Hiram Dow papers
Collection
Identifier: MSS-899-BC
Scope and Content
The Hiram Dow papers contain primarily material related to his work as New Mexico’s representative on the Interstate Oil Compact Commission and also related to his involvement with Humble Oil and Refining Company legal cases and the New Mexico Oil Conservation Commission.
The collection is arranged into five series: Biographical/Personal, Interstate Oil Compact Commission, Interstate Oil Compact Commission Publications, Humble Oil and Refining Company Legal Case Files, and General Oil Industry. The Biographical/Personal series includes correspondence and material regarding Dow's business and personal projects. The material in the Interstate Oil Compact Commission (IOCC) series contains correspondence, and material from IOCC committee meetings such as minutes, transcripts, reports, statements, publications, and meeting ephemera. The Humble Oil series contains case files with motions, indictments, briefs, reports, juror information and correspondence. The General Oil industry series contains material Dow collected related to oil conservation and to various oil industry organizations.
The collection is arranged into five series: Biographical/Personal, Interstate Oil Compact Commission, Interstate Oil Compact Commission Publications, Humble Oil and Refining Company Legal Case Files, and General Oil Industry. The Biographical/Personal series includes correspondence and material regarding Dow's business and personal projects. The material in the Interstate Oil Compact Commission (IOCC) series contains correspondence, and material from IOCC committee meetings such as minutes, transcripts, reports, statements, publications, and meeting ephemera. The Humble Oil series contains case files with motions, indictments, briefs, reports, juror information and correspondence. The General Oil industry series contains material Dow collected related to oil conservation and to various oil industry organizations.
Dates
- 1925-1957
Language of Materials
English
Access Restrictions
The collection is open for research.
Copy Restrictions
Limited duplication of CSWR material is allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for compliance with all copyright, privacy, and libel laws. Permission is required for publication or distribution.
Biography / History
Hiram Millet Dow was born in Cotulla, Texas on April 21, 1885. When he was six weeks old his family moved to Seven Rivers (near Artesia), in southeastern New Mexico. He graduated from New Mexico Military Institute at Roswell, New Mexico’s first graduating class in 1905. He received a law degree from Washington and Lee University in 1908 and then returned to New Mexico to practice law. He was President of the New Mexico Bar Association and of the New Mexico Board of Bar Commissioners and was a member of the State Board of Bar Examiners. He was also Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico from 1937-1939. Dow married Ella Lea, daughter of Joseph C. Lea who was an early resident of Roswell and founder of the New Mexico Military Institute. Lea County was named after Joseph C. Lea. As early as 1910 Hiram Dow was a resident of Roswell, Chaves County, New Mexico where he died in March 1969.
Dow’s association with the oil industry began as an attorney examining titles. He later acquired three widely separated 2,560 acre tracts of oil producing property. Dow served as the state’s first representative to the Interstate Oil Compact Commission, reporting to the Oil Conservation Commission of the State of New Mexico. New Mexico was the first state to enact a complete oil conservation law largely through Dow’s pioneering work with the Compact Commission. Dow also was instrumental in drafting legislation that permitted the Commissioner of Public Lands to approve prorationing and well spacing agreements, approved by the New Mexico Legislature in 1929 and 1930. He was a partner in the Dow, Hervey and Hinkle law firm in Roswell, New Mexico. Mr. Dow died in March of 1969. [For more history of law firm go to: http://www.hinklelawfirm.com/about-us/history/ ] (Source: Biographical note in Box 1, Folder 8 of this collection and The Democratic New Deal Nominees, 1936 in Felipe Chavez Papers, Center for Southwest Research, University Libraries, University of New Mexico, Box 1, folder 48.)
Interstate Oil Compact Commission (IOCC): The IOCC originated with the writing of the Interstate Compact to Preserve Oil and Gas on February 16, 1935, by representatives from Arkansas, California, Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas, meeting in Dallas, Texas, under the leadership of Gov. Ernest W. Marland of Oklahoma. The compact was approved by the Seventy-fourth U.S. Congress on August 27, 1935. On September 12, 1935, an organizational meeting in Oklahoma City established the commission to implement the compact's provisions. (Source: Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture: http://www.iogcc.state.ok.us/history-and-accomplishments)
Dow’s association with the oil industry began as an attorney examining titles. He later acquired three widely separated 2,560 acre tracts of oil producing property. Dow served as the state’s first representative to the Interstate Oil Compact Commission, reporting to the Oil Conservation Commission of the State of New Mexico. New Mexico was the first state to enact a complete oil conservation law largely through Dow’s pioneering work with the Compact Commission. Dow also was instrumental in drafting legislation that permitted the Commissioner of Public Lands to approve prorationing and well spacing agreements, approved by the New Mexico Legislature in 1929 and 1930. He was a partner in the Dow, Hervey and Hinkle law firm in Roswell, New Mexico. Mr. Dow died in March of 1969. [For more history of law firm go to: http://www.hinklelawfirm.com/about-us/history/ ] (Source: Biographical note in Box 1, Folder 8 of this collection and The Democratic New Deal Nominees, 1936 in Felipe Chavez Papers, Center for Southwest Research, University Libraries, University of New Mexico, Box 1, folder 48.)
Interstate Oil Compact Commission (IOCC): The IOCC originated with the writing of the Interstate Compact to Preserve Oil and Gas on February 16, 1935, by representatives from Arkansas, California, Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas, meeting in Dallas, Texas, under the leadership of Gov. Ernest W. Marland of Oklahoma. The compact was approved by the Seventy-fourth U.S. Congress on August 27, 1935. On September 12, 1935, an organizational meeting in Oklahoma City established the commission to implement the compact's provisions. (Source: Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture: http://www.iogcc.state.ok.us/history-and-accomplishments)
Extent
10 boxes (10 cu. ft.) plus 3 oversize folders
Abstract
This collection contains the papers of Hiram Dow. It includes material related to his work with the Interstate Oil Compact Commission, his involvement with the Humble Oil and Refining Company legal cases, along with personal and business correspondence and general material related to the oil industry.
Arrangement
5 series:
- Biographical/Personal
- Interstate Oil Compact Commission
- Interstate Oil Compact Commission Publications
- Humble Oil and Refining Company Legal Case Files
- General Oil Industry
Separated Material
Publications were catalogued for University Libraries general collection.
- Title
- Finding Aid of the Hiram Dow Papers, 1925-1957
- Status
- Edited Full Draft
- Date
- © 2012
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid is in English
Revision Statements
- Monday, 20210524: Attribute normal is missing or blank.
Repository Details
Part of the UNM Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections Repository
Contact:
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451
cswrref@unm.edu
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451
cswrref@unm.edu