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Dr. James Douglas Collection, 1863-1935
MS 1031
Creator:
Douglas, James, 1837-1918
Title:
Dr. James Douglas Collection,
Inclusive Dates:
1863-1935
Quantity:
6 Linear Feet
Abstract:
This collection relates to Dr. James Douglas and early mining development in Southern Arizona. It contains business and personal correspondence, mining reports, manuscripts, and photographs attributable to Douglas and his activities.
Identification:
MS 1031
Language:
English
Repository:
Arizona Historical Society / Tucson Archives
949 East Second Street
Tucson, AZ 85719
Phone: 520-617-1157
Fax: 520-629-8699
E-Mail: AHSref@azhs.gov
Biographical Note
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.
Scope and Content
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.
Series List
The Douglas Collection was reorganized into seven series to facilitate research. These series include:
Requests for permission to publish material from this collection should be addressed
to the Arizona Historical Society, Southern Division, Library and Archives-Tucson.
Access Terms
Personal Name(s)
Douglas, James, 1837-1918.
Corporate Name(s)
Arizona Copper Company.
Detroit Copper Mining Company -- Photographs.
Gadsden Hotel (Douglas, Ariz.) -- Photographs.
Phelps Dodge Corporation.
Geographic Name(s)
Copper Queen Mine (Ariz.)
Detroit Mine (Ariz.)
Globe (Ariz.) -- Photographs.
Jerome (Ariz.) -- Photographs.
Longfellow Mine (Ariz.)
Subject(s)
Copper mines and mining -- Arizona -- Bisbee.
Copper mines and mining -- Arizona.
Funeral rites and ceremonies -- Mexico -- Photographs.
Mine buildings -- Arizona -- Photographs.
Miners -- Arizona -- Globe -- Photographs.
Mines and mineral resources -- Arizona -- Cochise County.
Mining engineers -- Arizona.
Nacozari (Sonora : Mexico) -- Photographs.
Strikes and lockouts -- Copper Mining -- Mexico -- Cananea.
