Copperfield Mine Records
Scope of Collection
The Copperfield Mines Collection contains subject files, correspondence, letter books, accounting books, mining books, vouchers, payroll sheets, and sketches/blueprints relating to the mine itself. The majority of these documents cover copper mining in Vershire, Vermont between 1900-1905.
The subject files contain items relating to a variety of topics. These include are assayer sheets for rating the percentage of copper in the ore, as well as documents discussing the potential for a Copperfield Railroad Company to expand Westinghouse’s control over the means of production. There are also reports on accidental deaths or incidents, reports about the nearby Elizabeth Mine, a report on the cost of using a local railroad company, as well as various reports on other topics. Finally, there are official documents pertaining to the mine’s ownership and insurance, and the inventory of the machinery.
The next section includes correspondence that covers general topics concerning copper mining and business operations, which is separated by date. The letters are from the leaders of the company, Charles B. Hill and S. F. Seaman. Letter books containing similar correspondence follow this with the exception of one book containing correspondence with George Westinghouse. Most of the letters deal with financial matters or complaints of situations going on in Vershire.
The following section includes accounting and mining books. The accounting books contain cash disbursement books, payroll sheets, check books, day books, and expenditure books. The mining books contain many assayer books about the metal content of the ore. This section also includes two books about the wood, coal and coke expenditures for the blasting of the furnaces. As well as smelting records.
The next three cartons comprise the vast majority of the collection, containing vouchers. These vouchers are separated by year, but are not organized in any more depth. They contain payments out, received, and payroll stubs for their employees. Following these vouchers are small voucher books, which give a very rough outline for payments during the years for which they are cataloged. Finally, there are a few payroll sheets which provide give the entire payroll for that month for their employees.
Sketches and blueprints make up the final part of this collection. Three very similar depict the mining shafts. All are carbon copies, but the original is signed by the engineer, and includes data on the metal amounts in the ore. The blueprints portray different types of machines or plants. One is for a smelting plant and an elevator site while the other two represent different types of hydro Pneumatic Lifts needed for the mines.
Dates
- 1855-1859, 1889-1906, 1912-1913
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Curator of Manuscripts.
Historical Note
The Copperfield Mines are located in Vershire, Vermont which is located in Orange County. The copper ore was discovered in the 1810’s and a mining operation was created in the 1821. The Copperfield Mine was only one of many companies that attempted to profit from this copper deposit. The collection focuses on one specific time period, beginning when George Westinghouse bought the property and became a proprietor for this mining company.
The mining companies that came to Vershire never lasted for long. Mismanagement, debt, or litigation forced these companies out of business. The first company, bought independently by Henry Barnard, was prosperous. It housed over 1000 people and thrived during the Civil War. After the war, it fell into mismanagement and was forced to stop its facilities until someone else could buy it.
George Westinghouse decided to buy the property in 1899. He was a world leader in the electric industry and was interested in experimenting with new ways of finding and extrapolating copper. He succeeded in growing his company horizontally to include raw materials. The operation yielded 30 to 40 million pounds of copper when he ran it in total. On average, 3.31% of copper could be extracted from the ore. Around 800 people lived on the site with a few hundred employed.
The facility held the deepest mine in Vermont which held its own mill and smelter. The smelter used 2 blast furnaces, one reverberator furnace and one converter to extrapolate the copper.
During the early Westinghouse leadership, it was even reported that people enjoyed good pay and living conditions at the mines. This could be attributed to the early success of the Copperfield Mines.
In 1905 Westinghouse pulled out of the mining business in Vermont and sold the property. After Westinghouse sold the company, the mine was abandoned until WWI and then WWII where it was bought by the Vermont Copper Company. The mine at Vershire finally closed down in 1958.
Extent
8 Linear Feet (6 cartons, 2 oversize boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Collection consists of business records, correspondence, account books, and scientific records of the Copperfield Mine in Vershire, VT. Includes some correspondence of George Westinghouse, proprietor.
Physical Location
Library Research Annex; contact uvmsc@uvm.edu for access.
- Title
- Guide to the Copperfield Mine Records
- Status
- Completed
- Date
- January 2025
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the University of Vermont Libraries, Special Collections Repository
Silver Special Collections Library
48 University Place, Room B201
Burlington Vermont 05405 U.S.A. US
(802) 656-2138
(802) 656-4038 (Fax)
uvmsc@uvm.edu
