The Peterson Family Papers provide a glimpse into the discovery and development of the Peterson mines in Prairie Basin near Juneau from 1889 through 1957. The collection also includes personal, business and financial records which extend beyond mining activities.

The collection is arranged in the following series:

John G. and Marie Jensen Peterson Personal Papers Folders 1 - 4 Peterson Mine Records Folders 5 - 11 Charles and Irma Peterson Olson Papers Folders 12 - 13 Publications, writings, and clippings Folders 14 - 15

John G. Peterson and Marie Peterson Personal Papers include journals and diaries kept by Marie and perhaps by Margaret Peterson, describing in brief notes the day's activities and transactions. Short comments as to their continuing tasks include: "crushed a ton of ore," "repaired the tram road," "moved the stamp mill to the upper camp," etc. The journals after John G. Peterson's death, probably written by Margaret, reveal the extent to which the two girls carried the daily workload of operating the mine. John G. Peterson's military career and heritage are documented as well as his marriage to Marie Jensen. Will and probate records are also included. Property records include a Telephone Hill homesite, which is still standing.

The Peterson Mine Records comprise the bulk of the collection. Location and relocation notices, claim deeds and documents, correspondence with other mining interests, maps, mineral surveys and patents, assessment work notices, assay reports and receipts all document the mining activity, especially prior to 1930. The first gold discovery in Prairie Basin by C. H. Harrison and John G. Peterson on June 29, 1898, and later discovery locations by various other prospectors and Peterson are included. Of particular interest is a bill of sale detailing the purchase of a three stamp mill and other equipment from J. G Davies of Juneau on October 8, 1904. While correspondence on mining activities is limited, one letter dated February 12, 1946, provides information on work done at the mine years before with sketches of the Prairie claim. Other letters refer to leases of the property to other mining companies. The survey records, field notes, and blueprints of all 12 claims provide excellent information on the mines. Assay records are limited but do give a sampling as to what the values of gold and silver were per ton. A June 3, 1937, preliminary report from the U.S. Bureau of Mines has geological information, development work and a brief history.

The Charles and Irma Peterson Olson Papers include personal papers such as birth and marriage records. A small number of business and financial records relate to their ice plant and mink farm at the Peterson homestead at Pearl Harbor north of Juneau.

The Publications, Writings, and Clippings series comprises a mix of articles about Ima and Margaret working on the mine in the 1920's, with books used by the Petersons. One article of particular interest is a one page typescript attributed to Marie Peterson on the history of the Peterson mine, perhaps written about 1922. It is reproduced in full on the following page.

[Peterson, Marie. History of Peterson Mine, 1922.]

"The Peterson Mines situated about 21 miles North West of Juneau, consist of Twelve claims located along a mineralized Zone flanking the hills on the northeast side of Peterson creek. They were discovered by; Messers Rudd, Austin, Stephen, Harris and Galinger and were purchased by J. G. Peterson in 1897.

The first development work was done by means of hydraulicing (sic) the surface, exposing rich ore.

In 1903 a road was slashed out from Pearl Harbor to the mine a distance of four miles and Mr. Peterson purchased a three stamp Prospecting mill and Wolfy (sic) concentrating table, and assisted by only two working men and a mule and aftering (sic) encountering a great deal of hardships, as the road was in bad condition, the machinery was finally hauled to the mine and the mill erected.

At the mine a tunnel was started and the ore was treated in the mill the following year, showing up fine on the amalgamating plate and after the clean-up an average of $8 per ton received.

In 1910 the road which had been gradually improved, was changed into a planked horse tramway connecting the mine with the beach at Pearl Harbor. It was three years later Mr. Peterson was preparing and getting ready to purchase a larger mill that he became sick and it prevented him from placing the mine on greater production basis.

It was during his sickness in 1916 that we had the misfortune of our home being destroyed by fire, a terrible loss as it was not insured and we had lost everything. Thus necessitating us to build a new home, which my daughters, Irma, and Margaret accomplished unaided inside six weeks.

We had just been living in our new home two months, when after a lingering illness which for two years had confined Mr. Peterson to his bed, he passed away. Several trips had been made to the states seeking medical aid but of no avail.

It was during the three years of my husbands sickness, that my daughters and I were confronted with the need of performing unaided every detail connected with extracting gold from the rock and seeing to undischarged obligations, which might lose us control of the mine, and thus having decided not to lose the mine to which Mr. Peterson had pinned his faith, risked his fortune and given his life, we have continued developing the mine to the present day.

Last spring we erected a new mill building, one mile and a quarter from the old mill, at a place where we mine the ore, and purchased a 20 ton capacity, 'Grey's' Centrifugal Ball Mill, and which was to arrive at Juneau, July lst, but on account of some casting difficulties did not reach Juneau until late in September and then the shipment was incomplete. For some untold reason on the makers part, he refused to supply the missing parts, so we decided to leave the mill at the wharf, and demand back our money."