william m. fitzhugh papers, 1387-1967

William M. Fitzhugh papers, 1387-1967

Overview of the CollectionCreator Fitzhugh, William M., 1853-1929

Title William M. Fitzhugh papersDates 1387-1967 (inclusive)

Date of Collection Date of Collection1882-1929 (bulk)Date of Collection Date of Collection

Quantity 52.35 cubic ft. (79 boxes)Collection Number 00538

Summary Correspondence, maps, reports, legal files, etc. of a mining andpetroleum engineer best known for his discoveries in the Salt CreekOil Field, Wyoming. Also newspapers, printed material, art, andhistorical manuscripts dating from the 14th to 20th centuries.

Repository University of Wyoming, American Heritage CenterAmerican Heritage CenterUniversity of Wyoming1000 E. University Ave.Dept. 3924Laramie, WY82071Telephone: [email protected]

Access Restrictions Access RestrictionsThere are no access restrictions on the materials for researchpurposes, and the collection is open to the public.

Languages English

Historical NoteWilliam M. Fitzhugh (1853-1929) was a petroleum explorer whose investment in the Salt Creek OilField in Wyoming made him a millionaire. Fitzhugh was born in 1853 and moved to California with hisfamily 10 years later. He graduated from the University of California in 1875 as a civil engineer. Hetraveled extensively around the world prospecting for oil and other commodities and was instrumentalin uncovering fraud in Alaska’s gold fields. His major success came in 1909 when he located oil incentral Wyoming. The fields were highly productive, but disagreements arose between Fitzhugh andMidwest Oil Company over oil rights. Fitzhugh retired from business in 1914 and began to collect art.He died in San Francisco in 1929.

His son, William M. Fitzhugh (1901-1976), was a physician and rare book collector. He traveledextensively with his family and met inventors and politicians, including Thomas Edison, the WrightBrothers, and Postmaster General Albert S. Burleson. He collected historical documents, earlyCalifornia newspapers, art, and artifacts, as well as books.

William M. Fitzhugh papers, 1387-1967http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv838802 1

https://www.uwyo.edu/ahc/

mailto:[email protected]

http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv838802

Content DescriptionThe collection contains correspondence, maps, reports, etc. pertaining to Fitzhugh's explorations forminerals, petroleum, and other commodities around the world. There are also many legal files primarilyconcerning oil rights in the Salt Creek Oil Field, Wyoming, which were disputed between Fitzhughand the Midwest Oil Company. Also included are newspapers, printed material, art, and historicalmanuscripts dating from the 14th to 20th centuries, including items from Italy, Spain, England, andIreland in Europe and from the colonial, Civil War, Reconstruction, and later eras in the United States.

Use of the CollectionRestrictions on Use

Copyright InformationThe researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as theyapply.

Preferred Citation

Preferred CitationItem Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Collection Name, Collection Number, AmericanHeritage Center, University of Wyoming.

Administrative InformationRelated Materials

Related MaterialsThere are no known other archival collections created by William M. Fitzhugh at the date of processing.

Acquisition Information

Acquisition InformationThis material was received from the William M. Fitzhugh Estate and William M. Fitzhugh Jr. (son),1958-1974.

Processing Note

Processing InformationThe collection was processed by D. Claudia Thompson in August 2020.

Detailed Description of the CollectionSeries I. Personal and Professional Materials



Includes material about Fitzhugh's personal life, career as an oil and mining prospector, and variousbusiness endeavors.

