UGMM is seeking professionals in the area of mining, geology and especially history to review a manuscript.
- Underground Gold Miners Museum
- Sep 26, 2025
- 7 min read
Underground Gold Miners Museum (UGMM) is working with the daughter of mining geologist and historian Willard “Bill” Fuller to publish her father’s book titled “Alleghany Gold”. A description of the project along with Bill’s biographical information are attached.
Bill’s daughter, Fran Soto, has decided to submit the manuscript to the University of Nevada Press to see if they will publish it. Bill’s other book: Calaveras Gold, was published by them.
The Press requires a review by four to seven professionals in fields covered by the book. We are looking for scholars/professionals in the fields of geology, mining and especially history to include with the application. The press provides a $150 stipend and asks that the review be done within a period of six weeks.
At this point, we just need to know if you are interested in helping. If your answer is “yes” please provide your contact information and credentials/experience. Your name will be listed on the University of Nevada Press submission form. If the press accepts the project, then you may receive a manuscript to review later.
Email undergroundgold33@gmail.com if interested. More information below.
Downloadable PDF file of this entire post linked below.
Description of project by Fran (Fuller) Soto
This unique book covers the history, geology and gold deposits of the exceedingly rich Alleghany Mining District. The author, Willard P. Fuller (California Registered Geologist #77), worked in the district for many years and remained abreast of current events in the district up to his death in 2009. Gold mining continues in the area to this day, although on a diminished scale. (Current gold prices are driving a renewed interest in the district).
To quote the author: “A casual visitor to Alleghany today would notice little to suggest that here has been one the well-known gold-mining districts of California and, in fact, the American West. Over a period of 150 years, several million ounces of gold, much of it found as placer nuggets or coarse free gold in quartz veins has been recovered”.
The final draft of the manuscript was nearly complete when Mr. Fuller (my father) passed away. With the help of two active members of the Alleghany Mining Community the manuscript is complete except for an index. This project is the cumulation of over 50 years of meticulous effort by my father. His master’s thesis for Caltech was a study of the Alleghany Gold Deposit. The breadth of his knowledge went beyond geology and mapping, extending into economics and history. He was not only a scholar but an avid historian and excellent storyteller.
Target Audience
Alleghany Gold is a compelling read for geologists, mining enthusiasts, and anyone with an interest in Geology, Gold Mining, Economics, and/or California History and specifically the History of the towns of Alleghany and Forest City. It is written in a flowing narrative style that is easy to read. Many descendants of previous occupants of the district will find familiar names throughout the text.
Competing Titles
Nothing currently in print.
Course Adoption
This book could be incorporated into courses on the following relevant topics: Mining History, California Geology, Mineral Extraction (specifically gold), Economics, California History, A study of Boomtowns.
Beginning text of Chapter 1 The Discovery
(To provide a sample of Mr. Fuller’s writing style)
In May 1850, a prospecting party of Sandwich Islanders1 made a discovery of coarse gold nuggets in a creek up on the ridge south of Downieville that set off a boom in these parts that has lasted almost to the present day. This stream is known as Kanaka Creek, and the area as the Alleghany mining district. Over one hundred fifty years later, Alleghany still captures the imagination of otherwise sober and sane individuals, sometimes infecting them with a serious case of ‘gold fever.’ Throughout all these years there has been an endless succession of prospectors, miners, promoters and other persons of all sorts and from all manner of background attracted to Alleghany with the hope of making a fortune from its gold. A few have had success of varying degrees, but many have not. Some have been merely bystanders or family members, employees, or have accidentally found themselves up in this mountain mining community.
It is true that nature has endowed this relatively small area with an unduly large amount of both placer and lode gold. The placers have contained exceptionally large nuggets, and the veins have been characterized by very erratic but often extraordinarily rich ‘bunches’ of coarse gold in otherwise almost barren quartz.
Chapter Titles
Chapter 1 – The Discovery
Chapter 2 – The First Tunnel Boom
Chapter 3 – Early Quartz-Vein Mining
Chapter 4 – Towns of Alleghany
Chapter 5 – The Bald Mountain Boom
Chapter 6 – Quartz-Vein Mining – 1870s to 1880s
Chapter 7 – Alleghany in Transition – The 1890s
Chapter 8 – The Croesus Gold Mining & Milling Company
Chapter 9 – The Tightner Boom
Chater 10 – Gold is Only Where You Find It
Chapter 11 – The Sixteen To One Boom
Chapter 12 – Underground Mining at Alleghany
Chapter 13 – Into the Great Depression Years
Chapter 14 – World War II and its Aftermath
Chapter 15 – A Mining Geologist Looks at Alleghany
In Memoriam ~ Willard (Bill) Fuller Jr. State of California Registered Geologist #77
Excerpt from November 2011 UGMM Newsletter
A valuable member of the Alleghany and California mining community passed on in December of 2009.
Bill Fuller worked at the Sixteen to One Mine between 1951 and 1953 and served on the mine’s Board of Directors from 1987 to 1992. From 1953 to 1954 he worked at other mines in the Alleghany District including the Oriental Mine.
The work for his Master’s Thesis was completed at the Sixteen to One Mine prior to World War II. He attended Harvard College receiving a B.A. (Magna Cum Laude) in Geology in 1940. In 1942, he received his M.S.C. in Economic Geology from the California Institute of Technology.
