http://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/tf4x0nb2qr No online items Finding Aid for the Jones Family papers, 1847-1946 Processed by Elmo R. Richardson; machine-readable finding aid created by Caroline Cubé UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections Manuscripts Division Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library Box 951575 Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575 Email: [email protected] URL: http://www.library.ucla.edu/libraries/special/scweb/ © 1999 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved. Finding Aid for the Jones Family 208 1 papers, 1847-1946 Finding Aid for the Jones Family papers, 1847-1946 Collection number: 208 UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections Manuscripts Division Los Angeles, CA Contact Information Manuscripts Division UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library Box 951575 Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575 Telephone: 310/825-4988 (10:00 a.m. - 4:45 p.m., Pacific Time) Email: [email protected] URL: http://www.library.ucla.edu/libraries/special/scweb/ Processed by: Elmo R. Richardson, 1956 Encoded by: Caroline Cubé Text converted and initial container list EAD tagging by: Apex Data Services Online finding aid edited by: Josh Fiala, July 2002 © 1999 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved. Descriptive Summary Title: Jones Family papers, Date (inclusive): 1847-1946 Collection number: 208 Creator: Jones family Extent: 28 boxes (14.0 linear ft.) 1 oversize box Repository: University of California, Los Angeles. Library. Department of Special Collections. Los Angeles, California 90095-1575 Abstract: The Jones and Conger families were among the pioneers of California and Nevada. Thomas Conger became state senator in California. Conger's son-in-law, John P. Jones, became senator in Nevada and was the founder of Santa Monica. Jones' son, Roy Jones, helped organize the Ramina corporation, one of the most extensive developers of northern and southern California. The collection consists of correspondence, diaries, scrapbooks, photographs and family memorabilia. The papers cover nearly a century of American history including the westward movement, Nevada and California politics, government, mining, agriculture, and real estate. Physical location: Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information. Language: English. Restrictions on Use and Reproduction Property rights to the physical object belong to the UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections. Literary rights, including copyright, are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright. Restrictions on Access Finding Aid for the Jones Family 208 2 papers, 1847-1946 COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF: Open for research. Advance notice required for access. Contact the UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information. Gift of Roy Jones and Dorothy Jones, 1949. Collection donated in the name of Pauline Williamson Jones. Preferred Citation [Identification of item], Jones Family papers (Collection 208). Department of Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles. UCLA Catalog Record ID UCLA Catalog Record ID: 4233224 Biography The Jones and Conger families were among the pioneers of California and Nevada; Thomas Conger became state senator in California; Conger's son-in-law, John P. Jones became senator in Nevada and founder of Santa Monica, California; Jones' son, Roy Jones, helped organize the Ramina corporation, one of the most extensive developers of northern and southern California. John Percival Jones was born in Herefordshire, England, January 27, 1829; immigrated to the U.S. as a child, settling in Ohio; came west to California, 1850; engaged in mining, 1850-60; married Cornelia (Conger) Greathouse, daughter of Judge Thomas Conger of Sacramento, 1861; member of the California state senate, 1863-67; moved to Gold Hill, Nevada, 1868, and served as superintendent and part owner of the Crown Point mine; elected Republican U.S. senator for Nevada, 1873-1903; retired to Santa Monica, California; died November 27, 1912. Biographical Narrative The papers of the several families contained herein, together form an exemplary narrative history of the way in which the Westward Movement scattered the American seed across the continent and then, finally, gathered it together again in new arrangements of families. The several Jones brothers started for the California gold fields via the sea route about a year before Thomas Conger, his wife and her brothers started overland from Michigan. The men and women of these families were among the pioneers of the mining centers of the still rough-hewn territories of California and Nevada. They made their fortunes and reputations from ore and litigation, elements out of which came the politics of those