Harold E. Cox

Harold Eugene Cox (1931 – 2021) was Professor of History Emeritus and University Archivist at Wilkes University, Pennsylvania serving over 52 years. as department chair of the University Department of History. In 2015, the university renamed one its buildings as Dr. Harold Cox Hall. Cox specialized in the history of 19th and 20th century urban transportation and historical transportation maps. In 1976, he was an editor for the Pennsylvania Historical Association's journal, "Pennsylvania History".

In 1996, Cox inquired about 19th century election statistics for Pennsylvania, only to find that the data would cost $1,000 to produce. He then organized and created the Wilkes University Election Statistics Project as a free online resource documenting Pennsylvania political election results dating back to 1796. The project has been cataloged by the Pennsylvania State University Libraries and the Van Pelt Library at the University of Pennsylvania. It has been cited as a source in academic books about the Supreme Court of the United States, Communist politicians in Pennsylvania, and a survey of state-level political parties.

Cox served in the United States Army from 1954 to 1984, retiring as a command sergeant major.

Cox died in 2021 and was eulogized as a "true renaissance man" with passions and interests ranging from politics to creative writing, trolleys, and LGBTQ rights. He was interred at Spring Hill Cemetery, Lynchburg, Va.