Container(s) Description Dates

Box

53 Artifact: metal sign advertising Kellogg's Toasted Corn Flakes -"Oh! Look Who's Here"

undated

Biographical and Personal Information:

Box

20 American Mining Congress - Appointment 1910

14 Beauregard, H.T. (relations with) 1902-1929

20 Book - "Monuments and Memories of San Francisco" (containsbiography and photograph of William M. Fitzhugh)

1955

19 Book - "Mining and General Telegraphic Code" undated

20 Bookplates of William M. Fitzhugh and William M. Fitzhugh Jr. undated

20 Boy Scouts - San Francisco Council 1920

73 Burleson, Albert S. (framed items with note on back fromWilliam M. Fitzhugh, Jr. telling how Postmaster General AlbertS. Burleson sent him a ticket to the Democratic NationalConvention):

Photograph of Albert S. Burleson undated

Envelope addressed to Billy Fitzhugh "The Democrat" (WilliamM. Fitzhugh, Jr.)

circa 1920

Ticket to Democratic National Convention 1920, June 28

19 Bohemian Club Information Booklet 1967

14 Business Cards undated

19 Catalog - Indian Basket Collection of Prof. and Mrs. T.S.G.Lowe

undated




73 Certificate - Society of the Cincinnati (membership of William M.Fitzhugh)

1916

20 Diary of William M. Ftizhugh 1892

14 Diary of William M. Fitzhugh 1900

20 Fitzhugh Ancestors - New York Historical Society Bulletin 1932

53 Fitzhugh Family Tree circa 1966

20 Fitzhugh, William M., Jr. - "A Story of Experiences" undated

14 Hall, William Hammond (relations with) 1902-1925

20 Lithograph of Shakespeare (removed from frame) 1910

14 Miscellaneous 1901-circa 1912

53 Passport of William M. Fitzhugh 1898

20 Obituaries of William M. Fitzhugh 1929

20 Prospecting Permit 1922

14 Recipes (Gumbo) undated

14 Speech - "Why Wyoming Has Not Developed as Rapidly asSome of the Surrounding States"

1904

21 Tape Recording (reel-to-reel) - of William M. Fitzhugh Jr., M.D. 1964

20 Torrence, Henry George (relations with) - Depositions, Offprint 1903-1904

20 Wine Vault Robbery 1920

Buildings:

Box

20 Apartment House (San Francisco, California) - cost estimate 1913




20 Fitzhugh Building (San Franciso, California) - applications,drawings, photographs, etc.

1919-1923

20 Sunnyside Addition Lots (San Franciso, California) - Mortgage 1909

20 Reservoir (Portola, California) - building contract 1915

Company Papers (contains reports on mining prospects andprospects for real estate and other business ventures):

