John E. Jones papers, 1910-1957 | Southern Illinois University Special Collections Research Center

Collection Overview

Title: John E. Jones papers, 1910-1957

ID: 1/6/MSS 154

Primary Creator: Jones, John E., (1883-1957.)

Extent: 35.0 Boxes

Arrangement: Arranged into eleven series: (1) Personal papers and materials, (2) Correspondence, (3) Published and unpublished manuscripts and other writings, (4) Patents, (5) Organizations and conference, (6) Coal mining, (7) Published materials, (8) Photographs, (9) Misc., (10) Oversized materials, (11) Materials in need of restoration.

Subjects: Astronomy, Coal mines and mining - Illinois - History, Coal mines and mining - Safety measures, Jones, John E., 1883-1957.

Forms of Material: Color slides., Correspondence., Photographs, Records (documents)

Languages: English, German

Scope and Contents of the Materials

This collection of mining safety engineer John Jones, includes speeches, publications, newspaper clippings, printed material, research material and subject files on coal mining,

safety reports, patents, maps, photographs, and artifacts. The collection provides impressive documentation of coal mining in southern Illinois during 1920s and 1930s, Of note is material focusing on safety issues including reports, coal and mine safety devices, and subject files on mine disasters. Mining organizations represented in the collection include the Illinois Coal Operators, Illinois Mining Investigation Committee, Mine Inspectors of America, National Coal Association, United Mine Workers of America, and the United States Bureau of Mines. Also included in the collection is John Jones' autobiography.

Biographical Note

John E. Jones was born in 1883 and came to the U.S. from Wales with his parents and two brothers when he was eight years old. In 1898 he went to work at a mine outside of Oglesby, Illinois, and became the seventh generation of his family to work in the coal mining industry. He later attended Valparaiso, Indiana University where he graduated with a civil engineering degree in 1910. He worked in various positions at the J.K. Dering Coal Company in Danville, Illinois, and was appointed to a position as an Illinois State Mine Inspector on January 1, 1915. He began to study and propose solutions to the dangers involved in coal mining. He became a safety engineer at the Old Ben Coal Corporation in 1917. It was here that he fully developed a variety of safety practices including rock dusting, that for which he is best known. Under his guidance Old Ben revolutionized the safety features of mining. During the early days of rock dusting, commissions from every coal mining state in the U.S., and every coal mining nation of the world visited the Old Ben mines of Franklin County, Ill to learn about rock dusting. Although a patented technology, Jones distributed it freely in an attempt to save miners' lives everywhere. In 1924 Jones was "borrowed" by the U.S. Department of Mines to serve as an ambassador of rock dusting, inspecting mines during the day and lecturing at night. Jones was appointed as the Mine Safety Consultant to the Secretary of the Department of the Interior in 1943, and coauthored the U.S. Coal Mine Safety Code in 1946. John E. Jones died on June 30, 1957 at his Benton home. He was survived by his wife and his two sons John Jones Jr. and William Jones.

Subject/Index Terms

Astronomy
Coal mines and mining - Illinois - History
Coal mines and mining - Safety measures
Jones, John E., 1883-1957.

Administrative Information

Repository: Southern Illinois University Special Collections Research Center

Access Restrictions: Unrestricted access.

Use Restrictions: To quote in print, or otherwise reproduce in whole or in part in any publication, including on the World Wide Web, any material from this collection, the researcher must obtain permission from (1) the owner of the physical property and (2) the holder of the copyright. Persons wishing to quote from this collection should consult Special Collections Research Center to determine copyright holders for information in this collection. Reproduction of any time must contain the complete citation to the original.

Preferred Citation: [Item], John E. Jones papers, Special Collections Research Center, Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

Box and Folder Listing

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Box 31

Folder 1: Realia

Framed grouping of three rock dusting photographs

Map: Illinois State Geological Survey -- Minable Coal Reserves of Illinois (1 of 2)

Map: Illinois State Geological Survey -- Minable Coal Reserves of Illinois (2 of 2)

Map: Illinois State Geological Survey -- Bedrock Topography of Illinois

Lantern slides: Rock dusting (1 of 2)

Lantern slides: Rock dusting (2 of 2)

Lantern slides: Coal mine roof and ribs