Centers; minerals extraction, processing, use, and disposal research and investigations, formerly performed at Pittsburgh [PA] and Albany [OR] Research Centers; and mineral waste reclamation research and investigations, formerly performed at Pittsburgh Research Center). All organizational components of Spokane Research Center, and of Pittsburgh Research Center except energy technology units, transferred from Department of Energy to National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), an agency of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the Department of Health and Human Services, December 22, 1996.

Finding Aids: Preliminary inventory in National Archives microfiche edition of preliminary inventories.

Related Records: Record copies of publications of the Bureau of Mines in RG 287, Publications of the U.S. Government. Records of the Office of the Secretary of the Interior, RG 48.
Records of the Mine Safety and Health Administration, RG 433.
General Records of the Department of Energy, RG 434.

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70.2 GENERAL RECORDS
1900-96 (bulk 1910-90)

History: Technologic Branch, with separate Fuels Division and Structural Materials Division, established in the Geological Survey, April 2, 1907, to handle mining-related assignments of the Survey.

Bureau of Mines (BM), established in the Department of the Interior (DOI), effective July 1, 1910, by an act of May 16, 1910 (36 Stat. 369), which authorized transfer of personnel and functions of Technologic Branch to BM. Functional review of activities performed by Technologic Branch determined that only Fuels Division should be transferred to BM, with Structural Materials Division to National Bureau of Standards, now National Institute of Standards and Technology (SEE RG 167).

BM transferred to the Department of Commerce effective July 1, 1925, by EO 4239, June 4, 1925. Returned to the DOI effective April 24, 1934, by Administrative Order 159, BM, March 10, 1934, implementing EO 6611, February 22, 1934. Redesignated U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1992. SEE 70.1.

Responsibility for developing and implementing programs to protect the health and safety of workers in mineral industries transferred to Mining Enforcement and Safety Administration by Secretary's Order 2953, May 7, 1973. Responsibility for mineral fuels research and development transferred to the Energy Research and Development Administration, established by an act of October 11, 1974 (88 Stat. 1234).

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70.2.1 Correspondence

Textual Records: Central decimal correspondence, 1910-70 (4,808 ft.), with indexes, 1910-69 (1,057 ft.). Formerly security-classified decimal correspondence ("Confidential General Files"), 1936-70, with security-classified index, 1950-66. Selected correspondence ("Data Files'), 1943-70. General correspondence ("Office of the Director--Correspondence"), 1911-70.

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70.2.2 Other general records

Textual Records: Draft histories of BM, 1910-60. Monthly record of events, 1911-32. "Special File," ca. 1908-ca. 1932 (81 ft.), including correspondence, reports, surveys, and completed questionnaires, created and accumulated by various BM divisions. Information circulars, 1925-90, and bulletins, 1910-93. Miners' circulars, 1911-58. Numbered reports on domestic minerals vital to the prosecution of World War II ("War Mineral Reports"), 1942-45. Reports of investigations, 1919-89. Technical papers, 1918-49. Minerals yearbooks, 1932-87. Annual reports, 1912-30. Two sets of regional profile books ("Blue Books," "Architectural, Historical and Technological Materials"), 1952-60 (bulk 1952-53), with the latter set containing additional photographs of the Electrometallurgical Experiment Station, Boulder City, NV, 1952-60. Reports on the synthetic liquid fuels potential of parts of the United States, 1951-52. Publications concerning BM research centers, 1936-88. Other publications, 1968-96. Indexed lists of publications and articles (1910-95), 1966-95. BM-published series of papers on specific mining products and processes ("Economic Papers"), 1928-40. Directives on changes to BM manual, 1955-71. Employee directories, 1929-72. Records relating to BM organization and functions, including organizational charts and BM-related chapters of DOI manual, 1915-88 (bulk 1935-88).

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70.2.3 Records of the Assistant Director for Programs

Textual Records: Project files, 1953-56, including files on synthetic fuels, coal gasification, explosives technology, and secondary recovery of petroleum products. Records relating to health and safety, including microfilm copy of employment and accident schedules for coal mines, 1930-35 (89 rolls); for metal mines, 1915-35 (90 rolls); and for nonmetal quarries, 1915-35 (51 rolls.)

Related Records: Additional records relating to health and safety under 70.5.