Box

14 Adair Bay, Sonora, Mexico - Carbonate of Soda Deposits undated

10 Alaska Company undated

10 Alaska - Legal Papers 1902-1904

10 Alaska - Flume Creek Bar 1902

10 Alaska - Gold Rock Bar undated

10 Alaska - Granite Forks Bar 1903

10 Alaska - Hogsback Bar 1903

10 Alaska - Klondike Estate Corporation Limited 1904

10 Alaska - Mission Creek 1901

10 Alaska - Mogul Bar Claims 1903

10 Alaska - Nimrod Bar 1903

10 Alaska - Nugget Bar 1901-1903

10 Alaska - Rock Creek undated

10 Alaska - Seventy Mile River 1903

11 Altar Placers 1905




15 Amu Darya - Gold undated

20 Balaklala Mine 1904

20 Battrum Ranch Land and Irrigation Project (Lassen County,California)

1908

11 Berthaton Smelting Company undated

14 Butte, Montana 1910

11 Byers Ranch, California 1913

20 Byron (Wyoming) Oil and Gas Field 1914

20 C&W Oil Company 1913

14 Californian Petroleum and Asphalte 1900

20 Carey Brothers Coal Proposition (Wyoming) undated

11 Clarines Mine undated

11 Colombia, South America undated

11 Columbia, Tuolumne County, California 1907

11 Conejo Blanco Mines undated

11 Cotton Seed Oil Mill, Saratov, Russia 1898-1900

20 Cottonwood Anticline (Wyoming) undated

11 Dolores Mines 1903-1905

11 Eaton Survey, Jefferson County, Texas, (abstract of title) 1918

11 Eldorado Creek, Yukon Territory undated

11 Empire Gas & Fuel Company of Texas undated

11 Escondida Copper Property undated




14 Fitzhugh's Ore Report 1906

11 Graham (B.F.) Lumber Company undated

11 Grand Canyon, Arizona undated

15 Griadi, Russia - Peat Bogs undated

11 Griffith (E.) Concession undated

11 Honey Lake Delta Lands, Lassen County, California undated

11 Houston Oil Company 1922-1923

20 Independent Oil and Refining (Lander, Wyoming) 1907

11 International Alkali and Chemical Company undated

53 Jefferson County, Texas 1882-1901

14 Lindsay, California, - Oranges 1902

12 McFadden Survey, Jefferson County, Texas (abstract of title) 1918

12 Kewannee System & Pipe Lists 1913-1914

12 Mexico Mining undated

12 Mineral Development Company undated

20 Natomas Consolidated of California 1914

20 Oil Development Syndicate - Parker Oil Field (Wyoming) circa 1913

12 Palmarito Mining Property undated

12 Pan-American Gold Dredging Company 1906

20 Pete's Valley Reservoir (California) 1911

20 Petrol Company (California) 1914




12 Placer Properties in Texas Canon undated

12 Presidio Mining Company 1904

12 Purissima Mine undated

12 Quartz King Mining Company undated

15 Queen Charlotte Island - Timber Concession undated

12 Reed Oil Company undated

12 Rialito Copper Company of Sonora, Mexico undated

21 Sage Creek Petroleum Company (Porter B. Coolidge) 1928

12 San Sabastian Mining Zone 1907

12 Seward and Wolf Creek Claims 1901

21 Sherrard Lease (Big Horn County, Wyoming) 1909-1912

53 Talara, Peru - "Industrial and Social Study", InternationalPetroleum Company Limited

1945

12 Texas Oil Fields Limited 1904-1913

12 Texas-Paris Oil Company Limited 1904

12 Torres & Prietas Railway circa 1904

12 Tunisian Oil Fields 1902

21 Utah Oil Refining Company 1924

12 Visalia Mineral Entries by Honolulu Consolidated Oil Company 1915

12 William Fitzhugh Limited circa 1900

12 West Tonopah Mining Company undated

12 White Spruce Timber Property undated




21 Wyoming Central Irrigation Company 1909

Correspondence:

Box

1 1894-1902

21 1901-1907

2 1903

3 1904

4 1905-1906

5 1907-1911

21 1908-1910

21 1911

6 1912-1929

21 1914

21 1915

21 1916

21 1917

21 1928

7 1930-1941

Financial Records:

Box

13 Bank Statements - Bank of New York 1899




13 Bank Statements - Casper National Bank 1913

13 Bank Statements - Crocker National Bank 1912-1914

13 Bank Statements - Mercantile National Bank 1914

13 Bank Statements - Western National Bank 1900

21 Bills, Receipts, etc. 1897-1910

21 Bills, Receipts, etc. 1916

21 Cash Book - G.H. Thompson in account with W.M. Fitzhugh 1901-1911

22 Casper National Bank 1913

13 Check Books and Bank Books 1900-1912

22 Crocker National Bank and Others 1906-1912

22 Garland State Bank 1902

14 Mining Stock Prices 1906

22 Newsboys Fund 1918-1921

15 Statements and Receipts 1899-1917

15 Tax Bills 1912-1939

Legal Papers (not concerning Midwest Oil Company):

