Bookmark this page or copy and paste URL to Email message
Dr. James Douglas was born in Quebec, Canada on November 4, 1837. His father James Douglas Sr., a native of Scotland, was an eminent surgeon and manager of the Quebec Asylum for the Mentally Ill. His mother, Elizabeth Ferguson, was also a native of Scotland. Dr. James Douglas graduated from Queen’s College, Kingston, Canada in 1858 and continued his studies at the University of Edinburgh. He studied both medicine and theology with the intent of becoming a minister but was never ordained. For several years he served as professor of chemistry at Morrin College, Quebec, and in 1864 became managing director of the Harvey Hill Copper Co. in Quebec. In 1875 he moved to the United States to take charge of the copper works at Phoenixville, PA.
In 1881 the Phelps, Dodge & Co. sent Dr. Douglas to Morenci, Arizona to evaluate several mines in Arizona. Dr. Douglas’ report on Morenci was so favorable that William E. Dodge and Daniel James decided to finance William Church’s proposed smelter near Morenci, Arizona. Douglas was also enthusiastic over the copper mining possibilities in the Bisbee area. At his suggestion the Phelps, Dodge partners purchased the Atlanta Claim on June 21, 1881. This led to the purchase of other claims including the neighboring Copper Queen Mine. These claims had huge deposits of high-grade ores that produced a virtual torrent of copper upon which the fortunes and growth of Phelps, Dodge Co. was based. Douglas Arizona was named for his contributions to southern Arizona.
Dr. Douglas became president and general manager of the Copper Queen Consolidated Mining Co., the United Verde Mining Co., the United Globe Mining Co., the Detroit Copper Mining Co., the Commercial Mining Co., the Montezuma Mining Co., and the Nacozari mines in Sonora, Mexico. He was also influential in the development and operation of over 400 miles of railroad and became the president of the El Paso and Southwest Railroad, the Nacazari Railroad, and the Morenci Southern Railroad.
With T. Sterry Hunt, Dr. Douglas was involved with many experiments in the hydrometallurgy of coppers and devised what is known as the Hunt-Douglas process for extracting copper from its ores. Douglas was also the inventor of several other improvements in the mining industry consisting of the invention for calcining ores (1884), a furnace for calcining ores (1898), a process for extracting copper from cupriferous nickel ore (1892), a process for separating and recovering copper (1896), and an improved smelting furnace in 1897.
In addition to being president of numerous mining companies Douglas was also president of the American Institute of Mining Engineers (1899-1901), president of the Quebec Literary and Historical Society, and a member of various other societies associated with mining and minerals. He authored numerous pamphlets and essays dealing with mining, copper, and Canadian politics. Douglas received an honorary degree of LL.D from McGill University, Montreal, Canada, in 1899.
Dr. Douglas married Naomi Douglas (no relationship) from Scotland in 1860. Naomi Douglas’ father (Walter Douglas) was a captain of the Cunard Steamship Line. Dr. Douglas and Naomi had 6 children, four of which survived. The four children include Elizabeth Douglas, Walter Douglas, James Douglas, and Edith Douglas. Dr. James Douglas died in June 1918.
This collection related to Dr. James Douglas’ life and mining experiences in southern Arizona. The collection is a valuable source of information on the discovery, growth, and organization of early Arizona copper mining. Personal information on the life and accomplishments of Dr. Douglas provide the heart of the materials. Present are both personal and business correspondence between 1881 and 1898. During the early portion of this period Douglas was employed for the Phelps, Dodge & Co. to research possible mining opportunities in southern Arizona. Many mining reports are contained on locations visited by Douglas from this 1881-1883 period in their original hand-written form and typed copies. Twelve folders provide materials associated with Douglas’ death in 1918 and reviews of his life including condolence cards and messages, funeral remarks, newspaper clippings, and telegrams. Numerous pamphlets and essays are present in the collection focusing on copper, mining activities, and Canadian politics.
Manuscript materials were originally processed soon after the collection was received in the late 1980s but a grouping of photographs received at the same time were not included and never processed. Recently a decision was made to process these images and incorporate them into the Douglas Collection. These images include views of mining operations in many southern Arizona and Mexico locations with which Douglas had dealings. Photographs include both exterior and interior views of smelting and processing facilities in Bisbee, Globe, and Cananea, MX. Three scrapbooks of images are also present in the collection. These books appear to have been produced as possible promotional items. The scrapbooks cover the processing works at Cananea Mexico, the El Pasco & Southwestern Railroad in El Paso, Texas, and the Gadsden Hotel in Douglas, Arizona. A copy of the original finding guide has been retained with the collection.
None.
Requests for permission to publish material from this collection should be addressed to the Arizona Historical Society, Southern Division, Library and Archives-Tucson.
