I. Mineralogy and Mining,, 1875-1917

Most of the records, comprising 0.4 linear feet of one manuscript box and ranging from 1858 to 1923, include correspondence and Canfield's handwritten reports and notes on mineralogical and mining projects. However, some records are apparently unrelated to other known activities, organizations, or individuals. For instance, the ledger of Folder 5 in Series I: Mineralogy and Mining and containing figures labeled "Cranberry" appears likely related to the Cranberry Furnace Company for whom Frederick Alexander worked as an engineer. In the same vein, the volume of Folder 12 of Series III: Personal Subject Files appears to be a family day book containing unclear financial records and possible real estate notes and figures.

Alternatively, the records of Series I: Mineralogy and Mining concern the mining work and material Frederick Alexander conducted and compiled in both Bolivia and New Jersey. Those related to his work in Bolivia are likely related to the Royal Potosí Silver Mining Company located in Potosí, Bolivia. However, it is significant that the bulk of these documents were subsequently written and reported in Spanish. The accompanying visuals, including maps, diagrams, and charts, were additionally written and labeled in Spanish.

The materials related to the family business, found in the Correspondence and Family Papers folders of Series III: Personal Subject Files instead of Series II: Genealogy in order to keep separate Canfield's genealogical research from other family affairs, are very likely related to the Dickerson Suckasunny Mining Company.

The bound volume in Folder 6 of Series II: Genealogy is similarly very probably the manuscript and notes that later became A History of Thomas Canfield and Of Mathew Camfield: With A Genealogy of Their Descendants in New Jersey.

Lastly, in Series I: Mineralogy and Mining, the eight booklets of the metallurgy project folder appear to comprise Canfield's "Metallurgical Project given to the Class of 1875 School of Mines New York." They contain estimates of machines, lists of associated supplies, the costs of running those machines, treatment procedures for mattes, and various details concerning the choices of location and methods for metallurgical processes and procedures.