Box

22 Abstract of Title - Oil Placer Mining Claims (Fremont County,Wyoming)

1908

8 Affidavits 1912

8 Agreements 1891-1940

22 Agreements 1909




9 Assignments 1905

9 Bills of Sale 1902

9 Deeds 1891-1938

22 Deeds 1908-1911

9 Notice of Location of Water Rights 1902

9 Oil and Gas Leases 1901-1925

9 Power of Attorney 1902-1907

22 Waiver - Henshaw to Fitzhugh 1903

9 Miscellaneous Contracts and Legal Papers 1890-1925

Box

15, 22 Newspaper Clippings 1897-1930

22 Newspaper Clippings - Herbert Hoover 1929

54 Newspapers - San Francisco Earthquake (San Francisco NewsLetter; Argonaut; New York Herald)

1906

22 Notebook 1905-1907

14 Notebooks - Addresses and Expenses undated

22 Notes undated

14 Notes - Field Notes, Drafts, etc 1901-1938

Photographs:

Box

22 circa 1900

22 1905, undated




14 1912, undated

22 Alaska (?) undated

22 Fitzhugh, Peregrine and Sarah 1897

22 Fitzhugh, William M. 1873, undated

22 Fitzhugh, William M. (Jr.) undated

22 Switzerland undated

Post Card and Photograph Albums:

Box

49 Britain (England, Scotland) (post cards) undated

50 France, Britain, Austria, Italy (post cards) circa 1906

51 New Zealand, Australia, France (post cards) undated

52 Mount Shasta and Mud Creek Glacier (photographs) 1924

52 Russia (includes Bokhara [Bukhara]) (photographs) undated

Printed Material:

Box

22 Anticlines in Central Wyoming (government documents) 1916

22 California 1912, undated

18 Government Documents, Pamphlets, Prospectuses,Advertisements, etc.

22 Mining on Tribal Land (government documents) 1909

22 National Conservation Association 1916

22 Oil Exploration (government documents) 1914-1915




Box

52 Scrapbook: Salt Creek Oil Fields - Newspaper Clippings andDocuments

1913-1918

Series II. Midwest Oil Lawsuits

Contains material about the discovery and development of the Salt Creek Oil Field in Wyoming anddocuments about the numerous lawsuitsin which Fitzhugh and the Midwest Oil Company were involvedover rights to the profits from the field.


Box

9, 23-44,44A,44B,44C

Correspondence, Legal Documents, Financial Records, etc.regarding lawsuits between William M. Fitzhugh, Midwest OilCompany, and other parties concerning oil in the Salt Creek OilField, Wyoming

1908-1922

53 Maps of Oil Placer Claims, Salt Creek Field, by M.D. Woolery 1912

Photographs:

Box

44A Midwest Refinery, Casper, Wyoming undated

48 Midwest Refinery, Casper, Wyoming - Panoramic undated

44A Salt Creek Oil Field, Wyoming 1912, undated

44A Salt Creek Oil Field, Wyoming - Freighting undated

48 Salt Creek Oil Field, Wyoming - Panoramic undated

44A Tecopa, California undated

53 "Ratio of Net Oil Production...Carried Through MidwestPipeline, 1912-1918"

circa 1918

53 "Statement of Oil Carried Through Midwest Pipeline,1911-1918"

circa 1918



Series III. Maps


Box

45 Big Horn Basin (Wyo.) undated

45 Fitzhugh Property (Calif.) undated

45 Irrigation - Wyoming Centeral Irrigation Company undated

45 Natrona County (Wyo.) 1910

45 Oil Fields - Alkali (Wyo.) undated

45 Oil Fields - Byron (Wyo.) 1909, undated

45 Oil Fields - Casper Creek (Wyo.)

45 Oil Fields - Castle Creek (Wyo.) 1913

45 Oil Fields - Lander (Wyo.) undated

45 Oil Fields - Lost Soldier (Wyo.) undated

45 Oil Fields - Montana 1916

45 Oil Fields - Parker (Wyo.) 1912

45 Red Basin (Wyo.) circa 1913

45 Riverton (Wyo.) undated

45 Oil Fields - Rocky Mountains undated

45 Oil Fields - Shoshone (Wyo.)

46 Oil Fields - Salt Creek (Wyo.) (includes USGS bulletins)

45 Oil Fields - Wallace Creek (Wyo.) 1913

45 Oil Fields - Wyoming 1905-1910




47 Russia, Siberia, Caucasus, Turkestan

16-17 Unsorted

48 Unsorted - Rolled

Series IV. Rare Documents and Art

This material was collected and donated by William M. Fitzhugh, Jr.