Bill was an avid historian and was active in the Sierra County Historical Society for many years as well as the Calaveras County and the National Historical Societies.
Bill was a student of Graydon Beechel who taught him the Reno Sales/Anaconda School method of Mapping. Bill’s many impeccable maps of the Sixteen to One Mine and the Oriental Mine are still in use today and will be referenced for years to come. This is part of the legacy that he leaves behind.
Bill loved Alleghany and spent many years compiling a history/geology book about Alleghany. His book was very close to completion when he passed on. The family has assured us that it will be published. The book is full of priceless knowledge and wit that needs to be shared. To-date, no comprehensive history of the Alleghany mining district has been published. Once the book is published, another part of Bill’s legacy will shine into the future.
Bill was very supportive of Underground Gold Miners Museum and assisted with historical information whenever asked without hesitation. Thank you Bill, nobody can take your place.
Mr. Fuller during his time as a director of Original Sixteen to One Mine, Inc.
Resume
WILLARD P. FULLER, JR.
Mining Geologist
595 Sunset Street
San Andreas, CA 95249
209-754-3358
May 2004
Education
1942 M,Sc., Economic Geology, CA Institute. Of Technology, Pasadena, CA
1940 A.B. (m.cum l.), Geology, Harvard College, Cambridge, MA (Phi Beta Kappa)
Professional Registrations
Geologist, State of California, No. 77
Certified Professional Geologist, No. 1680, American Institute of Professional
Geologists
Principal Employment
1942-44 Basic Magnesium, Inc. Assistant geologist and mining engineer, Gabbs, NV
1944-46 U.S. Navy, Communication officer (Lt. jg) Pacific Area on USS PC812
1946-51 International Smelting & Refining Co. (Anaconda). Resident geologist and
mining engineer, Tintic District, UT. Underground metal mines
1951-53 Original Sixteen To One Mine, Inc. Geologist and assistant to manager. Alleghany,
Sierra County, CA. Underground gold mine
1954-59 Calaveras Cement Co. Assistant geologist, San Andreas, Calaveras County, CA
1959-72 The Flintkote Co. Assistant geologist, San Andreas, Calaveras County, CA.
Flintkote took over Calaveras Cement in 1959.
1973-79 The Flintkote Co. Division geologist for Operations in California, Ohio,
Kentucky and New York
1979-83 The Genstar Co. Manager of Geological and Environmental Services, Genstar
Cement and Lime Division. Plants and operations in western U.S. Genstar
purchased Flintkote in 1979
Other Professional Experience
1940-42 Teaching fellow, CA Institute of Technology. (Mineralogy lab.)
1946-date Part-time consultant, mostly in small mining and prospecting operations in both
the metal and nonmetallic fields and in groundwater investigations
1973-88 Instructor, part-time, Columbia Community College, local and Mother Lode
geology
1976-80 Member, State Mining & Geology Board, Sacramento, CA
1980-82 Member, Environmental Subcommittee, Portland Cement Association
1987-91 Member of Board, Original Sixteen To One Mine, Inc.
Memberships, At time of death
SME, division of American Institute of Mining, Metal and Petroleum Engineers,
(Legion of Honor member). Also, Sierra Nevada Section SME
American Institute of Professional Engineers. (Honorary member 2004)
Mining History Association
Underground Miners Museum, Alleghany, CA (Honorary member)
Central Sierra Mining Association
Memberships, Previous Memberships, Other
American Geological Institute Sierra County Historical Society
California Mining Association Forest City Historical Society
National Mining Hall of Fame Chatham, MA Historical Society
Non-professional Activities
1962-date Member, Calaveras County Historical Society, Office director 1983-88. Officer
and director, honorary member, honorary director, currently member
of investment committee
1985-date Mining historian, Foothill Resources, Ltd., Mokelumne Hill and Murphys. Primarily
working on environmental studies and reports
1966-70 Member of Board of Directors, The Bidwell School, Stockton, CA
(an independent school)
Principal Publications and Related Activities
2003 “Calaveras Gold-The impact of mining on a Mother Lode county,” with Prof. Ronald
Limbaugh, (Ret. U.O.P.), University of Nevada Press, Reno, NV
1996 “Madam Felix’s Gold-The story of the Madam Felix mining district,” with Judith
Marvin and Julia Costello, Calaveras County Historical Society and
Foothill Resources, Ltd.
1986 “Pioneer Schools of Calaveras County,” co-editor, Calaveras County Historical
Society
1979 Participation in a national Endowment for the Humanities grant for the Calaveras
County Museum. Reports on the “Geologic Background of Calaveras
County,” and with Prof .Ronald Limbaugh, “Calaveras County Mining,
Logging and Railroading,” were produced by this project
1973 “Quarry to Mill,” by William Pikiepoche (nom de plume)
1968 “The Original Sixteen To One Mine,” with William B. Clark, in Mineral Information
Service, Vol 21, No 5, CA Division of Mines & Geology, Sacramento, CA.
This was reprinted in “Mining in the West,” published by Journal of the
West, 1981
1964-86 Editor, “Las Calaveras,” the quarterly bulletin. Of the Calaveras County Historical
Society. During my editorship, this publication contained 40 to 50 pages a year
requiring substantial research and writing on the editor’s part
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