William Norton Searcy Collection
Scope and Contents
The William N. Searcy papers are housed in two boxes containing correspondence, lease agreements, deeds, tax receipts, and other legal papers on Searchy’s mining property. The papers date from the 1890s to the 1940s with the majority dating from after the turn of the century. The collection is organized in the following sequence. I. Correspondence, arranged chronologically. II. Mining Records, business and legal documents concerning Searcy’s mining companies and claims make up the bulk of the collection and are grouped under the company or claim’s name. III. City Property, redemption certificates, warranty deeds, trust deeds, tax documents, and other legal papers regarding city property. IV. Miscellaneous Mining Documents, memorandums, location certificates and papers relating to multiple properties. V. Legal Papers, court cases involving individuals vs. mining companies. VI. Financial Papers, tax receipts for San Juan County and La Plata County. VII. Other Personal Miscellaneous includes documents from Searcy’s various organization affiliations within San Juan County, as well as other unknown/unidentified office documents. VIII. Name Index, provides a cross-index for the correspondence files. The Searcy papers are an excellent source of information on mining in turn-of-the-century Colorado. Few of the documents, however, relate to Searcy’s role as a judge for the Sixth District Court.
Dates
- 1890 - 1940
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for access.
Conditions Governing Use
Limited duplication of materials allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.
Biographical / Historical
William Norton Searcy was born in Mora County, New Mexico on December 20, 1867. His father, a school teacher, was interested in a land grant and in the cattle industry. When her husband died in 1868, Mrs. Searcy and her baby, William, moved to Macoupin County, Illinois.
William Searcy received his schooling in Illinois and Indiana. After completing a teachers’ course at the State Normal School in Valparaiso, Indiana, he taught school for a year before going to law school at Bloomington Law School, Bloomington, Illinois.
Searcy was admitted to the bar in 1892 and moved to Colorado to practice his chosen profession. After spending four years in Durango, he moved his law office to Silverton in 1896. His specialty was mining and corporation law.
In 1897, Searcy and Helen Morton Boston were married. Two daughters were born to them.
Searcy was elected judge of the Sixth Judicial District of Colorado in 1912 and continued in that position for nineteen years. The Sixth Judicial District contains the counties of Archuleta, Dolores, LaPlata, Montezuma and San Juan.
Judge Searcy died on February 20, 1932, at the age of 65, after a year’s illness.
CHRONOLOGY
1867 Born December 20, in Mora County, New Mexico
Attended State Normal School, Valparaiso, Indiana
Taught school
Studied law at Bloomington Law School, Bloomington, Illinois
1892 Admitted to the bar
Set up law practice in Durango, Colorado
1896 Moved law office to Silverton, Colorado
1897 Married Helen Morton Boston
1912 Elected judge, Sixth Judicial District, Colorado
1932 Died in Durango, February 20
Extent
3 linear feet (4 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
William Searcy (1867-1932) practiced law in Durango and Silverton, specializing in mining and corporation law. From 1912 until shortly before his death, he was judge of the sixth Judicial District of southwestern Colorado. The collection contains correspondence, lease agreements, deeds, tax receipts, and other legal papers on Searcy's mining property. Guide available in Special Collections and Archives.
Physical Location
Location: B62 J3
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Processed by: Kee DeBoer, 1975
- Date
- 1975
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the University of Colorado Boulder Libraries, Rare and Distinctive Collections Repository
