Arthur Smith Dwight, born in Taunton, Massachusetts, March 18, 1864 had a very successful career in western mining. He was an 1885 graduate of the Columbia University School of Mines. He was a consultant Kansas City Smelting & Refining Co., Argentine, Kansas, 1885, Asst. Assayer at Works of the Colorado Smelting Co., Pueblo Colorado and worked for a time in Leadville, 1885-88, Asst. Chemist and Chemist, except Autumn of 1886, when examining and reporting on head deposits Coeur d'Alene region Idaho Territory and Spring of 1889 when acting as Asst. Superintendent Madonna Mine, Monarch, Colorado, 1889-90 he was metallurgist and General Superintendent of the Colorado Smelting Co., (Anton Eilers, was President of this company from 1883-99) and worked in El Paso, Texas and Mexico as Superintendent Cons. K. C. Smelting and Refining Co., in charge of operating department of that company's plants in the United States and Mexico. He married Jane Earl Reed, June 4, 1895.

As reflected in these diaries he was also contracted to perform assays and other work at mines throughout the West. Dwight published and contributed numerous articles and papers on metallurgy, assaying and mining during his career.

 He would later head Dwight and Lloyd Sintering Co., and Dwight & Lloyd Metallurgical Co., of New York City. He served in WWI as a Commander of Engineers, he lived on Long Island, and Florida was a member of many clubs, and died April 1, 1946.

The collection begins with an 1884 diary (in an 1882 pocket diary) the entries begin June 9, 1884 as Dwight is making preparations to travel to the Lake Superior copper regions with the third year mining students at Columbia. This diary describes the voyage out via rail and the student's practical introduction to mining. Various mines and stamp mills were visited in the region, surveys made, etc.

Dwight continues the diary in 1885 and on July 17^th notes, "Left Brooklyn in evening for the West- for Pueblo, Colorado to assume position in Colorado Smelting Co. with Mr. Eilers- Traveling Companion Arthur Johnson, classmate in School of Mines."

The collection continues with pocket diaries and notebooks for 1890, 1891, 1892-1893 1894 1895, 1896. The collection includes three diaries of Jennie R. Dwight, dated 1888, before their marriage, 1897 and 1898.

 The diaries discuss all aspects of the mining business, technical, field and assaying notes, for mines mainly in Colorado but include technical notes on mines and works in Montana, Idaho, Utah, There are detailed notes as well about various contracts with individual mines whose ore the Colorado Smelting Co. refined. Dwight's pocket diaries detail his life in Colorado, etc.

January 28, 1891 "Meeting of Victoria Investment Co. - which is the incorporated firm of the old Eilers Ray pool I was elected President..."

February 17, 1891 "waited for Ballou to arrive from Leadville and left for Pueblo on the 1:20 D&RG. Found everything all right at works except that all the Swedes on the roaster had gone on a strike and had to be fired."

March 4, 1891 "Heard Henry M. Stanley lecture on Experiences in Africa."

March 30, 1891 "Took noon train for Aspen went as far as Leadville with Prof. Sadler and the students of the Golden School of Mines. Met Ben Guggenheim at L. on his way to Aspen."

May 11, 1891 "Col. A. G. Paine visited our works with Hon. Robert B. Porter... & Hon. J. F. Plummer U.S. Director of U. P. Ry & family. Invited to go with them in their private car to Florence Co. & meet Pres. Harrison. Did so boarding President's car at Florence & riding to Pueblo with him. Met the whole Presidential party..."

November 14, 1891 "Went out to Ute & Ulay mine with Harveyson... met Ferdinand McCann ... had been trying Marvin electric percussion drills in mines not a success."

November 15, 1891 "Had a talk with Elmendorf. In afternoon rode to lake San Cristobal with Green. Very fine saw graves of victims of Packer massacre at "Dead mans gulch" at foot of Mount Seventy one - 5 murdered in winter of 1870-71 and partially eaten by Packer, who is now in Canon City."

January 4, 1895 "Called on Strang - also on McCorkle lunched with Robinson- saw Frances. Telephone from Henry Wolcott asking me to go to Crude and examine NY & Chance mine as witness in lawsuit. Dickson also pressed me to accept - accepted subject to consent of A. Eilers."

January 21, 1895 "To Denver at 9:20 a.m. C. H. meeting very vigorous discussion & heated over my announcement that Colo. Would contract Union Leasing Co's ore in spite of Clearing House and hold contract as "hostage" until C. H. should settle status of Colo. & United for coming year, they having shown wanton delay in the matter, which delay was very prejudicial to Mr. Eiler's interests."

January 30, 1895 "To Denver at 1:15 pm Saw Guiterman & Simon Guggenheim. Believe the latter will not agree that Phila enter Clearing House - says he "wants to run his own business." Went with Stickney & Committee of 100 to Senate Judiciary Committee about Pueblo Bill - but no meeting of committee was held..."

February 4, 1895 "To Denver 9.20 am at Clearing House meeting Phila. announced positively that they would not continue in C. H. giving reason that they were not satisfied with way some members had acted during year. It will expire by limitation Feb. 15, some possibility that new organization may be formed without Phila."

March 15, 1895 "Started with Mitchell in buggy visited Bogart mine, then to Victor mine Supt. Trevarrow invited us to dinner & took us through mine. Then drove to Anaconda mine - through which we were shown by Supt. Hoskins-Then back to Cripple Penrose & Cadish made preparation to put up sampler."

August 22, 1896 "Tried experiment in chipping bullion which shows that Penrose & Co. sample and our old sample agree closely and all about 6 tenths below dip sample arranged with Morris & Day for a reduction on insurance rate of smelter which will save about $ 500 pr. year."

August 23, 1896 "Had talk with A. E. regarding Denver arrangements He will dock no ores from the arrangement. Will pay for office & telephone or proportion thereof. Will decide about public market later $ 3000 p. year on basis of 2500 tons pr. month with 10c p. ton above 2500 p. month."

September 28, 1896 "Denver. J. went to Silver Plume with Ben Lawrence in private car - in honor of Raymond party. Saw Weddle about Meyer's offer. Schlack about Georgetown ores."

October 14, 1896 "Denver. Missed 8:30 train saw Weddle told him could not consider Meyer's proposition at less salary than $ 7000 However could go to Kansas City soon as possible after Eiler's return from wedding. Return to Pueblo 1:30 p.m."

November 20, 1896 "Leadville. Snowing hard. Met Meyer at Hotel went to work in a.m. with Meyer - again alone in p.m. ... Furnace work bad but met results redeemed by use of Rhodes' settling furnace roasting can be cheapened..."

December 15, 1896 "At smelter. Premature explosion of dynamite in blasting out... one man, John, badly hurt probably losing both eyes - was told to use water in hole but didn't..."

The collection also includes three diaries of Jennie R. Dwight, for the years 1888, (before their marriage), 1897 and 1898. These diaries document her life and activities, social and domestic, their life in Colorado and while traveling on business to El Paso, Texas, Mexico, Kansas City and to the East.

School of Mines Quarterly, Vol. XX, No. 1, November 1898, p. 37

Who Was Who in America, vol. 2, pp.167