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Subseries II: Isle Royale Copper Company Records, 1897 - 1952

 Sub-Series

Scope and Contents

The Isle Royale Copper Company Records consist primarily of records from the period of Copper Range Company control (1937-1949) but include a small amount of material (mostly minutes) from Bigelow and Calumet & Hecla periods.

The files (principally financial and operational reports, minutes, and dissolution proceedings) are primarily from the offices of President H. C. Schulte and Director P. F. Beaudin, with additional material from Treasurer F. W. Paine, Acting Secretary J. A. Ackroyd, and Managing Director B. D. Noetzel.

Dates

  • 1897 - 1952

Language of Material

From the Collection:

English, except for a very small number of files in French, Finnish, or German.

Access

Available for use in the Michigan Technological University Archives and Copper Country Historical Collections.

Note that most folders in the collection do not have titles written on them. Please refer to the collection inventory for the titles.

Biographical / Historical

The Isle Royale Copper Company was formed in 1899 by the merger of the Isle Royale Consolidated Mining Company and the Miners Copper Company. Initially controlled by Albert S. Bigelow, the company came under Calumet & Hecla management after Bigelow sold all of his interests in 1909. The company continued operating until mining was suspended in 1932.

In 1937, the board of directors recommended that the company be liquidated. However, stockholders rejected the proposal and elected a new board of directors. Copper Range Company Treasurer F. W. Paine then personally purchased the Calumet & Hecla Consolidated Copper Company's holdings in the Isle Royale Copper Company and arranged for the company's reincorporation. Although not directly affiliated with the Copper Range Company, the new board and management were almost all associated with the company.

The mine was dewatered in 1937, with production resuming in 1938. It operated until the end of 1948, and the company was dissolved the following year.

For a listing of directors and officers, see the Appendix.

Extent

From the Collection: 590.25 Cubic Feet (434 boxes, 49 drawers, 447 volumes)

Related Materials

MS-579, Isle Royale Copper Company Time Book MTU-040, Kiril Spiroff Collection

Creator

Repository Details

Part of the Michigan Technological University Archives and Copper Country Historical Collections Repository

Contact:
1400 Townsend Drive
Houghton 49931 U.S.A. US