October 29, 2022

Emma Louise Sweney Cox, ca. 1843- [RG1631.AM]

HISTORY NEBRASKA MANUSCRIPT FINDING AID



RG1631.AM:   Emma Louise Sweney Cox, ca. 1843-?



Reminiscence:  1914

New Jersey, California, Pennsylvania:  Overland traveler

Size:  One item



BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE



With her parents and sister, Emma Louise Sweney traveled from New Jersey to California in 1853. First taking trains and boats to Peoria, Illinois, the family traveled overland through Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Utah, and Nevada before reaching their new California home near Sacramento. Emma Sweney married Joseph Cox in 1860. The Cox family, which eventually included seven children, returned to Joseph’s home in Pennsylvania in 1876. Joseph died there in 1894.



SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE



This collection consists of a typescript of Emma Sweney’s memoir detailing her family’s overland trail crossing in 1853 and her subsequent life in California, Nevada, and Pennsylvania after her 1860 marriage to Joseph Cox. Her Nebraska memories include crossing the Platte River, Chimney Rock as “a freak of nature,” and gathering up buffalo chips for fuel as they crossed the plains.



INVENTORY



Reminiscence, 1914



 



Subject headings:



Cox, Emma Louise Sweney, ca. 1843-?

Frontier and pioneer life — West (U.S.)

Overland journeys to the Pacific — 1853

Overland journeys to the Pacific — Personal narratives

United States — Description and travel — 1848-1865



 



AIP/ksa                  03-1995

Revised TMM        05-17-2007



Accession Number:  1994.0540

Become a Member!

Our members make history happen.

Join Now

You May Also Enjoy

Why John G. Neihardt was named Nebraska Poet Laureate in 1921

Why John G. Neihardt was named Nebraska Poet Laureate in 1921

Emigrants along the Trails at Chimney Rock

Emigrants along the Trails at Chimney Rock

Marker Monday: Easter Blizzard of 1873

Marker Monday: Easter Blizzard of 1873

About History Nebraska
History Nebraska was founded in 1878 as the Nebraska State Historical Society by citizens who recognized Nebraska was going through great changes and they sought to record the stories of both indigenous and immigrant peoples. It was designated a state institution and began receiving funds from the legislature in 1883. Legislation in 1994 changed History Nebraska from a state institution to a state agency. The division is headed by Interim Director and CEO Jill Dolberg. They are assisted by an administrative staff responsible for financial and personnel functions, museum store services, security, and facilities maintenance for History Nebraska.
Explore Nebraska
Discover the real places and people of our past at these History Nebraska sites.

Upcoming Events

View our new and upcoming events to see how you can get involved.

Become a Member

The work we do to discover, preserve, and share Nebraska's history wouldn't be possible without the support of History Nebraska members.

History Nebraska Education

Learn more about the educational programs provided at our museums, sites, and online.

History Nebraska Programs

Learn more about the programs associated with History Nebraska.

Latest Hall of Fame Inductee

The Nebraska Hall of Fame was established in 1961 to officially recognize prominent Nebraskans.

Listen to our Podcast

Listen to the articles and authors published in the Nebraska History Magazine with our new Nebraska History Podcast!

Nebraska Collections

History Nebraska's mission is to collect, preserve, and open our shared history to all Nebraskans.

Our YouTube Video Collection

Get a closer look at Nebraska's history through your own eyes, with our extensive video collections.

Additional Research Resources

History Nebraska Research and Reference Services help connect you to the material we collect and preserve.

Support History Nebraska
Make a cash donation to help us acquire, preserve, and interpret Nebraska’s history. Gifts to History Nebraska help leave a legacy and may help your taxes, too! Support the work of History Nebraska by donating to the History Nebraska Foundation today.

Volunteers are the heroes of History Nebraska. So much history, so little time! Your work helps us share access to Nebraska’s stories at our museums and sites, the reference room, and online.