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70.2.4 Records of Special Assistant to the Director and Chief of
the War Minerals Supply Division, Harry S. Milliken

Textual Records: Records ("Alphabetical File," "Decimal File") relating to helium production for military use, 1921-23.

Subject Access Terms: Petrolia, TX.

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70.2.5 Records of the Office of Public Information

Textual Records: Biographical files of BM officials, 1947-81.

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70.3 RECORDS OF THE TECHNOLOGIC BRANCH
1914-42

History: Established in 1926 from the Division of Mineral Technology as a research unit. Initially composed of Explosives, Mechanical, Petroleum and Natural Gas, Metallurgical, Mining, Helium, Experimental Stations, and Nonmetals Divisions. Abolished by DOI Order 1704, June 15, 1942, and superseded by the Fuels and Explosives Service, which became the Fuels and Explosives Branch, 1945. Redesignated Fuels and Explosives Division, 1948, with subordinate units redesignated as divisions. Abolished, 1955, with branches realigned and elevated to division status as Divisions of Solid Fuels and Petroleum.

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70.3.1 Records of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Division

Textual Records: Records relating to foreign and domestic oil and natural gas production and consumption, consisting of a decimal file, 1914-32, and a country file ("Foreign Data File"), 1917-23.

Maps: World, showing distribution of oil reserves and production and the Royal Dutch Shell combination, 1919 (2 items). United States, showing natural gas pipelines and plants, 1929 (1 item). SEE ALSO 70.14.

Photographic Prints (391 images): Varied subjects, including laboratory tests of oil shale extraction apparatus; Pennsylvania oil wells; BM exhibits; oil drilling sites and equipment; and views of the 1926 Bartlesville, TX, flood, 1921-29 (PD). SEE ALSO 70.20.

Related Records: SEE UNDER 70.10.2 for records of the San Francisco, CA, office of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Division.

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70.3.2 Records of the Nonmetals Division (College Park, MD)

Textual Records: Correspondence, reports, studies, and other records relating to nonmetallic ores, explosives and metallurgical research, mineral analysis, and mining ("Records at College Park, Maryland"), 1937-42.

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70.3.3 Records of the Mining Division

Textual Records: Records of BM mineral technologist Frederick W. Horton, 1933-36, consisting of reports and notes relating to California and Idaho mines, including maps, drawings, photographs, and published monographs; and a general file on mica production.

Photographs (255 images): Mines, mineral deposits, and mining equipment in California, taken by Frederick W. Horton, 1933 (FH). SEE ALSO 70.20.

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70.4 RECORDS OF THE ECONOMICS BRANCH
1900-52

History: Established in 1926, as a research unit. Initially composed of Coal, Mines and Metals, Mineral Resources and Statistics, and Petroleum Economics Divisions. Became the Economics and Statistics Branch, July 1, 1935. Abolished by DOI Order 1704, June 15, 1942, and superseded by the Economics and Statistics Service, which became the Economics and Statistics Branch, 1945. Redesignated Economics and Statistics Division, 1948, with subordinate units redesignated as branches. Abolished, 1950, with branches apportioned among Fuels and Explosives Division, Health and Safety Division, and newly established Minerals Division.

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70.4.1 Records of the Coal Division

Textual Records: Correspondence, reports, and other records pertaining to coal production, transport, marketing, and labor relations, including blueprints, drawings, and tracings ("Coal Economics Division Data File"), 1900-40. Records of mining engineer Dever C. Ashmead concerning the Pennsylvania anthracite industry, 1923-26. Records of Federal Fuel Administrator Francis R. Wadleigh, 1920-25, relating principally to the 1922 coal strike.

Maps (3 items): United States, showing bituminous coal production by state, interstate movement of coal, and the distribution of Pocahontas-Tug River coal, 1929. SEE ALSO 70.14.

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70.4.2 Records of the Mineral Resources and Statistics Division

History: Established as Division of Mineral Resources and Statistics in 1925 from the Coal and Coke Statistics Section (Geological Survey) and Coal and Minerals Division (Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce).

Textual Records: Records of Frederick G. Tryon, Chief of the Coal and Coke Statistics Section, 1900-36, principally relating to the coal strike of 1922. Coal mine production tables ("Fielding Data"), 1925-35. Employment and accident tables for metal mines, coal mines, coke ovens, quarries, and metallurgical plants, 1910-40 (129 volumes). Microfilm copy of accident reports, 1930-35 (230 rolls). Reports on coal mine fatalities, 1933-42.