Donated by Walter Douglas III in 1988 and 1990.
Dr. James Douglas Collection, MS 1031. Arizona Historical Society-Tucson.
Series 1: Biographical Materials, -- , 1914 1935 | |||||||||||
box | folder | ||||||||||
1 | 1-4 | James Douglas Autobiography Manuscript (Draft) | |||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
5-7 | James Douglas Autobiographical Chapters (Earlier Drafts) | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
8 | James Douglas Autobiography Notes | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
9-10 | James Douglas Autobiography Notes and Essays | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
11 | Essay -- “James Douglas” inEngineering and Mining Journal , 1918 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
12 | Essay -- “Biographical Notice of James Douglas” in Bulletin of the American Institute of Mining , 1918 | ||||||||||
box | folder | ||||||||||
2 | 13 | Communications with Cyclopedia of American Biography , 1914-1917 | |||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
14 | Communications with Encyclopedia America , 1916-1921 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
15 | Newspaper Clippings , 1918/1935 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
16 | Newspaper Clippings -- Death of James Douglas , 1918 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
17 | Death Announcements for James Douglas , 1918 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
18 | Card List for Death of James Douglas , 1918 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
19-24 | Letters of Condolence to Family on Death of James Douglas , 1918 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
25 | Letters of Condolence to Walter and James Douglas Jr. , 1918 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
26 | Telegrams of Condolence on Death of James Douglas , 1918 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
27 | James Douglas Funeral Remarks , 1918 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
28 | Copies of Condolence from Telegrams and Messages , 1918 |
Series 2: Correspondence, -- , 1881 1898 | |||||||||||
box | folder | ||||||||||
3 | 29-40 | James Douglas Correspondence , 1881-1898 |
Series 3: Manuscripts, 1863-1916 | |||||||||||
box | folder | ||||||||||
4 | 41 | “Hope the Heritage of the Race” by James Douglas | |||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
42 | “The Gold Fields of Canada” by James Douglas , 1863 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
43 | “The S.S. ‘Unicorn’ & Memoranda on Early Transatlantic Steamship Service” by James Douglas | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
44 | Excerpt from “ A Deputation at Hawarden” by James Douglas , 1895 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
45 | Letter to Editor of The Spectator by James Douglas , 1916 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
46 | “Syndicalism or Co-operation?” by James Douglas , 1913 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
47 | “The Copper Queen Mine, Arizona” by James Douglas , 1899 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
48 | “Paper on Progress of Metallurgy of Copper” by James Douglas | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
49 | “The Cupola Smelting of Copper in Arizona” by James Douglas , 1885 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
50 | “Notes on the Development of Phelps Dodge &Company and Railroad Interests” by James Douglas , 1906 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
51 | Manuscript on Trip to Sudbury by James Douglas | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
52 | “The Late Professor Blackie” by James Douglas | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
53 | Manuscript on Introduction to the West by James Douglas | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
54 | “The Advance of Age” by James Douglas | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
55 | “The Labor Question” by James Douglas | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
56 | “A Visit to the Krupp Works” by James Douglas | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
57 | Manuscript on Business Wealth by James Douglas , 1913/1914 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
58 | Manuscript on Wealth, Corporations, and Labor by James Douglas , 1914 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
58A | Manuscript on Copper Metallurgy in the Southwest , 1914 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
58B | “Romances of Great Mines” from Copper, Curb & Mining Outlook , 1914 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
59 | Pamphlet: Copper Queen Mine Mining Company , 1882 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
60 | “Later Story of the Copper Queen Mine” | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
61 | Manuscript on Copper in Maryland , 1909 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
62 | Manuscript on the Labor Strike at Cananea, Mexico | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
63 | “Trusts and Their Tendencies” , 1889 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
64 | Letter to Editor ofMontreal Gazette , 1913 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
65 | Letter to Editor on American and England Relations | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
66 | Manuscript on Statistics on Copper Production | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
67 | “Snow Slide in the Rocky Mountains” | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
68 | Manuscript on History of Phelps, Dodge & Company | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
69 | “For John Fritz Medal Meeting” | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
70 | Manuscript on Trusts and Wealth (Draft) | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
