Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Guide to Nelson Dickerman Papers

Summary

Collection ID:
NMAH.AC.0542
Creators:
Dickerman, Nelson, 1881-1952
Urbanski, Pauline
Dates:
1880-1965.
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
3.5 Cubic feet
Repository:
Papers relating to the career and life of mining engineer Nelson Dickerman: letters, photographs, clippings and diaries kept during his mining career. Much of the material is personal, rather than professional, relating to Dickerman's family and children. Family photographs include baby books.

Scope and Contents note

Scope and Contents note
This collection documents Nelson Dickerman, a mining engineer and his immediate family members, Hallie Dickerman (wife) and three daughters, Delight, Rhoda and Doris. The majority of documentation pertains to the Dickerman Family and is best represented through the black and white and photographs.

Arrangement

Arrangement
The collection is arranged into six series. Series 1: Biographical Materiall Series 2: Correspondence
Series 3: Diaries
Series 4: Photographs
Series 5: Maps
Series 6: Miscellaneous

Biographical/Historical note

Biographical/Historical note
Nelson Dickerman was born in 1881 in Denver, CO to Charles O. and Louise Haage Dickerman. He began mining as an assistant surveyor at Tomboy gold mines in Colorado in 1900 and in 1903, worked underground at Bunker Hill and Sullivan Mine, Idaho. Dickerman would later take a position as a metallurgist at the Ladd Metal's Company's copper smelter in Idaho. He graduated from the University of California in 1905 earning a B.S. and later that year joined the Yuba Consolidated Goldfields in Hammonton, California. Dickerman worked for a number of mining companies throughout his career as a general manager, superintendent, and vice president—Natomas Consolidated (1910); Kirtley Creek Gold Dredging Company (1911-1913); Pato Mines (Columbia), Ltd. and Nechi (Columbia), Ltd (1913-1916); Guiana Development Company and Liberty Development Company in Dutch and French Guiana (1916-1921); Cornwall, Anglo-Oriental Mining Corporation (1928-1932); and Amiranian Oil Company (1937-1938). During his career Dickerman made examinations in Chile, Argentina, British Guiana, Columbia and the United States. He worked for the Reconstruction Finance Corporation, War Production Board from 1939 to 1944 and in 1945, he joined the U.S. Bureau of Mines serving in the far east unit, foreign minerals division until 1948. He then went to work for the Central Intelligence Agency where he served until his death in February 1952.
Nelson Dickerman married Hallie Ferron on May 12, 1909; they had three daughters, Delight Dickerman, Doris Dickerman, and Rhoda Dickerman John.

Administration

Author
Alison L. Oswald
Immediate Source of Acquisiton
The collection was donated to the National Museum of American History, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources by Pauline Urbanski on April 28, 1993.
Custodial History
Transferred to the Archives Center in 1997. Addendum received on April 9, 2004.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Alison Oswald, April 2003.
Custodial History
The collection was transferred from the Division of Work and Industry to the Archives Center in 1997.
Accruals
An addendum of approximately 1 cubic foot was received on April 9, 2004.

Using the Collection

Restrictions on Access
Collection is open for research and on site by appointment. Unprotected photographs must be handled with gloves.
Preferred Citation
Nelson Dickerman Papers, 1880-1965, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
Terms Governing Use and Reproduction
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Letters (correspondence) -- 1900-1950 Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Maps Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Family papers -- 20th century Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Infants Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Clippings Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Diaries Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Baby books Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photograph albums Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Christmas cards Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs -- 20th century Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Mining engineers Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Mining engineering Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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