Related Records: Records of the United States Coal Commission, RG 68.

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70.4.3 Records of the Foreign Minerals Division

History: Established as the Foreign Minerals Service Division, July 1, 1935. Redesignated Foreign Minerals Division, 1936.

Textual Records: Records relating to international aid and assessment of foreign mineral resources and technology, 1941, 1946-52. Records relating to the Point Four Program, 1950-52.

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70.4.4 Records of the Common Metals Division

History: Established, with the Rare Metals and Nonmetals Division, from the Minerals and Metals Division, 1927. Consolidated in Economics Branch reorganization, 1935, with the rare metals functions of the Rare Metals and Nonmetals Division to form Metals Economic Division.

Maps (1 item): United States, showing the value of production of gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, and iron ore by state and district yielding over $100,000, 1928. SEE ALSO 70.14.

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70.5 RECORDS OF HEALTH AND SAFETY UNITS
1910-72

Related Records: Additional records relating to health and safety under 70.2.3.

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70.5.1 General records

Textual Records: Records of the Office of the Chief Surgeon, 1916-33. World War II histories of the Health and Safety Branch, 1944-46. Mine safety decimal files, 1910-11, including records of the BM's experimental mine at Bruceton, PA. Correspondence of the Office of the Deputy Director--Health and Safety, 1972.

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70.5.2 Records of the Health Division

Textual Records: Records relating to diseases and health concerns, 1922-33. Records of a free clinic operated jointly with the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company and the Tri-State Zinc and Lead Ore Producers' Association at Pitcher, OK, 1927-32 (in Fort Worth).

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70.5.3 Records of the Safety Division

Textual Records: Reports on dust explosions, mine fires, and health and safety inspections, 1945-47. Records concerning firefighting projects in federally owned mines or mines included in federal programs, with interfiled maps and drawings, 1949-65.

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70.5.4 Records of the Mineral Production Security Division

History: Established 1942.

Textual Records: Records relating to the prevention of sabotage and other interruption of production in the mining industry during World War II, 1941- 45.

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70.6 RECORDS OF THE SYNTHETIC LIQUID FUELS DIVISION, FUELS AND
EXPLOSIVES BRANCH
1945-56

History: Office of Synthetic Liquid Fuels established in Fuels and Explosives Service by Administrative Order 409, September 4, 1944. Redesignated Synthetic Liquid Fuels Division under Fuels and Explosives Branch, 1945. Designated a branch under the Fuels and Explosives Division, 1950. Abolished with Fuels and Explosives Division, 1955.

Textual Records: Correspondence, memorandums, reports, and studies concerning a program to develop synthetic liquid fuels for military purposes, 1945-50. Records of synthetic liquid fuels experiment station projects at Bruceton, PA, Morgantown, WV, and Laramie, WY, accumulated by chemical engineer Ezekial L. Clark, including records relating to coal gasification, other types of coal conversion, and shale oil, 1953-56. Records of the synthetic liquid fuel demonstration plant, Louisiana, MO, 1945- 53 (bulk 1947-53) in Kansas City.

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70.7 RECORDS OF THE MINERALS DIVISION
1951-56

History: Established July 27, 1949.

Textual Records: Reports of the Base Metals Branch on various commodities, resulting from a survey conducted by the branch in collaboration with other agencies ("Materials Surveys"), 1951-56.

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70.8 RECORDS OF THE DIVISION OF ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVITIES
1956-65

History: Fuels and Explosives Division abolished, with component branches realigned and elevated to division status as Divisions of Solid Fuels and Petroleum, 1955. Division of Solid Fuels divided into Divisions of Anthracite and Bituminous Coal, 1956. Division of Environmental Activities formed from Division of Anthracite, 1968.

Textual Records: Records, including interfiled maps and blueprints, relating to projects, conducted in cooperation with the Geological Survey and the State of Pennsylvania, to drain, fill, and seal abandoned anthracite mines, 1956-65.

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70.9 RECORDS OF THE DIVISION OF MINERALS AVAILABILITY
1975-84

Machine-Readable Records (1 data set): Minerals Availability System, 1975-84, with supporting documentation.

