The Papers of Anthon James Nielsen consists of 4.6 linear feet of material concerning Nielsen's various business enterprises during the period 1895 - 1915. Originally from Draper, Utah, Anthon (Tone) Nielsen worked as a sheep dealer for the A. Knollin Company of Kansas City, Missouri in his youth. Later he formed business associations with E.J. Kearnes and B.R. Meek in sheep, land and livestock operations in Utah and Idaho. During his time, Nielsen was involved with the Blue Creek Land and Livestock Company of Utah, the Riverdale Ranch near Preston, Idaho, and the Pacific Reclamation Company of Metropolis, Nevada. Correspondence, business receipts and bank statements pertaining to these endeavors comprise the main body of the collection.

The papers were donated to Utah State University in June of 1977 by Mr. Nielsen's daughter, Mrs. Carl(Jennie) Nielsen Ernstrom of Logan, Utah. Mrs. Ernstrom also authored a brief biography of her father and mother, Elizabeth Steele Nielsen.