Mining History Association

Who We Are

The Mining History Association (MHA) is an organization of individuals interested in the history of mining and metallurgy. Members include independent scholars, laypersons, college and university professors, historians, miners, geologists, retired mining industry personnel, and many others.

What We Do
The MHA holds an annual meeting with presentations on mining history topics, amazing field trips to historical mining sites, and an array of social functions; publishes a scholarly journal and a quarterly newsletter; and provides a forum for networking and discussion of the history of mining both on-line and off-line.

Why is Mining History Important?

History buffs from academics to amateurs are frequently asked what they like about mining history. CLICK HERE to see how MHA members are answering these questions.

We invite you to join us today in the

discovery of our mining past!

35^th Annual Mining History Association Conference

Save the Date…

Join Us in Gunnison, Colorado

June 11-15, 2025

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FOR FUTURE CONFERENCE INFORMATION

CALL FOR PRESENTATIONS

The Program Committee of the Mining History Association invites proposals for individual presentations or complete sessions (including a Chair) on any topic or aspect of the history of mining, its associated industries, and its communities. There are no temporal or geographic limits to topic material; however, presentations that address the mining history near the Gunnison area or Colorado in general are particularly welcome given the location of the conference. Sessions normally include three papers of twenty minutes each. All presenters must register for the conference. Proposals should include the title of each presentation, an abstract (not to exceed 500 words) for each presentation, and biographical information including mailing/email address for each presenter. Please send the written proposals via email attachments to Eric Nystrom at enystrom@unr.edu. Submission by email is required.

CONFERENCE TRAVEL GRANTS

The Program Committee also awards two conference travel grants of $750 each to defray the costs of attendance at the MHA conference. Current students (including graduate students) and former students are potentially eligible for a travel grant. To be eligible, former students need to have graduated within three years of their application for funding. Travel grant recipients must give a presentation at the conference. To be considered for a conference travel grant, submit a cover letter addressed to the MHA Gunnison Program Committee, along with your proposal by Friday, January 5, 2025 to Eric Nystrom at enystrom@unr.edu. In the cover letter the applicant should express their interest in the grant opportunity, what they hope to gain out of their conference attendance, and what significance their presentation is to mining history as a field.

PARK CITY 2024 PHOTO GALLERIES ARE NOW ONLINE

SOCORRO 2023 PHOTO GALLERIES ARE NOW ONLINE

BIRMINGHAM 2022 PHOTO GALLERIES ARE NOW ONLINE

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Research and Travel Grants
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Click on the DONATE button to make a donation to the Mining History Association via the secure Square payment system.

New on the Web

MHA Nuggets Schedule For Fall 2024. Join us for the “MHA Nuggets” on-line programs the third Tuesday of the month, 7:00 PM Central Time. ZOOM in and visit with your MHA friends and hear some interesting mining history presentations.

August 20, 2024. Stephen Hart, "Colorado's 'Lost' Radium Boom: Early 20th Century Mining and Processing Landscapes on the Colorado Plateau and in Denver."

September 17, 2024. Jane Bardall, “Stories of Miners at Mogollon, NM.”

October 15, 2024. Kieth Russ, “The Dewatering of South Crofty Mine.”

November 19, 2024. Hans Muessig, “Reexamining the Legacy of the Comstock: Miners, Mills, Saloons, and Assessments.”

Interested in giving a presentation? Contact Barb Clements for more information. Check the MHA Facebook page for up-to-the-minute log-in codes, program additions and changes. Past "Nuggets" sessions and presentations are on YouTube.

2024 National Mining Hall of Fame Inductees. This year’s Induction Banquet and Gala will be held at The Cable Center, Denver, Colorado, on November 2, 2024. Tickets are available through the National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum website. This year’s inductees are Arthur C. Daman (1889-1968), Ronald Gene Dewey (1940-2023), Dale B. Elphinstone, Patrick M. James, and Eero Mäkinen (1896-1953). The 2024 Prazen Living Legend of Mining Award will be presented to Alaska Resource Education.

New Rio Tinto Kennecott Database. Rio Tinto Kennecott has placed online a large collection of records and photographs from its corporate collection and contributions from others. It is called “Kennecott Groundbreakers” and has a lot to offer mining historians and the general public. It is a work in progress and the developers are seeking contributions on the history of the mines and processing facilities, the people, and communities. It preserves the history of the evolution on mining in the Quirrha Mountains with the Kennecott Bingham Canyon Mine at its heart. However, a little searching revealed that it also contains photos and information on other historic mines including the Highland Boy and Apex, US Smelting Refining and Mining’s US and Lark Mine, the Mercur and Ophir Districts, and the and the International Smelter in Tooele.

Missouri Mining History on Facebook. Those who follow the Mining History Association’s Facebook page will already have discovered Jake Jones’ “Missouri Mining History” contributions. If you attended the 2004 MHA conference in Farmington, MO (MO Old Lead Belt), or are planning to attend the 2026 conference in Pittsburg, KS (Tri-State Mining District, KS, MO, OK), you will enjoy Jake’s Facebook informative and well-illustrated posts.

Donald Duck, Miner and Ironmaster. The Hagley Museum, Library, and Archives in Wilmington, Delaware, is a gem for tourists and historians alike. They are located at the site of the well-preserved early DuPont powder mills along scenic Brandywine Creek. The museum is a treasure trove for those interested in industrial heritage. The collection of patent models is of particular interest. The mansion and gardens at the home of DuPont founder, E. I. DuPont, are also open to visitors. http://Hagley.org

One of its many collections is the photographs and audiovisual materials of the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI). While searching online for photos of iron mines and furnaces, the writer came across a video of an AISI promotional film, “Steel in America,” by Walt Disney Productions in 1965. In an unusual role, Donald Duck portrays an ironmaster and miner who guides the viewer through the history of ironmaking in America from the charcoal furnaces of the Colonial period to the taconite mining and steelmaking technology of the 1960s. It is well done, entertaining, and worth a viewing. CLICK HERE to view.

Mining History Journal Index. The online index to the Mining History Journal has been updated to include all 1994-2023 issues. CLICK HERE for a quick look or use the link on the Journal web page.

Hydraulic Mining Photo Collection Digitized. The California Historical Society has recently digitized a collection of photographs by John A. Todd that deal with Hydraulic Mining in Nevada, Sutter, and Yuba Counties, 1836-1897.

Mining History Journal 2020 Now Online. CLICK HERE

New MHA Brochure Available. The new tri-fold MHA Brochure can now be downloaded (CLICK HERE). Feel free to print as many two-sided copies as you need and pass them along to any organizations and people who share an interest in mining history and are potential MHA members.

Tell Rockhounds About Mining History. There are many rock, mineral, gem, and lapidary clubs located across the country. Their members often share an interest in mining history and learning where their minerals came from. A new MHA business card helps introduce the members of these clubs to the MHA and the photo galleries of historical mines available on the website. The cards can easily be printed using business card stock (Avery 8371, Staples Heavyweight Business Cards, etc.) available at office supply store (Staples, Office Depot, and others). You can CLICK and download the MS-Word files for the Front Side and the Reverse Side. After printing the front side just flip the paper over and print the back side. Give the cards to your local clubs and offer to make a short presentation at their meetings.

Can’t find a “New on the Web” item? Try the Archives.

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Mining - Related Sites, Museums,
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