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Emma Nevada Collection
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Description
The Emma Nevada collection consists of Nevada family personal objects and ephemera as well as research materials for the projected book on Emma Nevada to be entitled The Miner’s Canary (never published).
Background
Emma Wixom was born on February 7, 1859 in the Alpha mining camp near Nevada City in California. Her father, Dr. William Wallace Wixon, moved the family overland to recently opened silver mine in Austin, Nevada. Emma spent the remainder of her childhood in Nevada and participated in many local musical events. Already a gifted linguist, Emma studied Spanish, Italian, French and German at Mills College, and took classes with vocal teacher Alfred Kelleher. Mrs. Susan Mills enabled Emma to travel to Europe to continue her training. She became the pupil of famous vocal teacher Mathilde Marchesi and after three years of Marchesi’s strong influece, Emma made her debut at Her Majesty’s Theatre in London, under the stage name "Nevada," inspired by both the city she was born near and later the state she spent her childhood in. She toured Europe and the United States for nearly 30 years before retiring and devoting herself to vocal teaching. Emma Nevada died in 1940 in Liverpool, England.
Extent
5 linear feet.
Restrictions
Contact the Special Collections Curator, F.W. Olin Library, Mills College, for copyright information and permission to publish.
Availability
Collection is open for research.