William Watson papers
Collection
Identifier: Ms-0171-SC
Scope and Contents
Among the items in this small collection is a 1900 contract between Minor Gaylord and
the Eagle Mining Development Company of Lincoln, New Mexico concerning mining claims.
There is also a copy, (signed by J.N. McDonald) of 1904 Department of Interior, publication,
Forest Conditions In the Lincoln Forest Reserve, New Mexico. Besides these items, the
collection also contains three brochures, “The Texas-Oklahoma Petroleum Company,” of
Phoenix, Arizona, “Statement of Receipts and Disbursements of the American Gold Mining
Company,” of Phoenix, Arizona, “Statement of Receipts and Disbursements of the American
Gold Mining Company,” (1903) and advertisement for the Pecos Oil Field ca. 1919
The bulk of the collection is correspondence. This correspondence begins 1881 and
covers various topics. Some of the correspondence is personal, including several letters to Mrs.
Watson from her sister Eva. Bills and business correspondence are also found in this folder
which is arranged chronologically. Most of the remaining items are letters relating to matters
handled by Watson. Although this correspondence does not refer to any one particular matter, it
does provide and interesting insight into New Mexico mining at the turn of the century. Among
companies and individuals mentioned in letters are the Eagle Mining and Improvements
Company of New Mexico (which had mines at Parsons, NM); T.A. Hones, a consulting mine
engineer; Old Abe Company; J.M. Sullivan, New York railroad contractor; J.J. Jaffa, Lincoln,
NM bander; J.M. Rice, A.T. Anderson and Angus Mackay, who were all associated with the
Eagle Mining venture; the Rio Grande Livestock Company, Spragues Mercantile Agency; Cape
County Milling Company of Jackson, Missouri; Doubleday - Page and Company, New York
publishers; The New Mexico-Homestake Reduction Company of Nogal, New Mexico headed by
L.S. Dairs and J.W. Douglas; The Sunflower Copper Mining Company, Esley, New Mexico;
Quay County Land Company of Tucumcari, New Mexico; The New Mexico School of Mines at
Socorro and Richard L. Powel, Land Scrip, Surveys and Patents from Silver City. Specific topics
discussed include the Spragues’ Mercantile Agency’s (from Chicago) Lawsuit against the
American Gold Mining Company and the interest of the Doubleday firm in the affairs of C.S.
Davis.
Dates
- 1881-1919
Extent
61 items (Small Collections)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Papers of a White Oaks, New Mexico attorney who specialized in gold and mining
interests. Includes promotional brochures, correspondence, a copy of Forest Conditions in the
Lincoln Forest Reserve, New Mexico and a 1900 contract.
Processing Information
Merleen Dibert, September 1980
Processing Information
The postcards of the White Oaks area contained in this collection have been copied and placed in the photograph collection of the Rio Grande Historical Collections.
- Title
- Guide to the William Watson papers
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Merleen Dibert
- Date
- September 1980
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the New Mexico State University Library Archives and Special Collections Repository