The William Simons Mills Papers (approximately 1880-1890) consist of correspondence written by mine executive William Simons Mills to his wife and daughter, albumen photographic prints, and postal envelopes with cancellation stamps. Mills was the superintendent of the Southwestern Mining Company in Eldorado Canyon, Clark County, Nevada, and his letters and photographs document life and experiences in the mining camp. The envelopes document postal history in a remote mining camp in the late 19th century.
The William Simons Mills Papers (approximately 1880-1890) consist of correspondence written by mine executive William Simons Mills to his wife and daughter, albumen photographic prints, and postal envelopes with cancellation stamps. Mills was the superintendent of the Southwestern Mining Company in Eldorado Canyon, Clark County, Nevada, and his letters and photographs document life and experiences in the mining camp. The envelopes document postal history in a remote mining camp in the late 19th century.
Collection is open for research.
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Materials remain as they were received.
Mining executive William Simons Mills was born in Vermont on October 29, 1820. He was a superintendent for the Southwestern Mining Company in Eldorado Canyon, Nevada, which included the Techatticup and Savage Mines. Mills arrived in Eldorado Canyon in 1880 and worked for the Southwestern Mining Company until shortly before his death at age 75 on September 3, 1896.
Sources:
Collection material. William Simons Mills Papers, approximately 1880-1890. MS-01233. Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada.
"William Simons Mills." The Blakes and Beyond, GenoPro, accessed April 28, 2026, https://familytrees.genopro.com/chrisblake/default.htm
William Simons Mills Papers, approximately 1880-1890. MS-01233. Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada.
Materials were purchased by Sarah Quigley from Vigilante Rare Documents (Greg Bock) in 2026; accession number 2026-034.
In 2026, Landon Paljusaj accessioned the collection, rehoused the materials, and wrote the finding aid in ArchivesSpace.
Administrative Information
Purchased from Vigilante Rare Documents (Greg Bock) in 2026 by Sarah Quigley, Director, as part of UNLV Special Collections and Archives holdings on the history of mining in southern Nevada.