The Bigelows were prominent Boston investors who had a major interest in copper mining. Horatio Bigelow (1814-1888) was the first to become involved with Michigan copper mining in the 1850s. When he died, Albert S. Bigelow (d. 1928) became the leading figure among the family. Around this time, they started to focus on copper mining in Montana, creating the Boston & Montana Consolidated Copper and Silver Mining Company (second largest of the Montana copper companies).

Along with their associates, the Bigelows were sometimes referred to as the Clark-Bigelow syndicate, due to their close collaboration with Joseph W. Clark. They later became known as the Bigelow-Lewisohn syndicate when they partnered with the Lewisohn brothers. Within Michigan, they controlled (at various times) dozens of mines, including Ahmeek, Isle Royale, Kearsarge, Osceola, Seneca, and Tamarack.

The Bigelows sold all of their holdings in Michigan mines to the Calumet & Hecla Mining Company in 1909. They retained control of the Boston & Lake Superior Mineral Land Company and the Hulbert Mining Company, which were inactive land holding companies. In 1935, the Copper Range Company acquired both companies.