Sub-series 1. Early California Newspapers

Box

55 Calaveras Chronicle (14 scattered issues) 1899-1906

55 Calaveras Prospect (15 scattered issues) 1924-1926

56 Mariposa Gazette 1865-1879



59 Mariposa Gazette (1906-1918) and Gazette-Mariposan(1902-1905)

1902-1918

60 Palo Alto Times (74 issues) 1901, January4-1902, June 27

61 Sacramento Reporter (volumes 5-6) 1870-1871

62 Sacramento Reporter (volume 7) 1871



65 San Diego Union 1868-1910




60 San Diego World (135 issues) 1872, July 25-December 31

66 San Francisco (Daily) Call (1878-1 issue; 1885-31 issues;1892-1 issue; 1896-20 issues))

1878, 1885,1892, 1896

55 San Francisco Chronicle (11 scattered issues) 1885-1897

67 San Francisco Golden Era (164 issues) 1872, December1-1880,November 20

68 San Francisco Herald (205 issues) 1856, June-December

55 San Francisco Pacific (1891-13 issues; 1894-7 issues) 1891, 1894

69 San Francisco (Daily) Report (69 issues) 1882-1898

55 Santa Barbara Press (30 issues) 1874, January31-1877,September 1

70 Santa Monica (Daily) Outlook (103 issues) 1908, January 4-May 7

60 Sonora Union Democrat (25 issues) 1924, September13-1925, May 30

71 Miscellaneous Issues:

Santa Clara News 1910, March 15>

San Francisco Chinese Press 1949, July 1

Monterey Peninsula Herald 1954, July 8

San Francisco (Daily) Pacific Builder 1946, December5

Oakland Tribune 1897, June 12&June 26




Oakland Tribune (8 single pages) 1917-1921

Oakland Enquirer (8 copies of 1 page) 1921, October22

(Salinas) Monterey County Post (scattered issues) 1930-1933

San Diego Evening Tribune (5 scattered issues) 1898-1899

Coronado Mercury (4 issues) 1888, September

Madera Times 1900, November2

Mariposa Herald 1885, January 9,and 1885, May15

(San Francisco) Young China - Chinese language 1927, December16, and 1945,August 14

Sacramento Record-Union 1893, January 9

(Downieville) Mountain Messenger 1905, December23 and 30

(Lakeport) Lake County Bee 1896, April 9

(San Francisco) Daily Examiner 1887, March 4,and 1894, June4

(San Francisco) Californian 1848, March 15

(Jackson) Amador Dispatch 1881, October 8

(Jackson) Amador Ledger 1903, August 14,September 18,and October 4

(San Francisco) Wasp 1906, May 26




(San Francisco) Evening Bulletin 1877, March 7,and 1885, July23 and October29

(San Francisco) Daily Alta California 1866, March12, and 1885,August 7 and 12

(San Francisco) Daily Stock Report 1879, August 30and September 2

(Oakland) San Francisco Tribune 1907, August 15

Escondido Times 1894, March 22and April 19, and1897, August 19

Sub-series 2. Historical Documents, Art, and Artifacts

Box

73 Assignment of Buildings and Lands in England 1712, December12

73 Autograph of William Clopton (who sold New Place in Stratford-On-Avon to Shakespeare)

1594

72 Broadsides - American (advertisements for books andperiodicals; political; etc.)

1817-1840

72 Broadsides - American (railroads; fire regulations) 1854-1855, 1874

72 Broadsides - Civil War:

Central Association for the Recognition of the ConfederateStates, Manchester, England

undated

Memorial of the New York Chamber of Commerce to EnlargeCanal Locks for Defense of the Lakes

