Cleveland Cliffs Iron Company records

Collection

Identifier: GLMS-0062

Staff Only

Collection Overview

Abstract

This collection contains files of the Cleveland-Cliffs Iron Company that are primarily concerned with discussions of extending the length of the navigation season occurring from 1935-1981. Subject files, log books, symposia papers, and news clippings offer a number of perspectives on the movement among shipping companies toward implementing longer navigation seasons. The logbooks are from the S.S. CADILLAC for 1944-1948, 1972-1973, and 1976-1981.

Dates

Creation: 1935-1981
Creation: Majority of material found within 1954-1979

Extent

2 Cubic Feet (1 record storage carton, 2 letter manuscript boxes)

Creator

Cleveland-Cliffs Iron Company (Organization)

Scope and Contents

The Cleveland-Cliffs collection is heavily oriented to discussion in the period 1935-1981 of extending the Great Lakes shipping season through the customary winter lay-up period. Subject files, log books, symposium papers and news clippings offer a number of perspectives on the movement among shipping companies toward longer navigation seasons. Photographic materials (104 items) have been separated for cataloging in the main HCGL photograph files. Many of these photographs record ice conditions at various Great Lakes ports. Printed materials have also been separated from the collection for inclusion in the main catalog.

Company History

The Cleveland-Cliffs Iron Company, based in Cleveland, Ohio, was formed in November 1847 as the Cleveland Iron Mining Company. The firm was incorporated by Samuel L. Mather, John Outhwaite, Morgan L. Hewitt, S. Chamberlain, Isaac L. Hewitt, Henry F. Brayton, and E. M. Clark. The company was chartered by the Michigan legislature in April 1850 and began operations on land in the Marquette Iron District bordering on Lake Superior in Marquette County, Michigan.

Utilizing the canal at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan after 1855, the Cleveland-Cliffs Company experienced rapid growth in production and shipping capacity. The demand for ore during the Civil War led mine owners to use soft ores as well as the hard variety to meet industrial requirements. The level of 100,000 tons produced per year was reached in 1868 and had doubled by 1880. Open pit mining was supplemented in the 1880s by underground operations spurred by new mining technology.

As Cleveland-Cliffs grew, several smaller companies were acquired. In 1890 the Cliffs Iron Company was purchased. The name Cleveland-Cliffs Iron Company resulted from this transaction. By the outbreak of World War I twenty-nine mines were operated by Cleveland-Cliffs in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

The guiding hand of William G. Mather, son of founder Samuel L. Mather, directed the company from 1890 through World War II. Mather began work for Cleveland-Cliffs as a clerk in 1878. He became a Vice President in 1885 and served as President for the years 1890-1933. From 1933 to 1947 Mather was Chairman of the Board.

The post-World War II era has seen Cleveland-Cliffs become an international corporation with diverse interests in mining, energy and timber. More than 300,000 acres of timberland are owned by the company in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Oil drilling operations in Louisiana and Texas are also owned by Cleveland-Cliffs. The Robe River Mine in Western Australia is managed through the subsidiary Cliffs Western Australia Mining company. With over 140 years of experience, the Cleveland-Cliffs Iron Company remains a principal feature in the economic history of the Great Lakes Region.

Conditions Governing Access

No known access restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

Researchers using this collection assume full responsibility for conforming to the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright, and are responsible for securing permissions necessary for publication or reproduction.

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Related Materials

A number of resources that expand on the history of the company, including union agreements, logs, correspondence, fleet/vessel information, books, and other material are available via the library catalog.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The Cleveland-Cliffs Iron Company collection was transferred to the Historical Collections of the Great Lakes on June 23, 1981. The Instrument of Gift was signed July 6, 1981.

Processing Information

Final processing was completed in September 1991 by Mark J. Barnes and Monica Manny with the assistance of a National Endowment for the Humanities grant.