Articles of Incorporation, California State Mining and Smelting Company Page 1

Chapter 128 of California's Statutes of 1850 required stock-issuing companies in California to file articles of incorporation with the Secretary of State. The first company to do so, the California State Mining and Smelting Company, filed its documents (shown here) on May 27, 1850. Since that time, hundreds of thousands of articles of incorporation have been submitted to the Secretary of State, many of which are located at the California State Archives. These records provide invaluable insight to California’s economic, cultural, and social life. Identification Information: California Secretary of State's Office, Articles of Incorporation Records.