71 | “Notes on the Development of the Transportation Interest of Phelps Dodge” | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
72 | Manuscript on Canadian Mining | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
73 | Manuscript on Production of Copper in United States | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
74 | First Lecture Notes on Smelting Ores | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
75 | Manuscript on Library Usage | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
76 | “Appendix No. 1” (Railroad Development on the Border) | ||||||||||
box | folder | ||||||||||
5 | 77 | “The Engineer Was Here” by Frank Alex | |||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
78 | “1,000 Mile System Founded on Copper” in Railroad Man’s Magazine | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
79 | Address on Changes in Smelting Operations | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
80 | Misc. Draft Notes on Manuscripts | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
81 | Page 4 of Unidentified Manuscript | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
82 | Speech for John Edson Sweet , 1914 |
Series 4: Mine Reports, 1881-1886 | |||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
83 | Report on Clifton Mines , 1882 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
84 | Report on Sudbury District (Canada) , 1886 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
85 | Report on Snake River Copper Mines (Idaho) , 1887 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
86 | Report on Copper Queen Mine (Bisbee) , 1881 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
87 | Report on Copper Queen Mine (Bisbee) , 1882 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
88 | Report on Globe, AZ Mines , 1881 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
89 | Report on Copper Basin Mining Property (Prescott) , 1882/1883 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
90 | Report on Detroit Mining Company (Clifton) , 1881 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
91 | Report on Longfellow Mines (Clifton/Morenci) , 1880 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
92-94 | Report on Mines at Clifton, AZ , 1881-1882 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
95 | Report on Detroit Mining Company (Clifton) , 1882 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
96 | Report on “Little Daisy” of United Verde Extension Mining Co. (Jerome) | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
97 | Report on the Mines of the Arizona Copper Company , 1882 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
98 | Report on Planet Group Mines (Yuma County) | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
99 | Report on Dakota Tin Mines (Montana) , 1886 |
Series 5: Mining Documents and Information, 1882-1896 | |||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
100 | Furnace Equipment at Bisbee | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
101 | Expenditures at Detroit Copper Mining Co. , 1882 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
102 | Ores and Slag Analysis at Longfellow, Copper Mountain, and Yankey Mines (Three Small Notebooks) | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
103 | Estimated Costs of Detroit Copper Co. | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
104 | Bills/Account Listings for San Carlos Mines , 1884 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
105 | Prospectus for Arizona Copper Company , 1882 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
106 | Expenses at Bisbee, AZ 1882/1885-1886 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
107 | Correspondence Regarding Litigation with Arizona Prince Copper Company , 1884 | ||||||||||
box | folder | ||||||||||
6 | 108 | Alphabetical Mine Listing Report | |||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
109 | Application for Baxter Mining Claim , 1882 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
110 | Letter to Secretary of Interior on Deer Creek Coal Field, AZ , 1885 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
111 | Agreement on Cave Mining Claim , 1884 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
112 | Maps of Copper Queen Mining Area (Hand Drawn) | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
113 | Atlanta Mining Claim (Bisbee) , 1882-1884 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
114 | Agreement for Copper , 1888 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
115 | Lease to Mine Claim , 1896 |
Series 6: Misc. Papers | |||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
116 | Census Bulletins , 1891-1893 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
117 | Letter on International Inventions Exhibition , 1885 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
118 | Note Cards/ Train Ticket/ Business Cards | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
119 | Invitations and Menues | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
120 | Map of Grass Valley Mining District (California) | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
121 | Original File Index Sheets | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
122 | Original Folder Listings |
Series 7: Photographs | |||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
123-124 | Bisbee, Arizona | ||||||||||
Copper Queen Smelter and Power House Interior Views | |||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
125 | Morenci, Arizona | ||||||||||
Town Scenes | |||||||||||
Exterior Views of Mine Buildings | |||||||||||
Longfellow Incline | |||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
126 | Clifton, Arizona | ||||||||||
Flood Damage to Town and Mine , 1906 | |||||||||||
box | folder | ||||||||||
7 | 127 | Clifton, Arizona | |||||||||