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70.10 RECORDS RELATED TO SPECIAL PROJECTS
1908-62

Textual Records: Reports, correspondence, and other records concerning calcium carbide and helium (argon) for lighter-than- air craft, 1917-19. Reports and other records pertaining to chemical and gas warfare research, 1917-19. Office and field records of the Navy Alaskan Coal Investigation Expedition, 1908-19, including interfiled maps. Correspondence and reports concerning potash exploration in New Mexico and Texas, 1927-31. Studies and reports for the WPA's National Research Project on Reemployment Opportunities and Changes in Industrial Techniques, 1937-40. Reports, maps, other records pertaining to bauxite, alumina, and other ores in the Hawaiian Islands, 1941-62, including a report of the Geological Survey. BM final report on the effects, on seven potash mines of the Salida Basin near Carlsbad, NM, of a nuclear underground firing to test peaceful uses of atomic energy (Project Gnome of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission's Operation Plowshare), 1962.

Photographic Negatives (6 images): Expedition party and canyon landscapes taken by the Navy's Alaskan Coal Investigation Expedition, 1911 (CE). SEE ALSO 70.20.

Related Records: Records of the Chemical Warfare Service, RG 175.

Subject Access Terms: American University, Washington, DC; Medical Advisory Board; mustard gas; Pershing, Gen. John J.; phosgene.

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70.11 RECORDS OF FIELD OFFICES
1915-67

History: Prior to establishment of numbered regions in 1949, BM operated through field offices reporting directly to central office branches.

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70.11.1 Records of the Knoxville, TN, Office

Textual Records (in Atlanta): Index of Technical Records Branch mineral reports ("Minerals Reports Register"), 1943. Drill hole logs on Eufaula, AL, bauxite, 1943-44.

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70.11.2 Records of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Division, San
Francisco, CA, Office

Textual Records (in San Francisco): Oil and natural gas extraction research project files, 1915-31 and 1963-67, including maps and photographs. Administrative records, 1916-48, including those relating to health and safety and the development of Elk Hills Naval Reserve. Oil research and development records, 1916- 23, including those relating to royalties on Indian lands and shale oil reserves.

Related Records: SEE UNDER 70.3.1 for records of the main office of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Division.

Subject Access Terms: California State Bureau of Mining; Teapot Dome Affair.

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70.12 RECORDS OF REGIONAL OFFICES
1860-1991 (bulk 1940-65)

History: BM established a wartime regional office system in 1942, consisting of Eastern Regional Office (College Park, MD), Central Regional Office (Rolla, MO), and Western Regional Office (Salt Lake City, UT), with subordinate district offices. Abolished 1945. New regional system implemented in reorganization of July 27, 1949, which created nine numbered regions: I (Juneau, AK), II (Albany, OR), III (San Francisco, CA), IV (Denver, CO), V (Minneapolis, MN), VI (Amarillo, TX), VII (Norris, TN), VIII (Pittsburgh, PA), and IX (Washington, DC). In a reorganization of 1954, implemented January 1955, the number of regions was reduced to five. Old Region I was abolished and old Regions II-IV were redesignated as new Regions I-III. Old Region V was abolished and its functions dispersed. Old Region VI was redesignated as new Region IV (Bartlesville, OK). Old Regions VII and VIII were consolidated with certain jurisdictions formerly under old Region V, to form new Region V (Pittsburgh, PA). Old Region IX, responsible for foreign operations, was abolished. Regional system abolished, 1963. Superseded by Eastern and Western Administrative Offices (Pittsburgh, PA, and Denver CO), providing personnel, payroll, and logistical support to independent metallurgy, coal, petroleum, and mining research centers, and to system of eight Mineral Resource Office Areas.

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70.12.1 Records of the Eastern Regional Office (College Park, MD)

Textual Records: Central decimal files, 1940-56 (bulk 1940-44, 1950-51), including records relating to activities of field offices in the eastern United States.

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70.12.2 Records of Region IV (AZ, CO, NM, UT, WY)

Textual Records (in Denver): Records of the Intermountain Field Operations Center, Denver, consisting of records relating to the extension of the Leadville, CO, drainage tunnel, 1942-61; project files on mining research in western Colorado and eastern Utah, 1942-53; closed project case files, 1940-61; and a microfilm copy of mine maps, access road maps, and engineering reports for western states and foreign nations, 1896-1980 (157 rolls). Records of the Denver Mining Research Center, including mine inspection reports, with related records, 1954-56; and research and development program files, 1950-69. Statements of ore shipments, 1860-1928, acquired by the Office of Mineral Resources as part of its Mineral Industries Statistical Work Project.

