The WMMI staff is proud to announce that the majority of the W.S. Stratton mining collection is open to researchers on a limited basis. Consisting of 87 cubic feet of processed papers, 9 boxes of oversized papers, 351 ledgers and letter books, 30 books, 15 photographs and 1,500 maps, blueprints and drawings, the archival collection pertains to Mr. Stratton’s mining operations and associated businesses (1890-1976). The majority of these operations were in the Cripple Creek Mining District. However, some records concerning mining operations in other Colorado districts and in Mexico are included.

W.S. Stratton

The Myron Stratton Home donated the collection to WMMI on August 2, 1999. The 18-month project of processing and cataloguing the archives was made possible through very generous donations from The Gates Family Foundation, The Myron Stratton Home, the H. Chase Stone Trust, and museum members.

Financial support is still needed to give the researching public full access to this important window to the history of mining in the American West. $2,500. will allow the staff to construct a Research Room at the Collections Building. Welcome donations of furniture and files for the facility were given by the Newmont Mining Corporation this past Fall. Only 427 of the 1,500 maps, plats, and drawings in the collection have been processed. A gift of $10 per map or $15,000 is needed before this portion of the W.S. Stratton Collection can be opened to public view.

A 209 -page Finding Guide (index) will be available for researchers on site and for purchase ($65 + $10 shipping in the USA.) Research appointments may be made by contacting Executive Director,David Carroll, at (719) 487-3283.