Dorothy Reddy Moroney was known in Siskiyou County, California as the “Chrome Queen” due to her success in the chrome mining industry. Dorothea Reddy (November 26, 1909-Feburary 7, 1974) was the daughter of Dr. John F. (Francis) Reddy (1866-1933), and Mary F. Cowley. She married William Moroney, and became Dorothea Reddy Moroney. According to a Time Magazine article from November 16, 1942, her father died leaving $23,000 in debts and some long-abandoned mining claims assessed at precisely $10. Dot, as the article called her worked first in a Seattle department store, then in San Francisco, then in Washington as a $30-a-week typist for the old NRA. During this time she researched the locations of her father’s mines, ousted claim-jumpers, and sold one mine to Baltimore’s Rustless Iron & Steel Corp. for $75,000. According to the article, this is the deal that won her the title “Chrome Queen”.

She began developing the remaining mines, and producing chrome for the war effort (World War II), since it was necessary for armor plating, shells and machine tools. At that time it was one of the scarcest metals in the United States. The article also mentions that she had 45 employees, and that her Joe River mine turns out 20 tons every day. It goes on to state that she opened her Ladd mine, and increased construction efforts at her McGuffy mine. “She has already sold 3,200 tons to the Government—20% more than the whole U.S. turned out in 1940.” The Grants Pass Daily Courier published an article on June 11, 1951, titled, “Government Officials Outline Chrome Ore Production Program”, which states Dorothea Reddy Moroney was an advisory committee member of the Oregon Mining Association.