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70.12.3 Records of Region VII (AL, GA, FL, MS, TN, NC, SC)

Textual Records (in Atlanta): Records of the Mining Division (Tuscaloosa, AL), consisting of correspondence, 1949-50; and cooperative agreements for mining projects with private firms, 1952-56. Records of the Mineral Technology Division (Tuscaloosa, AL), consisting of general correspondence and reports, 1950-54; and reports and other records documenting research in minerals and mining technology, 1943-68. Records of the Fuels Technology Division (Tuscaloosa, AL), including monthly reports, 1954-59; quarterly reports on coal carbonization, 1951-60, and coal preparation, 1953-70; quarterly reports of experiment stations, 1950-60; and program records on development of the Tuscaloosa Slot Oven and the Tuscaloosa Sole Oven, 1948-60. Production reports from private firms, 1955-67; coal production records of the Office of Mineral Industries (Knoxville, TN), including coal tabulation sheets, 1955-59; production reports from firms mining asbestos, bauxite, copper, feldspar, garnet, iron, limestone, mica, phosphate, sandstone, and tungsten, 1952-66; monthly surveys containing production figures of basic steel producers, 1962-63; mine and quarry reports by firms, 1957-66; and noncoal mineral production tabulation sheets for AL, FL, GA, KY, NC, SC, and TN, 1902-59. Records of the Office of Mineral Resources (Knoxville, TN), consisting of records relating to zinc exploration in Virginia, 1956-59; program records for Alabama red iron, 1950-52; resource reports for New England mica, 1958-63; and records of a program to determine uranium potential in Chattanooga shale, 1952-62; records concerning Tennessee zinc, 1954-58; records relating to a nationwide study of strip and surface mining, implementing section 205(c) of the Appalachian Regional Development Act of 1965 (79 Stat. 14), March 9, 1965 ("Appalachia Study"), 1965-66; and southern brown iron ore project files, 1959-63. Reports on offshore and coastal area drilling, quarrying, and mining in AL, FL, GA, NC, and SC ("Estuarine Study Reports"), accumulated by the Knoxville, TN, field office, 1950-67.

Subject Access Terms: Foote Mineral; Ford Motors; Mycalex; Princess Coal Sales; Republic Steel; Sloss-Sheffield; Standard Oil Development; steel price crisis (1962); Tennessee Coal and Iron; U.S. Pipe and Foundry; Woodward Iron.

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70.12.4 Records of the Western Field Operations Center, Spokane, WA

Textual Records (in Denver): Case files on mineral properties in CA, ID, MT, NV, OR, and WA ("Mineral Property Files"), 1920-91 (192 ft.).

Maps (2,120 items, in Denver): Mineral deposits at sites in CA, ID, MT, NV, OR, and WA ("Mineral Property File Maps"), 1941-53. SEE ALSO 70.15.

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70.13 RECORDS OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS
1917-65

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70.13.1 Records of the Southern Experiment Station (Tuscaloosa,
AL)

Textual Records (in Atlanta): Station superintendent's correspondence, 1943-55. Project files, with maps, of the Mining Division, 1941-47. Engineers' field notes and maps, 1945- 47. Records of Ellis Herzog, a technician with Metallurgical Branch office at Tuscaloosa, 1932-51. Coke production surveys, 1932-55. Mine and quarry reports, 1957-66. Records of the Army Quarry Project, 1948-49.

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70.13.2 Records of the Intermountain Experiment Station (Salt
Lake City, UT; Boulder, CO)

Textual Records (in Denver): Decimal files, including those pertaining to shale oil, of the Salt Lake City, UT, station, 1918-21, and of its successor at Boulder, CO, 1920-32.

Photographic Prints (550 images): Excell Helium Plant; Navajo Helium Plant, NM; and federal helium plants at Amarillo, Petrolia, and Ft. Worth, TX, 1919-53 (H). SEE ALSO 70.17.

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70.13.3 Records of the North Central Experiment Station
(Minneapolis, MN)

Textual Records (in Kansas City): Decimal file, 1927-50, relating mainly to ore reduction research, and particularly to the development of a manganese pilot plant near Chamberlain, SD (1941-47) and a magnesium pilot plant in Dearborn, MI (1942-44). Project files of the Chamberlain, SD, manganese plant, 1941-50. Monthly narrative reports from both headquarters and regional offices, 1917-61.

