University of California Berkeley The Oral Office Regional History University of California The Bancroft Library Berkeley, California Western Mining in the Twentieth Century Oral History Series Plato Malozemoff A LIFE IN MINING: SIBERIA TO CHAIRMAN OF NEWMONT MINING CORPORATION, 1909-1985 With an introduction by Robert Ramsey Interviews Conducted by Eleanor Swent in 1987 and 1988 Copyright rc 1990 by The Regents of the University of California Since 1954 the Regional Oral History Office has been interviewing leading participants in or well-placed witnesses to major events in the development of Northern California, the West, and the Nation. Oral history is a modern research technique involving an interviewee and an informed interviewer in spontaneous conversation. The taped record is transcribed, lightly edited for continuity and clarity, and reviewed by the interviewee. The resulting manuscript is typed in final form, indexed, bound with photographs and illustrative materials, and placed in The Bancroft Library at the University of California, Berkeley, and other research collections for scholarly use. Because it is primary material, oral history is not intended to present the final, verified, or complete narrative of events. It is a spoken account, offered by the interviewee in response to questioning, and as such it is reflective, partisan, deeply involved, and irreplaceable. ************************************ All uses of this manuscript are covered by a legal agreement between The Regents of the University of California and Plato Malozemoff dated February 1, 1988. The manuscript is thereby made available for research purposes. All literary rights in the manuscript, including the right to publish, are reserved Plato Malozemoff until May 1, 1995, and thereafter to The Bancroft Library of the University of California, Berkeley. No part of the manuscript may be quoted for publication without the written permission of the Director of The Bancroft Library of the University of California, Berkeley. Requests for permission to quote for publication should be addressed to the Regional Oral History Office, 486 Library, University of California, Berkeley 94720, and should include identification of the specific passages to be quoted, anticipated use of the passages, and identification of the user. The legal agreement with Plato Malozemoff requires that he be notified of the request and allowed thirty days in which to respond. It is recommended that this oral history be cited as follows : Plato Malozemoff, "A Life in Mining: Siberia to Chairman of Newmont Mining Corporation, 1909-1985," an oral history conducted in 1987 and 1988 by Eleanor Swent, Regional Oral History Office, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, 1990. Copy no. PLATO MALOZEMOFF 1988 Cataloging Information Malozemoff, Plato (b.1909) Metallurgist A Life in Mining: Siberia to Chairman of Newmont Mining Corporation. 1909- 1985. 1990, xxi, 338 pp. Childhood in Siberia, Lena Goldfields mines; escape through Manchuria to Oakland, California, 1920; education: University of California College of Mines, Montana School of Mines; metallurgist, Pan American Engineering Co., 1934-1941: introducing jigs in dredging, flotation experiments; mine manager, Argentina, Costa Rica, 1941-1943; mine analyst for Office of Price Administration, 1944-1945; staff engineer, president, chairman, Newmont Mining Corp., 1945-1985: metal and coal mining, cement and oil ventures in Africa, Australia, Indonesia, North and South America; discussion of management philosophy, theory on gold cycles, success in the mining industry, associations with Stephen Bechtel, George Shultz; musical studies, family history, Russian emigre community. Introduction by Robert Ramsey, vice president (retired), Newmont Mining Corp. Interviewed in 1987 and 1988 by Eleanor Swent for Western Mining in the Twentieth Century series. The Regional Oral History office, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley. Greenwich Times August 9, 1997 Plato Malozemoff, 87, His family fled the Russian revolu He was a benefactor of such chari tion in 1920 and settled in ities as the leader Tolstoy Foundation, the, mining industry California. Boys and Girls Club ofAmerica and a leader of the National Plato Malozemoff, 87, Following his father's footsteps in History Museum/m 1 the American mining industry, died the mining field, he graduated from New York, where he served, respec- Friday, Aug. 8, at Greenwich the University of California at lively, as chairman, director and Hospital. He had been a resident of Berkeley with honors and earned a trustee. Additionally, he was a coun Greenwich for 43 years. master's degree with honors from cil member of the Wilson Center 5h' Irene Weigel of Lincoln, Mass., the Montana School of Mines. Washington, D. C., and a member of the the his daughter, said cause of death During the Depression years, he advisory committee of the John' was