1862

Naval Order Against Distilled Spiritous Liquors on Ships of War 1862, September16




72 Cartoon Drawing, by William T. McCutcheon - "A Dance in BirdCenter"

circa 1900

72 Charcoal Sketch reproduction - Karthago (Carthage), PaulAucler (del.), Librairie Ch. Delagrave

circa 1899

72 Civil War Maps:

Military Map Illustrating the Seat of War undated

Map Showing the Route of Marches of the Army of GeneralW.T. Sherman from Atlanta to Goldsboro, North Carolina

undated

Location of Fort Fisher (North Carolina) 1865

Fortifications of Fort Fisher (North Carolina) 1865

73 Deed (England) - between Edward Johnson and John Dymokee(?)

1665, April 4

74 Deed (Philadelphia) - Michael Holling and Dorthea Holling toJohn Ernst Kurtz (framed)

1759, September18

73 Hebrew Manuscript - Book of Numbers 7 undated

72 Japanese Drawing - "A Ceremonial Procession to the Emperorin Kyoto" (brush drawing in colors) - Hokusai, or school of

1705

72 Jewett, William Cornell ("Colorado" Jewett)

Pamphlet - "An Appeal...to Restore the Constitutional Libertiesof the People"

1863

Letter from Jewett to James Gordon Bennett 1865, June 20

Photograph of W.C. Jewett at Niagara Falls, Canada 1863, October 1

73 Last Will and Testament - Mencia Daza (Castilian languagewith transcription in Spanish)

1477, circa1700s

73 Last Will and Testament and Probate of Will - MargaretBunbury (England)

1798, 1804




73 Lease for a Year - Thomas Farlly, Elizabeth Farlly, and WilliamHenward to Richard Thomas Streatfeild [sic]

1802, October 2

73 Legitimation of Bonsignore and Condesa de Montagna (Verona,Italy; Latin lanuage)

1387, November14

73 Letters Patent - Henry VIII, King of England to William Ibgravegranting lands belonging to dissolved Abbey of St. Albans inAbbot's Langley

1540, May 14

72 Lithograph (color) - "Flags of the Principle Nations in theWorld" (Philadephia, Pennsylvania)

1837

72 Lithograph (color) - "Prairie on Fire" (possibly Germany) circa 1820

75 Lord Chancellor's Purse, 1841-1846 (England) - JohnSingleton, Baron Lyndhurst

circa 1840

73 Marriage Settlement (Ireland)- John Ashley and ElizabethBusteed

1799

72 Newspapers:

Freeman's Journal (Philadelphia) 1782, December11

Clinton Herald (Iowa) 1859, April 30

Savannah Republican 1862, February22

Savannah Republican 1865, January25

Telegraph Gazette (New York) 1874, January

76 Phonograph Record (England) - "James Joyce Reading 'AnnaLivia Plurabelle'"

undated

72 Prints - "A History of Medicine in Pictures," by Robert A Thom(set 1)

1958




47 Seal of Queen Victoria (6 1/4 inches diameter; 3/4 inchthickness) - in tin box

undated

72 Southern Antebellum and Reconstruction Documents:

Division of Slaves, Estate of Joseph Mosby 1833

Promissory Note and Protest of Non-Payment (Memphis,Tennessee)

1858, 1861

Stock Certificate, State of South Carolina circa 1869

Bond, State of South Carolina 1871

Bond, State of South Carolina 1874

Names and SubjectsSubject Terms :Mining and mineral resources -- 20th centuryMining and mineral resources -- AlaskaOil fields -- Wyoming -- Natrona CountyPetroleum industry and trade -- 20th centuryCorporate Names :Midwest Oil CompanyGeographical Names :Salt Creek Oil Field (Wyo.)Wyoming -- History -- 1890-1918Form or Genre Terms :AudiotapesPhonograph records

Processed by D. Claudia Thompson2020

