Was Your Ancestor a Miner? Mining Resources for Genealogists

In some parts of the world and across the United States, many of our ancestors were employed in the mining industry. At least in the United States, Federal Census records for the years from 1850 to the most recent censuses have asked for the profession, occupation or trade of each person over 15 years of age. See U.S. Census: Index of Questions. In the many years I have been assisting patrons in Mesa and Provo, I have almost never had a question arise about doing research into mining and miners.

I think this lack of questions is due more to a lack of understanding of the need to use occupational records and, very likely, a lack of knowledge about the existence of such records and how to locate them. One of the first places to start such a search is with the FamilySearch.org Research Wiki article on United States Business Records. Here is a quote from that page that tells about the importance of these types of records:

There have always been business records but the challenge to genealogists is that they are seldom identified as genealogical records. Governments from the earliest times have issued permits and licenses to allow businesses to operate. Also from the earliest times there have guilds and trade unions governing the activities of their members and keeping records. Many businesses have also produced biographical collections of the company's officers and employees. In the Unites States publicly owned companies often produce an annual report in printed form. Cities have produced city directories listing all of the businesses in the city and included, in many cases, all of the residents. It is also important not to overlook advertisement which may contain information about the owners or operators of a business.

Mining records are among those listed as types of records that contain important information about individuals and their activities.

• Mortuary records
• Farming and agricultural records
• Slaves, Apprentices and Indentured Servants
• Insurance records
• Newspapers
• Union records
• Mining records
• Business formation records
• Churches
• Railroads
• Shipping and other transportation records
• Business licenses and bonds
• Professional licenses
• Medical and Dental office records
• Photography businesses
• Business and other types of directories
• Utility records

It is important to understand that there are mining records in every state that has mines and almost every state does have mining activity. Here is a sample a few record links from around the United States to get you started thinking about these records:

• Unearthing Your Coal Miner Relatives at the Pennsylvania State Archives
• Pennsylvania Mining Resources
• McGinnis, Carol. Michigan Genealogy: Sources & Resources. Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Pub. Co, 2005.
• Coal Miners
• Mine Data Retrieval System, United States Department of Labor
• Mining Claims and Mill Sites, Bureau of Land Management (this link is to California, look for other states also)
• Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Municipality Mining Maps
• Utah Division of State History, The United State Fuel Company Hiawatha Coal Mine Records, 1942-1990
• PennState University Libraries, United Mine Workers of America, Journal Office Records, 1890-1980
• PennState University Libraries, United Mine Workers of America, President's Office records, 1898-2010
• United States Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Administration Handbook

For example, here is a screenshot of the information for a mine in Arizona:

Sometimes we all need to break out of our habitual comfort zone and realize that we are missing the greater view of genealogy. Start your search on Google with a search for your ancestor's location and then mining records.