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Justus Collins [1857-1934] was an entrepreneur who opened his first coal mine in the Pocahontas- Flat Top coal field of Southern West Virginia, and thereafter operated mines in the New River, Tug River, and Winding Gulf coal fields. He headed a coal sales agency, speculated in coal and timber lands, headed a cement company, and was interested financially in rubber, oil, and gas companies. He played an important role in organizing the Tug River Coal Operators Association, the Winding Gulf Operators' Association, and the Smokeless Coal Operators Association of West Virginia.

"The Smokeless Coal Fields of West Virginia: A Brief History" by W.P. Tams, Jr. Printed in 1963.

Production statistics and extracts from the historical files of the Smokeless Operators Association (until 1958 the Pocahontas Operators Association) showing the history of coal mining in the Pocahontas field and production, sales, and distribution statistics for the years 1930 and 1933-1961. There are weekly, monthly, and yearly reports on net tons produced, hours, worked, and tonnage lost because of labor problems, mine disability, or lack of market. There are lists of the coal companies operating in the Pocahontas district during these years. Some files include reports on net production by grade.

This collection consists of correspondence, reports, financial records, pamphlets, maps, photographs, clippings, and other papers of a coal company operating in southern West Virginia. Subjects include operators' associations, wages, prices, mine inspection reports, sales, strip mining, and freight rates. Other firms mentioned include the Winding Gulf Collieries, Charleston Coal Co., Piney Coking Coal Land Co., Juliette Coal Co., LaMar Colliery Co., Phelps Coal Co., George Creek Coal Co., Guyan Eagle Coal Co., Johnstown Coal & Coke Co., Fourseam Coal Corp., Carbon Fuel Co., Cannelton Coal & Coke Co., Redyard Coal Co., Race Fork Coal Co., Crystal Block Coal & Coke Co., Williams Coal Co., and the Spruce River Coal Co.