Historical Documents Online: Search Hints for Selected Topics

Geology, Metals and Mining

Edwards Woodruff vs. North Bloomfield Gravel Mining Company, 1882 - 1891
Records of the Clinic at Pitcher, Oklahoma
Photographs of the Medical Survey of the Bituminous Coal Industry, 1946 - 1947

Edwards Woodruff vs. North Bloomfield Gravel Mining Company, 1882 - 1891
15 documents have been digitized from this case file. Edwards Woodruff vs. North Bloomfield Mining Company has landmark significance as one of the earliest "environmental litigation" class action cases. It concerned the environmental impact of hydraulic mining and resultant debris. Involving the fate of both private and public lands, it pitted mining interests against those of agriculture. Also included in the document-level entries is material from a related case from the same series, case no. 7865, U.S. v. North Bloomfield Gravel Mining Company. These materials are held by NARA's Pacific Region (San Bruno, CA)
Search Hint: To retrieve the 15 digitized documents:
1. Go to http://www.archives.gov/research/arc/.
2. Press the Yellow search button to go to the Archival Descriptions Search screen.
3. To search only for archival descriptions that have digital copies, click the Digital Copies search button at the top of the ARC pages.
4. Enter North Bloomfield Mining in the Keywords box.
5. Select the limit results radio button for 100.
6. Press the Go button.
7. When hits are returned for your search, view the full result of your hit by selecting the Title link.
From the Collection:

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ARC Identifier: 295944, Title: "Complaint filed on behalf of Edwards Woodruff, complainant, in the matter of Case 2900, Edwards Woodruff v. North Bloomfield Mining Company., 09/11/1882"

Records of the Clinic at Pitcher, Oklahoma
7 documents from this series have been digitized. The records relate to a cooperative free clinic operated by the Bureau of Mines, the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, and the Tri State Zinc and Lead Ore Producers Association. In the clinic miners were examined for evidence of disease (mainly tuberculosis and silicosis and later also venereal disease). The materials relate primarily to the daily administrative work of the clinic, including examinations and treatment. These materials are held by NARA's Southwest Region (Fort Worth, TX).
Search Hint: To retrieve the 7 digitized documents:
1. Go to http://www.archives.gov/research/arc/.
2. Press the Yellow search button to go to the Archival Descriptions Search screen.
3. To search only for archival descriptions that have digital copies, click the Digital Copies search button at the top of the ARC pages.
4. Enter Bureau of Mines in the Keywords box.
5. Select the limit results radio button for 100.
6. Press the Go button.
7. When hits are returned for your search, view the full result of your hit by selecting the Title link.
From the Collection:

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ARC Identifier: 251678, Title: "Physiological Report--U.S. Bureau of Mines, 18389, 11/19/1921"

Photographs of the Medical Survey of the Bituminous Coal Industry, 1946 - 1947
1,300 photographs have been digitized from this series. These photographs cover a complete range of activities in mining communities. These materials are held by NARA's Still Picture Records(College Park, MD).
Search Hint: To retrieve the 1,300 digitized documents:
1. Go to http://www.archives.gov/research/arc/.
2. Press the Yellow search button to go to the Archival Descriptions Search screen.
3. To search only for archival descriptions that have digital copies, click the Digital Copies search button at the top of the ARC pages.
4. Enter Photographs of the Medical Survey of the Bituminous Coal Industry in the Keywords box.
5. Select the limit results radio button for 100.
6. Press the Go button.
7. When hits are returned for your search, view the full result of your hit by selecting the Title link Photographs of the Medical Survey of the Bituminous Coal Industry.
8. Scroll down to the part of the description that says Includes 1,300 items. Click on that link to view the hit list for all items.
9. h. When hits are returned for your search, view the full result of your hit and the digital copy by selecting the Title link.
From the Collection:

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ARC Identifier: 540250, Title: "Louis Shafer, miner, with armful of groceries bought at company store. Pittsburgh Coal Company, Westland Mine, Westland, Washington County, Pennsylvania., 06/12/1946", Local Identifier: NWDNS-245-MS-62L