Description
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.
Background
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. 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.
Extent
28 boxes (14.0 linear ft.)
1 oversize box
Restrictions
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.
Availability
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.