Series 24408
Tooele County (Utah). County Recorder Willow Springs Mining District records
Dates: 1891-1900.
1 microfilm reel
These records are housed in the Utah State Archives' permanent storage room.
Historical Note
An agency history is available.
Scope and Content
The Willow Springs Mining District, organized 21 May 1891 in the Deep Creek Mountains of western Tooele County (Utah), was an extension of mining activity at Gold Hill. Gold Hill prospectors organized this district in accordance with federal law, which stated that mineral deposits in the public domain were free and open to exploration, and locators of the same had exclusive right of possession (Statutes at Large, Treaties, and Proclamations, of the United States of America, vol. 17, 1872, chap. 152). The law authorized local mining districts to keep records and oversee mining operations within specified boundaries. The Willow Springs Mining District record books begin with a copy of by-laws for the district. By-laws are followed by notices of location (claims) filed with the district. Each notice prominently states the name of the claim and confirms compliance with federal law and local regulations. Notices provide information about the claim's dimensions and location, and identify the names of discoverers. They provide the dates for discovery and filing and are signed by the district or county recorder. While notices of location dominate, these books also include a few other mining related documents such as affidavits showing proof of annual assessment labor.
Arrangement
Chronological
Related Records
Mining records from Tooele County (Utah). County Recorder, Series 6150, are cross-referenced. From 1897-1900 Tooele County recorder, Emily Dods, kept the Willow Springs record book. During this period she filed copies of location notices in both the Willow Springs book and in this series.
File book from Willow Springs Mining District (Utah). Recorder, Series 24409, contains a chronological list of location notices filed by Willow Springs District recorders.
Custody History
In May 1897 the books of the Willow Springs Mining District were transferred to the office of the Tooele County recorder. She continued to record notices of location in the Willow Springs Book 3.
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
The record books of the Willow Springs District were processed by Rosemary Cundiff in October 2002.
Indexing Terms
- Mining claims--Utah--Tooele County.
- Mines and mineral resources--Property--Tooele County (Utah).
- Utah--Tooele County--Mines and mineral resources.
- Gold Hill--Utah.
Page Last Updated October 18, 2012.