Series 23675

Harrisburg Mining District (Utah). Recorder Mining records

Dates: 1871-1897.

2 microfilm reels

These records are housed in the Utah State Archives' permanent storage room.

Historical Note

An agency history is available.

Scope and Content

The Harrisburg Mining District (originally the Union Mining District) was organized in 1871, after the discovery of silver at Silver Reef. In accordance with established practice, which Congress enacted into law the following year (1872), mineral deposits in the public domain were free and open to exploration, and locators of the same had exclusive right of possession. Local mining districts managed mining operations and kept a record of claims. Statutes at Large, Treaties, and Proclamations, of the United States of America, vol. XVII, chap. 152). The Harrisburg Mining District record books contain the minutes of early meetings held by the miners and the by laws adopted for the district. Thereafter, they contain primarily mining claims or notices of location. For each notice the mining district recorder reported the names of locators, the name of the mining claim, and a legal description of the location. In addition to notices of location, the mining record books include other mining documents such as, mining deeds, documents validating labor performed on claims, documents about water rights, notices of relocation, protests against notices of location, amended notices, and maps identifying the location of particular claims.

Arrangement

Chronological by date.

Research Note

Harrisburg Mining District Record Book A sustained significant damage before it was microfilmed. Rodents or termites have eaten a large hole completely through the book. Most mining claims can be identified by name of mine, name of locator and date because this information is on the top or bottom of each page, however, location information has been essentially destroyed.

Related Records

Deeds (Washington) from Washington County (Utah). County Recorder, Series 23262, contain additional mining claims and other records for the Harrisburg Mining District.

Deeds (Silver Reef) from Washington County (Utah). County Recorder, Series 23263, contain notices of location, proof of labor, and other mining related documents for the Harrisburg Mining District which includes Silver Reef.

Deeds (Toquerville) from Washington County (Utah). County Recorder, Series 23265, contain additional mining claims and deeds for the Harrisburg District.

Abstracts (mines) from Washington County (Utah). County Recorder, Series 23670, historically document ownership and activity on mining claims in the Harrisburg District as well as other Washington County mining districts.

Mining notices of location from Washington County (Utah). County Recorder, Series 81372, contain notices of location recorded by the Washington County recorder after 1891.

Access Restrictions

This series is classified as Public.

Preferred Citation

Cite the Utah State Archives and Records Service, the creating agency name, the series title, and the series number.

Processing Note

Harrisburg Mining District record books were microfilmed by Utah State Archives in April 1983 and processed by Rosemary Cundiff in June 2001.

Finding Aids

Indexes: Indexes have been included in at the beginning of books A-D, and G however the letters A and B are missing from the index to Book D, and the index to Book A has been essentially destroyed by pest damage. Indexes provide reference by the names of mining claims. Books E and F do not have indexes. .

Indexing Terms

• Mining districts—Washington County (Utah).
• Mines and mineral resources—Ownership—Washington County (Utah).
• Mining claims—Washington County (Utah).

Container List

REEL	DESCRIPTION
1	Mining Record Book A; 1871 Mar-1876 Feb
1	Mining Record Book B; 1876 Jan-1876 Dec
1	Mining Record Book C; 1876 Dec-1878 Jan
2	Mining Record Book D; 1878 Feb-1882 Jun
2	Mining Record Book E; 1882 Jun-1886 Jun
2	Mining Record Book F; 1886 Jun-1896 Aug
2	Mining Record Book G; 1896 Aug-1897 Jan