congestive heart failure. worked in different jobs, including F. Kennedy School of Government Mr. Malozemoff was a legend in five years at Pan American at Harvard. Mr. Malozemoff wa business and mining circles in New Engineering Co. as a metallurgist elected a member of the National York, around the country and the His family said he learned to face Academy of Engineering, served on world. He was president, chief exec adversity in two failed mining ven the NAE Industry Advisor Board utive officer and chairman of tures in Argentina and Costa Rica and was a member of the James N e w m o n t after a serious the Madison Council of the f and, illness, spent Library Mining Corp. in two last years of World War n in Congress. ov New York City Washington with Roosevelt's An accomplished violinist, 'he from 1954 to Premium Price Plan. played chamber and orchestral' when he music all his life 1986, Among his many degrees and and at one time; chair a became honors were an honorary doctor of was first violinist with hq emeritus man science degree in engineering from Greenwich Symphony. His family and consultant. the Colorado School of Mines, a said he was a master of many lan his lead- and well a: Under professional ME degree and Gold guages traveled, and had e r s h i and love ol art p Malozemoff Medallion Award from the Montana deep understanding Newmont grew School of Mines, the Charles F. and international culture. An avid a modest to from holding company Rand Memorial Gold Medal of the sportsman, he played tennis and a international his final major mining com American Institute of Metallurgical golf right through years;-!j, pany with a market value of $2.3 Engineers and the Gold Medal of In addition to his daughter, he is billion. the London Institution of Mining survived by his wife, Alexandja as a He joined Newmont mining and Metallurgy in recognition of his Harlampff Malozemoff ,Q engineer and rose to become vice outstanding service to the interna Greenwich; a son, Alex MalozemqfJ; in director in 1954 of president 1952, tional mining industry. Lexington, Mass.; and one i and chief execu and four and then president He was a Distinguished Member daughter grandsons. he The funeral is tive officer. Through Newmont, of the American Institute of Mining, scheduled tomorrow at the nurtured such United States and Metallurgical and Petroleum p.m. St Sergiiis' as Russian Orthodox Church at the international copper companies Engineers; and a member of the in Arizona and Foundation Center in Magma Copper Co. Mining and Metallurgical Society Tolstoy VaHe# O'kiep and Tsumeb copper compa of America; and of the Institution of Cottage, N.Y. Driving instructions' be obtained nies in South Africa. He negotiated Mining and Metallurgy of London, may by calling 212"' 986-7570. * such ventures as Palabora Mining England. Co. of South Africa, Southern Peru Mr. Malozemoff was honored In lieu of flowers, donations : in Peru and be made in his to Copper Co. Peabody with the Gold Medal Award of the. memory " Gold Co. Foundation Inc. 104 Coal Co., Carlin Mining Mining and Metallurgical Society Tolstoy and Foote Mineral Co., all in the of America, with the ANKH Award Road, Valley Cottage, N.Y. 1098% or to the and Girls CUrtv of United States. from the Copper Club as Copper Boys -irfi . Greenwich. , j , Born in St. ; Aug. 26, 1909, Man of the Year, and by induction Petersburg, Russia, he was the son into the National Mining Hall of of the late Alexander and Elizabeth Fame in September 1944. In 1985, Guliaev Malozemoff. His father was in his honor, Newmont Mining an iron and steel metallurgist who established the Plato ' Corp. was chief operating officer of the Malozemoff Chair of Mineral I,ena Goldfields in where at the Siberia, , Engineering University of ' Mr. lived as a child. at '. Malozemoff California Berkeley. '. New York Times August 18, 1997 Plato Malozemoff, 88, Retired Executive Plato Malozemoff, the former as a mining engineer with Newmont chairman and chief executive of the in 1945 and quicky rose to become Newmont Mining Corporation, died vice president in 1952 and president Aug. 8 at Greenwich Hospital in and chief executive in 1954. He was Greenwich, Conn. He was 88 years named chairman in 1966 and held the old and lived in Greenwich. company's most senior positions un The cause of death was congestive til his retirement in 1986. heart failure, his son, Alexis, said. Under his leadership, Newmont Mr. Malozemoff was born in St. grew from a small holding company Petersburg, Russia, while his father, with a market value of about $147 Alexander, was in exile in Siberia, million to a large international min managing a British-owned gold ing corporation valued at $2.3 billion mine. In the early 1920's, soon after at the time of his retirement. The the Russian Revolution, the family company held interests in coal, gold, was banished from the Soviet Union copper, oil and other resources in and settled in California.