Columbus and Hocking Coal and Iron Company Records
Scope and Content
The Columbus and Hocking Coal and Iron Company records includes time books, ore scale books, ledgers, level books, rental books, store books, cash books, letter books, shipping records, payroll books and maps. Many of the records contain listings of the names of thousands of employees, customers, and other people that had contact with the company. Names are often indexed and easily found. Employees are sometimes listed with job classifications, wages paid, rent, and company store records.
Dates
- Creation: 1880 - 1930
Language of Materials
The records are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the Ohio University Libraries.
Conditions Governing Use
Ohio University retains all property rights to the collection.
Ohio University retains all copyrights unless retained by the donor, other correspondents, or other artists.
History of Columbus and Hocking Coal and Iron Company
In 1883, several coal and iron companies merged together to create the Columbus and Hocking Coal and Iron Company (CHCICo.) The CHCICo was also known as "the Syndicate" because it owned most of the land and mining operations in the Hocking Valley. In the spring of 1884, the CHCICo proposed a ten cent per ton wage reduction for miners, who rejected the proposal. The CHCICo reduced the wage a further ten cents per ton and required miners to sign a contract. The miners of the Hocking Valley went on strike. The operators imported "blackleg" workers and hired Pickerton guards. The strike went on for nine months. In the end, the strikers accepted the terms offered by the Columbus and Hocking Coal and Iron Company. By the 1920s, the CHCICo had mined most of the coal and iron available in Hocking Valley and left the region.
Extent
108.5 cubic feet (78 legal manuscript boxes, 36 smaller flat boxes, 36 larger flat boxes, 105 ledgers not boxed)
Abstract
The Columbus and Hocking Coal and Iron Company Records provides a comprehensive view of the every day workings of this coal company located in Ohio.
Statement of Arrangement
These records are organized in the following series:
- Series 1: Letter Books
- Series 2: Telegraph Notes and Correspondence
- Series 3: Ore Scale Books
- Series 4: Deed Books
- Series 5: Level Books (Engineers Books)
- Series 6: Store Books and Inventories
- Series 7: Cash Books and Accounts
- Series 8: Time Books
- Series 9: Rental Books
- Series 10: Shipment Records
- Series 11: Payroll Books and Slips
- Series 12: Ledgers
- Series 13: Miscellaneous
Other Finding Aid
A paper copy of the finding aid is available.
Description Note
Original, legacy collection inventories may contain inaccuracies or be incomplete. Collection descriptions may change or be updated as they are verified. Please contact Mahn Center staff if you note any errors or discrepancies.
Subject
- Columbus and Hocking Coal and Iron Company (Organization)
- Title
- Finding aid for the Columbus and Hocking Coal and Iron Company Records
- Author
- Unknown; revised by Holly Deakyne, 2009; revised by Greta Suiter 2023.
- Date
- 2020
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English
- Sponsor
- The finding aid was converted into EAD with funding support from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.
Revision Statements
- 5 January 2024: Subjects and other notes added from ALICE MARC records and Mahn Center Microsoft Office finding aids by Ohio University Libraries Metadata Services Department Python scripts.
Repository Details
Part of the Mahn Center for Archives and Special Collections Repository
