Georgia Gold Mining collection

Descriptive Summary
Title: Georgia Gold Mining collection
Creator: Findley Gold Mining Company
Creator: Chestatee River Mining Company
Creator: Marietta and North Georgia Railway Company
Creator: Stephenson, Matthew F.
Creator: Pigeon Roost Mining Company
Creator: Etowah Gold Mining Company
Inclusive Dates: 1807-1920
Language(s): English
Extent: 0.25 Linear Feet (1 half Hollinger)
Collection Number: ms4167
Repository: Hargrett Library

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Collection Description

Historical Note

Gold mining in Georgia began with a rush in the late 1820s, primarily in Lumpkin County and on a smaller scale in Villa Rica, and continued through the 1830s. The Gold Lottery of 1832 divided up what had been Cherokee Nation land, after the forced removal of native people, into 40 acre tracts for mining. Mines, mills, railroads, and towns were quickly established to facilitate the efforts as the rush gained momentum. A U.S. Mint was created in the new town of Dahlonega, in Lumpkin County, for a time to process the large amount of gold extracted. Mining processes evolved over time and a renewed effort was made to improve methods in the 1850s with the introduction of hydraulic mining systems. The Civil War eventually slowed gold mining operations in north Georgia to a near halt. For more information, see the New Georgia Encyclopedia article about the Georgia gold rush.

Scope and Content

The collection includes letters, land grants, gold grants, stocks and bonds, photographs, currency, and business prospectuses regarding gold mining in Georgia. Materials cover the 1830s gold rush and gold mining and processing operations throughout the state into the 20th Century.

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Georgia Gold Mining collection, ms4167, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries.

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Related Materials and Subjects

Subject Terms

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Series Descriptions and Folder Listing

 

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Land Grant - Wilkinson County, 1807

 

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2

Land Grant - Appling County, 1827

 

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2

Land Grants - Troup County, 1827

 

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3

Land Grants - Gold Grants - Cherokee County, 1832

 

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4

Georgia Gold Lottery ticket, circa 1832

 

1

5

Fort Gaines Academy Lottery - winners notice, 1856

 

1

6

Correspondence - W.M Kniley to George W. Paschal of Auraria, 1836

 

1

6

Correspondence - William Rutherford to Col. Seaborn Jones, 1854

 

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6

Correspondence - Woodruff and Company Carriagie Repository to George W. Gordon, 1857

 

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6

Correspondence - Castle Hill to mine owner Isaac J. Cowl, 1862

 

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7

Deposition - fitness of James M. Adams to manage a mill including testimony by Matthew F. Stephenson, 1861

 

1

8

Mining stock certificate - Chestatee Hydraulic Company, 1861

 

1

8

Mining stock certificate - Ackworth Gold Mining and Smelting Company, 1868

 

1

8

Mining stock certificate - Findley Gold Mining Company of Georgia, 1879

 

1

8

Mining stock certificate - Guarantee Gold Mining Company of Georgia, 1879

 

1

8

Mining stock certificate - Dahlonega Gold Mining Company, 1880

 

1

8

Mining stock certificate - Chestatee River Mining Company, 1882

 

1

8

Mining stock certificate - Georgia Mining and Manufacturing Company of New York, 1882

 

1

8

Mining stock certificate - Gaynor Gold Mining Company, 1883

 

1

9

Mining stock certificate - M. Lu Mining Company, 1884

 

1

9

Mining stock certificates - S. Lu Mining Company, 1885, 1887

 

1

9

Mining stock certificate - Tallapoosa Land, Mining, and Manufacturing Company, 1888

 

1

9

Mining stock certificate - Addie-May Mining Company, 1892

 

1

9

Mining stock certificate - Georgia Bauxite and Mining Company, 1898

 

1

9

Mining stock certificate - Crown Mountain Gold Mining and Milling Company, 1900

 

1

9

Mining stock certificate - Allen Mining, Smelting and Refining Company, 1906

 

1

9

Mining stock certificate - Hinson Oil, Gas, and Development Company, 1908

 

1

9

Mining stock certificate - Marsh Mining Company, 1920

 

1

10

Railroad bond certificate - Marietta and North Georgia Railway Company, 1887

 

1

10

Railroad stock certificate - Columbus Southern Railway Company, 1890

 

1

10

Railroad stock certificate - Oconee Western Railroad Company - unused

 

1

10

Railroad stock certificate - Dublin and Southwestern Railroad - unused

 

1

11

Note - Bank of Darien - ten dollars, 1834

 

1

11

Note - Pigeon Roost Mining Company scrip - five dollars, circa 1830

 

1

11

Note - Bank of St. Marys - two dollars, 1843

 

1

11

Note - Palace Mills scrip - two dollars - printed on Pigeon Roost Mining scrip, 1861

 

1

12

Prospectus - Seminole Mining Company, 1900

 

1

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Prospectus - Etowah Gold Mining Company, 1903

 

1

12

Prospectus - Lincoln Gold and Copper Mining Company, 1907

 

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13

Photographs - Boston and Kennesaw Mining Company, Villa Rica, Georgia, 1896