Aerial Photographs (1,319 items, in Kansas City): Manganese deposits near Chamberlin, SD, 1946. SEE ALSO 70.16.

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70.13.4 Records of Pittsburgh Experiment Station (Pittsburgh, PA)

Textual Records (in Philadelphia): Unpublished research papers on various aspects of mining, mine safety, mineral fuels, and related subjects, 1917-49. Technical data files relating to operations of the conventional blast furnace, 1941-57.

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70.13.5 Records of the Bartlesville Petroleum Research Center and
its predecessor, the Petroleum Research Center (Bartlesville, OK)

Textual Records (in Fort Worth): Records, including correspondence, reports, and technical studies, relating to research on petroleum production, thermodynamics, motor fuels, pollution, and lunar mineral resources, 1918-65.

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70.13.6 Other records

Textual Records: DOI collection of reports on various oil shale experiments conducted at experiment stations in Rifle, CO, and Laramie, WY ("Intra-Bureau Reports Relating to Oil Shale Demonstrations"), with interfiled graphs, maps, and photographs, 1945-57.

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70.14 RECORDS OF THE FEDERAL COAL MINE SAFETY BOARD OF REVIEW
1952-70

History: Established by the Federal Coal Mine Safety Act (66 Stat. 692), July 16, 1952, as a quasi-judicial body to decide coal operators' appeals of actions of federal mine inspectors or of the Director of the Bureau of Mines pursuant to the act. Deactivated March 30, 1970, pursuant to the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969 (83 Stat. 803), December 30, 1969.

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70.15 RECORDS OF THE STRIP AND SURFACE MINING STUDY POLICY COMMITTEE 1963-70 (bulk 1965-67)

History: Established under DOI auspices by section 205(c) of the Appalachian Regional Development Act of 1965 (79 Stat. 14), March 9, 1965, instructing Secretary of the Interior to study strip and surface mining operations, and to submit policy recommendations for the reclamation and rehabilitation of areas affected by such activities. BM assigned to conduct study, with interagency Policy Committee advising. Working Committee of Policy Committee set up field appraisal teams that gathered information nationwide through questionnaires and on-site examinations. Policy Committee terminated upon submission of final report, published as Surface Mining and Our Environment: A Special Report to the Nation (Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1967).

Textual Records: Records pertaining to individual states ("State Surface Mining Study Files"), including completed questionnaires, correspondence, field reports, and interfiled photographs, 1963-67. Background material ("General Surface Mining Study Files"), 1963-67, probably maintained by Joseph A. Corgan, Division of Anthracite chief, who served as Working Committee chairman.

Textual Records: Correspondence, minutes, board orders, and case files, 1952-70.

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70.16 CARTOGRAPHIC RECORDS (GENERAL)
1942-70

Maps: United States, showing location of safety and experiment stations, ca. 1918, tonnage of metals produced by district, ca. 1922, mineral production by state, 1923-32, and origin and distribution of bituminous coal and lignite, 1944 (4 items). Western states, annotated to show coal areas, ca. 1916 (24 items). States of IL, IN, KY, and WV, showing amounts of coal mined and numbers of men employed in the coal industry, ca. 1916 (4 items). Township plats, maps, and compilation lists relating to oil shale reserves and oil shale classified lands in western states, 1918-21 (176 items). Salt Creek and Teapot area, WY, 1922-25 (6 items). Mining regions, mine sites, and other bureau activities in various states, ca. 1916-29 (520 items). Specific mines located east of the Mississippi River owned by private firms, with related geologic features, prepared by the Eastern Field Operation Center (Pittsburgh, PA) for inclusion in reports, ca. 1942-70 (1000 items).

Engineering Plans (2,500 items): Drawings, blueprints, and tracings of experimental mines, mine sites, chemical laboratories in DC and MD, helium purification plants in NJ, PA, TX, and VA, and mining equipment used in South Africa, ca. 1900-34.

Subject Access Terms: Helium production; Teapot Dome Affair.

SEE Maps UNDER 70.3.1, 70.4.1, 70.4.4 and 70.11.4. SEE Aerial Photographs UNDER 70.12.3.

