Arthur J. Theis, born 1898 in Spokane, Washington, was a mining explorer, operator, and owner; financier, rancher, and orchardist. Throughout his life, Theis maintained his ranch and orchard livelihood but devoted his career interests to gold mining. In 1926, he began mining in Alaska and Canada, and from 1938 to 1942 he was co-owner and operator of the Boaz Mine in Norris, Montana. From 1943 to 1945 he was co-owner and operator of Darwin Mines, Darwin, California, and at this time became involved in the Buffalo Mine in Baker, Oregon, which he eventually owned and operated. All of these mines and several more that Theis became co-owner, operator, or shareholder of were gold mines.
The Anaconda Mining Company retained Theis as field exploration engineer during the 1940s and 1950s. Theis traveled the American Continent, north and south, for opportunities for the company or himself. In this way, Theis accumulated a number of mining interests that expanded to extracting other minerals once gold mining was no longer profitable in the 1950s. Theis often brokered mining purchases or leases for others, maintaining a financial interest in several of his transactions. He also supplied financial assistance to parties until more favorable times, and in these instances, he often maintained a financial and managerial interest. Theis died in 1973.
From the guide to the Arthur J. Theis Papers, 1882-1973, (University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.)
