The Sheep Ranch Mine Collection consists of reports, notes and correspondence pertaining to 20th c. activity at the mine (1918-1939). It also contains a Report of the Best & Belcher Gold and Silver Mining Co. of San Andreas.

The Sheep Ranch Mine, Calaveras County (Calif.) was one of the major gold-producing mines in the southern Mother Lode. Deposits on the Ranch were not discovered until 1866. The principal mine, of which George Hearst, father of William Randolph Hearst, was one of the owners (1874-1893), reportedly produced $4 million in gold during the years of Hearst's involvement. The mine was worked intermittently during the early twentieth century, producing about $3 million by 1942.

Collection is open for research.