| 
Manuscript Group 77
Papers, 1919-1954
0.5 c.f.
The papers of A.H. Burroughs, Jr., were donated to the University of Idaho Library by Mr. Burroughs in 1972. They were processed by Judith Nielsen in August 1985.
Ambrose Hammett Burroughs, Jr., was a mining engineer and mine manager. While stationed in Washington, D.C. in connection with his duties in the navy from 1918 to 1921, he became interested in the mineral resources of Turkey, and while it appears he never visited the region he did write a comprehensive report on the mineral resources of that country.
In 1921 he became associated with Henry H. Armstead in the development of the Armstead Mine in Talache, Bonner County, Idaho. The mine, which was located in the Blacktail Mountain on the west shore of Pend Oreille Lake, was incorporated April 21, 1917 and was developed by Armstead until he sold it to Burroughs on June 8, 1922; at this time the name of the mine was changed to Talache Mines, Inc. This mine, which consisted of 18 patented and 44 unpatented claims, was the largest silver producing mine in Bonner County. During 1926 the proven ore bodies were exhausted and operations were suspended.
In 1927 the Talache Mines, Inc. acquired a lease and option on the Gold Hill and Iowa mine property in Quartzburg, Boise County, and moved its organization and equipment to that location. By 1930 this was the largest gold producing mine in the state. In 1938 the Talache company moved its operation to Elmore County where it reopened the Boise-Rochester claims formerly operated by the St. Joseph Lead Company; the company's Atlanta claim was sold on May 31, 1936 to the Sawtooth Company of Boise, of which Burroughs was president. Talache Mines continued to operate these properties until 1966 when they appear on the Inspector of Mines Forfeiture list.
The papers of A.H. Burroughs, Jr., are scattered through the years 1919 to 1954. They consist of reports, maps, correspondence, and newspaper clippings, all concerning mining interests and commercial ventures. Also included is a Navy discharge certificate.
The mining and commercial papers in this group are organized by subject and arranged chronologically.
The Turkish mineral papers include a 52 page report on the "Mineral resources of Turkey, Asia Minor (a compilation) with particular reference to copper, silver-lead, and petroleum," and newspaper articles concerning the political situation in Turkey. The Armstead Mines material includes two reports by Burroughs, while the St. Joseph Lead and Talache Mines, Inc. folders contain one map each. The Sawtooth Company folder contains business correspondence.
Box Folder Description Items
1 1 Mineral Resources of Turkey, Reports, Illustration, 1919-1920 5 2 Newspaper clippings on Turkey, 1919-1920 19 3-4 Report of Managing Director of Armstead Mines, 1920, 1921 2 5 Newspaper clipping and brochure of Talache, n.d. 2 6 St. Joseph Lead Company, General and detailed map, 1935 1 7 Talache Mines, Inc., Atlanta, Idaho. Map showing ore reserves as of June 1, 1945 1 8 Sawtooth Company, Boise, Idaho. Correspondence, 1953-1954 37 9 Navy Discharge Certificate, 1922 1
|