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70.17 MOTION PICTURES (GENERAL)
1913-86

General subjects, 1913-ca. 1979 (282 reels), including mining and processing of coal, asbestos, and other materials, 1919-38 and ca. 1943; U.S. and Mexican petroleum industry, 1923-36; automobiles and automobile engines, 1926-36; industrial products, including explosives, steel, and safety glass, 1922-28; steam, water, and electric power, 1922-28 and ca. 1943; the oxyacetylene torch, 1922 and 1938; bureau safety and health education programs, 1913-37; and natural resources and scenery of Arizona and Texas, and national parks, including Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Rocky Mountain, and Shenandoah, 1925-55. Miscellaneous subjects, 1914-79 (55 reels), including the Royalton, IL, mine disaster (Oct. 27, 1914); railway guns at Fort Story, VA (1929); the development of the automobile (a film produced in cooperation with the Studebaker Corporation); footage of press conferences and inspection tours; The Story of the Bureau of Mines; television interviews of BM officials; and "Safety Tips for Miners," a series of television spots. Related scripts, production files, and film catalogs, 1930-86.

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70.18 VIDEO RECORDINGS (GENERAL)
ca. 1970-1986

"Take Pride in America," narrated by Louis Gossett, Jr., 1986 (1 item). "Out of the Rock," 1991 (1 item). "Safer Coal Mining Equipment," ca. 1970-ca. 1979 (1 item). "Improved Visibility Aids on Large Haulage Vehicles," ca. 1970-ca.1979 (1 item). "Fire Protection Systems for Underground Metal and Non-Metal Mines," ca. 1970-ca. 1979 (1 item). "Improved Arc Stability in Electric Arc Furnace Steelmaking," ca. 1970-ca. 1979 (1 item). "Ground Control Technology," ca. 1970-ca. 1979 (1 item). "Electromagnetic Fire Warning Alarm for Underground Mines," ca. 1970-ca. 1979 (1 item).

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70.19 SOUND RECORDINGS (GENERAL)
ca. 1952-ca. 1987

Testimony of United Mine Workers of America (UMW) President John L. Lewis at a hearing of the Special Subcommittee on Mine Safety of the Senate Committee on Labor and Public Welfare, January 30, 1952 (4 items). BM Director Walter R. Hibbard, Jr., speaking informally at the Denver Federal Center, January 20, 1966 (1 item); and being interviewed by Freeman Bishop, December 27, 1966 (1 item). Radio spot announcements on safety tips for miners, n.d. (1 item); mine inspector recruitment, n.d. (1 item); haulage safety campaign, featuring BM Director Elburt F. Osborn, n.d. (1 item); and the Monangah Mine explosion, n.d. (1 item). Unsynchronized sound recorded on location, n.d.-ca. 1987 (14 items).

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70.20 MACHINE-READABLE RECORDS (GENERAL)

SEE UNDER 70.8.

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70.21 STILL PICTURES (GENERAL)
1910-78

Photographs (95,000 images): General photographic files, illustrating mines, mining activities, equipment, personnel, facilities, housing, types of minerals, experiments, and safety techniques, ca. 1910-78 (G).

Photographic Prints (2,454 images): General photographic files, as described above, ca. 1910-78 (GP, 1,800 images). Chemical Warfare Service activities at its American University Experiment Station, Washington, DC, in albums, 1917-18 (CW, 103 images). Excell (TX) Helium Plant; Navajo Helium Plant, Shiprock, NM; and federal helium plants at Amarillo, Petrolia, and Ft. Worth, TX, 1919-53 (H, 550 images). Panoramic view of a copper mine, showing the stripped levels, hand-tinted in blue and orange, n.d. (MOD, 1 image).

Posters (43 images): Collected by BM National Fuel Efficiency Program unit, stressing fuel conservation, 1944-45 (FCP).

SEE Photographs UNDER 70.3.3.
SEE Photographic Prints UNDER 70.12.2.
SEE Photographic Negatives UNDER 70.9.

Finding Aids: Shelflist (GS) and index (GX) to photographic series G and GP. Publicity file (FE) to poster series (FCP).


Bibliographic note: Web version based on Guide to Federal Records in the National Archives of the United States. Compiled by Robert B. Matchette et al. Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration, 1995.
3 volumes, 2428 pages.

Ordering information

This Web version is updated from time to time to include records processed since 1995.


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