Flood Damage to Town and Mine , 1906 | |||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
128 | Metcalf, Arizona | ||||||||||
Shannon Mine | |||||||||||
Metcalf Incline | |||||||||||
Distant View of Mine Buildings | |||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
129 | Jerome, Arizona | ||||||||||
Montana Hotel in Jerome | |||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
130 | Globe, Arizona | ||||||||||
Grey Mine Incline Road | |||||||||||
Old Dominion Smelter | |||||||||||
Exterior Views of Mine Buildings | |||||||||||
Group of Miners | |||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
131 | Storm Damage to Moctezuma Copper Company , 1925 | ||||||||||
Damaged Railroad Tracks | |||||||||||
Washed Out Bridges | |||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
132 | Sierra de Cobre Mine Area | ||||||||||
Buildings in Hills | |||||||||||
Distant View of Valley | |||||||||||
Dust Storm | |||||||||||
Horse Drawn Wagon | |||||||||||
Distant View of Mine Buildings | |||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
133 | Mexican Mining Scenes | ||||||||||
Mines in Front of Building at Cananea, MX | |||||||||||
Mexican Burial | |||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
134 | Mexican Mining and Railroad Scenes | ||||||||||
Mine Buildings at Nacasari, Sonora | |||||||||||
Railroad Train | |||||||||||
Wrecked Railroad Track | |||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
135 | Stage Setting at Dawson, New Mexico | ||||||||||
Two Images of Stage Set For Play or Performance | |||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
136 | Misc. Images | ||||||||||
Cartes de Visite of Walter Douglas (James Douglas Son) dated , 1899 | |||||||||||
Cup Presented to James Douglas | |||||||||||
Image of Nevada Miners | |||||||||||
Veta Grande Mine | |||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
136 | Unidentified Mine Construction Scenes | ||||||||||
Smelter Smoke Stack Under Construction | |||||||||||
Buildings with Steel Framing | |||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
137-140 | Unidentified Mining Views (Exterior) | ||||||||||
Mine Buildings Beside Railroad Tracks | |||||||||||
Town and Mine Scenes | |||||||||||
Distant Views of Mining Valley | |||||||||||
Large Masonry Blocks for Building Foundations | |||||||||||
Pack Burros Beside Building | |||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
141 | Unidentified Mining Views (Interior) | ||||||||||
Smelter Scenes | |||||||||||
Ore Buckets | |||||||||||
Workers in Smelter Operations | |||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
142 | Misc. Photos (Not Mining Related) | ||||||||||
Sail Boat on Large Body of Water | |||||||||||
Bridge Construction Over Gila River | |||||||||||
Various Buildings | |||||||||||
Large Tent with Wooden Foundation | |||||||||||
Three Men Seated with Horse and Buggy | |||||||||||
box | |||||||||||
8 | Scrapbook of Photos -- Cananea Mexico | ||||||||||
Images of Mine Buildings at Cananea Mexico | |||||||||||
Ore Being Processed in Buildings | |||||||||||
Workers Inspecting Ore on Conveyor Belts | |||||||||||
Large Furnace Area | |||||||||||
Men Walking on Planks Above Ore Bins | |||||||||||
Exterior Views of Buildings | |||||||||||
Workers Riding Lift to Next Level of Plant | |||||||||||
box | |||||||||||
9 | Scrapbook of Photos -- Gadsden Hotel at Douglas, AZ | ||||||||||
Interior Lobby View | |||||||||||
Exterior Views of Building with Men on Street Corner | |||||||||||
Bar Room | |||||||||||
Barber Shop Area | |||||||||||
Curio Room with Items For Sale | |||||||||||
Clerk’s Desk | |||||||||||
Stairway from Lobby | |||||||||||
Entrance to Dining Room | |||||||||||
Billiard Room | |||||||||||
Hotel Room | |||||||||||
Lobby and Mezzanine Areas | |||||||||||
Dining Room | |||||||||||
Kitchen Area | |||||||||||
Bedroom Views | |||||||||||
Room Suite Views | |||||||||||
box | |||||||||||
10 | Oversized Items | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
1 | Maps (Hand Drawn) | ||||||||||
Map of Copper Queen Mine | |||||||||||
Unidentified Mine Tunnels | |||||||||||
Southern Arizona Around Tombstone and Fairbanks Arizona | |||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
2 | Certificates and Memberships | ||||||||||
American Institute of Mining Engineers | |||||||||||
Association for the Protection of the Adirondacks | |||||||||||
North American Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers | |||||||||||
Institute of Mining & Metallurgy | |||||||||||
The Blue Pencil Club of the State of New York | |||||||||||
Iron and Steel Institute | |||||||||||
The American Academy of Political and Social Science | |||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
3 | Photo of Morenci Open Pit Mine Operations (Color | ||||||||||
outside | |||||||||||
Item | Scrapbook of Photos -- El Paso & Southwestern Railroad Buildings Located in El Paso, TX | ||||||||||
Exterior View of Completed Building , 1907 | |||||||||||
Phases of Construction of Building -- , November 1906 January 1907 | |||||||||||
Railroad Powerhouse Engine Room , 1906 | |||||||||||
Interior View of Machine Shop , 1906 | |||||||||||
Exterior View of Smith Shop and Power House , 1906 | |||||||||||
Interior Views of Smith Shop and Machine Shop , 1906 | |||||||||||
Man Shoveling Coal Into Furnace in Power House , 1906 | |||||||||||
Exterior Views of Building Complex , 1906 | |||||||||||
outside | |||||||||||
Items | Certificates | ||||||||||
Two Large Poster Certificates to James Douglas and Copper Queen Mining Company for Participation in French Exposition in , 1900 | |||||||||||
Two Large Poster Certificates to James Douglas for Exhibitions of the Douglas Revolving | |||||||||||
Calciner and a Model of a Revolving-Cylinder Calcining Furnace with a Central Flue at the Chicago World’s Columbian Exposition., 1893 |