Guide to the Charles and Jack O’Neill papers
undated, 1929-1947
Collection number: HMC-0194.
Creator:
O’Neill, Charles.
O’Neill, Jack.
Title: Charles and Jack O’Neill papers.
Dates: undated, 1929-1947.
Volume of collection: 0.25 cubic feet.
Language of materials: Materials in this collection are in English.
Collection summary: Papers of McCarthy area merchants and miners.
Biographical note:
Charles T. O’Neill was born in North Dakota in 1894. He served as United States Commissioner and ex-officio Recorder for the McCarthy Precinct in the 1930’s. He also worked for Jack O’Neill’s mercantile store, and held mining claims in the McCarthy area. He left McCarthy for Anchorage in 1939, and eventually moved to Seattle. Charles O’Neill died in Montana in 1949.
John Benedict “Jack” was born in North Dakota in 1889, and is presumed to be Charles O’Neill’s older brother. Jack (or J.B.) O’Neill established the McCarthy Mercantile Company in 1911, and operated J.B. O’Neill General Merchandise. Jack owned several mining claims in the McCarthy area and served as McCarthy’s postmaster from 1940 to 1943, when the post office closed. He also owned O’Neill Freighting Co. Jack O’Neill died in Seattle, W.A., in 1979.
Collection description:
This collection consists of the correspondence, mining records, and business papers of Charles and Jack O’Neill. Correspondence primarily concerns business, mining, and claims. The collection also includes claim locations, assay reports, bills of sale, bills and receipts of purchases for Jack O’Neill’s mercantile business, and a file on liquor sales and purchases.
Arrangement: The collection is arranged by record type and subject.
Digitized copies: A 1940 automobile license has been digitized and is available on Alaska’s Digital Archives. For information about obtaining digital copies, please contact Archives and Special Collections.
Rights note: Archives does not hold copyright to material in this collection.
Preferred citation: Charles and Jack O’Neill papers, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.
Works used in preparation of inventory:
Charles and Jack O’Neill papers, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.
“John Benedict “Jack” O’Neill (1889 – 1979) – Find A Grave Memorial.” John Benedict “Jack” O’Neill (1889 – 1979) – Find A Grave Memorial. N.p., n.d. <http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=141784698>.
“Patricia O’Neill Obituary.” Janssen Funeral Homes, Inc.: Obituaries. Janssen Funeral Homes, Inc., 26 Dec. 2007. <https://prod4.meaningfulfunerals.net/fh/print.cfm?type=obituary&o_id=980795&fh_id=13412>.
Separated materials: Publications were removed from the collection. Please ask an archivist for further information.
Custodial history: Collection materials were found by Al and Fran Gagnon in a building on their property near May Creek, Alaska. The Gagnon’s, who desired to see the materials preserved for research use, gave the collection to Robert Spude of the National Park Service.
Acquisition note: Robert Spude donated the collection to Archives in 1983.
Processing information: This collection was arranged and described in 1984. The guide to the collection was converted to current standard and series combined by Veronica Denison in 2017.
Container list:
| Folders | Description | Dates |
| 1 | Charles O’Neill correspondence regarding mining load claims | 1937-1938 |
| 2 | Correspondence regarding mining, maps, supplies, shipping, lumber, placer claim purchases, and ore samples | 1929-1942 |
| 3 | Notices of location of quartz claims (Eastover 1-8) | 1931, 1936 |
| 4 | Notices of location of quartz claims (Westover 1-8) | 1931, 1936 |
| 5 | Location notices (Gold Queen 1-9) | 1940 |
| OS Folder | Map of Eastover and grounds on Dan Creek | undated |
| 6 | Assay reports | undated, 1936-1941 |
| 7 | Bills of sale for mining claims and equipment | 1936, 1938 |
| 8 | Contract regarding the purchase of Dan Creek Placer Mines, Inc. | 1947 |
| 9 | Report of Gold King Mines; Yellow Band Gold Mines, Inc. letters to stockholders, stock certificate | 1935-1946 |
| 10 | Ford truck purchase, driving license | 1940 |
| 11 | Bills and receipts for groceries, supplies, and shipping | 1937-1941 |
| 12 | Liquor related records: Agreement not to sign petition for barroom license; Liquor bills, receipts, shipping, and tax information; Advertisements and letters | undated, 1934-1937 |
| 13 | Newspaper clippings: Antimony Ore Moving from Mine to Railroad and Good Meeting at W.C.M. Assn. | 1941 |
| 14 | Notes and drawings | undated |