Homestake Employee Collection

The Homestake Mining Company was founded in 1877 in Lead, South Dakota, and operated until 2001. During those 124 years the company employed thousands of individuals at a number of sites around the western United States. During the company’s first years, Homestake hired experienced miners from England, Cornwall, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and English speaking Canada. During the 1890s a second wave of immigration to the Black Hills led to Homestake hiring men from Sweden, Norway, Finland, Italy, Austria, Serbia, Croatia, Lithuania, and Montenegro. Between 1880 and 1903 workers were hired by a shift boss (underground) or a foreman (shops and mills). These men had a great deal of authority and could hire or fire a subordinate for any reason. This system changed in 1904 when a formal employment department was created and requests for additional hires were sent to the office. Although no longer having direct say in who was hired, foremen and shift bosses still could fire an employee at will, after a probationary period. After 1904 hiring preference was given to American-born citizens who were married, owned a home, had family in the area, and were affiliated with some religion. During the 1910s, World War I, unionization, and the influenza epidemic resulted in an employee shortage that extended into the 1920s. Wages were increased to help retain current employees and entice new ones. In the decades that followed, Homestake adjusted wages and work hours to adhere to changing laws. Also beginning during the 1920s and continuing into the 1980s, Homestake expanded operations to include sites in other states including Wyoming, Montana, Colorado, New Mexico, and Idaho. Employee records for Wyodak Coal Mine in Wyoming and benefit pamphlets for employees working at sites in New Mexico are found in this collection.