newly created states. After the close of the Civil War, these and other men, like General James A. Williamson of Iowa, expanded their interests and their families throughout the West and Southwest. Mining remained one of the elements attended to by their children, but new opportunities crowded that occupation-opportunities in the form of agriculture and stock raising, made possible by the irrigation of arid lands, and real estate in booming Soothern California. The individual members of these families earned their own fame and fortune, and by their efforts sank the tap roots upon which their children have been building to this day. Thomas Conger became a state senator in California. His son-in-law, John Percival Jones, became United States Senator from Nevada, champion of Free Silver, and in his later years, founder of Santa Monica, California. Jones's son, Roy, helped organize the Ramina corporation which was one of the most extensive developers of the varied agriculture of the irrigated valleys of northern and southern California. The families of the sons and daughters of John P. Jones are scattered far and wide throughout the state and nation, and the endless process of American life continues. The correspondence and papers of the collection are, obviously, only a small portion of the effects of these families. Children saved the diaries of their parents, wives handed down the letters written by their husbands at the beginning of their lives together, sons retained letters from political and business associates. From these gleanings, Roy Jones and his daughter, Dorothy Jones Cook presented a portion to the Henry E. Huntington Library in San Marino, California. Through the efforts of Lindley Bynum, an equal portion was presented to the University of California Library in 1949, in the name of Pauline Williamson Jones, wife and mother of the donors. A chart showing the relationships of those persons whose letters and papers are to be found in the collection is included in the paper copy of the finding aid, available in the Department of Special Collections for in-house consultation. _Elmo R. Richardson. Scope and Content Collection consists of material concerning the Jones family including John P. Jones and his family, Roy Jones and his family, James A. Williamson and his family, and the Morton-Conger families. Includes correspondence, diaries, scrapbooks, photographs and family memorabilia. The papers cover nearly a century of American history including the westward movement, Nevada and California politics, government, mining, agriculture, and real estate. Organization and Arrangement Finding Aid for the Jones Family 208 3 papers, 1847-1946 Arranged in the following series: 1. Papers of John P. Jones and his family. 2. Papers of Roy Jones and his family. 3. Papers of James A. Williamson and his family. 4. Papers of the Morton-Conger families. Part 1: Papers of John P. Jones and his Family Correspondence of John P. Jones with various persons. Correspondence of John P. Jones with members of his family. Correspondence of members of the John P. Jones family. Papers and documents of John P. Jones and the Jones family. Memorabilia and photographs of the John P. Jones family. Part 2: Papers of Roy Jones and his Family Correspondence of Roy Jones with various persons. Correspondence of Roy Jones with members of his family. Correspondence of members of the Roy Jones family. Business papers and documents of Roy Jones and his family. Miscellaneous papers and memorabilia of the Roy Jones family. Part 3: Papers Of James A. Williamson and his Family Correspondence of James A. Williamson with various persons. Correspondence of James A. Williamson with members of his family. Correspondence of members of James A. Williamson family. Papers and documents of James A. Williamson and his family. Memorabilia and photographs of James A, Williamson and his family. Part 4: Papers of the Morton-Conger Families Correspondence of members of the Morton family. Correspondence of members of the Conger family. Papers and documents of the Morton-Conger families. Miscellaneous memorabilia and photographs of the Morton-Conger families. Indexing Terms The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog. Subjects Jones family--Archives. Jones, John P. (John Percival), 1829-1912--Archives. Jones, Roy. Williamson, James A. Pioneers--California--Archival resources. Pioneers--Nevada--Archival resources. Genres and Forms of Material Family papers. Agriculture - California Mines and Mineral Resources - Alaska.Box 4/folder 3;10/2 and 4;11/1 and 2;12/4;13/5;23/2;15/2. Allison, William B. - Letter:Box 4/folder 3. Arthur, Chester A. - Doc. signed:Box 4/folder 6. Baldwin, Elias Lucky, - Letter:Box 2/folder 2. Booth, Newton - Ref.:Box 3/folder 3. California - Agriculture California. (Fruit and other Products) -Box 10/folder 1 and 2;Box 11;Box 12.[See also Ramina Corporation].