Mining Foundation of the Southwest

History and Functions
of the Foundation
The Mining Foundation of the Southwest was incorporated in 1993 by combining the Mining Club of the Southwest and the Mining Club of the Southwest Foundation. The purpose of the Foundation is to promote public understanding and education related to the mining industry. Toward this goal, the Foundation has been able to fund a number of projects from donations and fund-raising activities.

In 1983, the Foundation inaugurated the American Mining hall of Fame to honor significant contributors to the industry and profession. The Hall of Fame serves to educate people about prominent persons associated with the mining industry, both present and past. The honorees, both living and deceased, number 102. Plaques which commemorate their induction are on display at the Arizona Historical Society Museum at 949 East Second Street, Tucson, Arizona. The combined honors ceremony and banquet will honor the Foundation’s twenty-first year’s inductees on December 6, 2003.

The Foundation has funded philanthropic projects at: University of Arizona, Colorado School of Mines, Mackay School of Mines, New Mexico Tech and the Arizona Historical Society Museum. In a cooperative effort with the U.S. Forest Service, geology related interpretive signs were installed at San Pedro Vista and Aspen Vista on the Mt. Lemmon Highway in Arizona. An ongoing project is the subsidization of bus transportation for elementary and middle school students to the ASARCO Mineral Discovery Center.

Funds were given to Asociacion de Sonora to help sponsor the First Gem and Mineral Exhibition in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico.

Material and funds for recruiting posters were provided to the University of Arizona, Mining and Geological Engineering Department. The Foundation also contributed funds in 2003 to the University of Arizona SME Student Chapter, and the Flandrau Science Center received funds for preparation of self-guided tour brochures for the University of Arizona Mineral Museum.

The Foundation has published three volumes of the History of Mining in Arizona and has provided speakers and material for guest lectures on geology and mining related topics in southern Arizona schools and other organizations.

Mining Foundation of the Southwest
P.O. Box 42317
Tucson, Arizona 85733
Tel: 520-577-7519
Fax: 520-577-7073
E-mail: admin@miningfoundationsw.org