Abstract
The Wilbur and Toni Clark Papers date from 1944 to 1991, with the bulk from 1953 to 1963 and document the lives of Wilbur and Toni Clark in Las Vegas, Nevada and the development of the Desert Inn Hotel and Casino. The collection includes correspondence from Wilbur Clark to those he identified as important individuals including government officials and celebrities. It also includes materials related to Clark’s plan of building luxury apartments near the Desert Inn, and newspaper clippings and scrapbooks about the Clarks and the Desert Inn. The collection contains some audiovisual materials including Wilbur and Toni Clark's home movies, news footage, and film footage of Las Vegas, Nevada and the Desert Inn.
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Scope and Contents Note
The Wilbur and Toni Clark Papers date from 1944 to 1991, with the bulk from 1953 to 1963 and document the lives of Wilbur and Toni Clark in Las Vegas, Nevada and the development of the Desert Inn Hotel and Casino. The collection includes correspondence to Wilbur Clark to those he identified as VIPs, including elected officials and celebrities, such as include Presidents Harry S. Truman, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, and Richard Nixon as well as Nevada politicians including Pat McCarran and Alan Bible. The collection also contains correspondence from non-government important individuals including Billy Graham, Jimmy Durante, and Jack Benny. The correspondence highlights Clark’s promotion of the Desert Inn and his emphasis on hospitality and building relationships. Other materials describe Clark’s proposed construction of building luxury apartments near the Desert Inn, and newspaper clippings and scrapbooks about the Clarks and the Desert Inn, documenting their lives and Wilbur Clark’s vision for the hotel and casino. The collection contains some audiovisual materials including Wilbur and Toni Clark's home movies, news footage, and film footage of Las Vegas, Nevada and the Desert Inn.
Access Note
This collection is open for research. If use copies of the films do not exist, reformatting/production of use copies is required before access will be granted; this may delay research requests. Advanced notice is required.
Publication Rights
Materials in this collection may be protected by copyrights and other rights. See Reproductions and Use on the UNLV Special Collections and Archives website for more information about reproductions and permissions to publish.
Arrangement
Materials remain as they were received.
Biographical / Historical Note
Wilbur Clark (1908-1966) developed and designed the Desert Inn Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. As the head of the resort, he promoted the Desert Inn and Las Vegas throughout the nation.
Born to Shirley and Lulu Clark in Keyesport, Illinois on December 27, 1908, Wilbur Clark moved to San Diego, California at sixteen. He worked a series of jobs before moving to Reno, Nevada in 1951 and starting a career in gaming. After several years in Reno, he moved to Las Vegas in 1938 and, with several partners, opened a casino on Boulder Highway.
In 1944, Wilbur married Toni Gaglionese and in the same year he purchased the El Rancho Vegas. He also opened the Monte Carlo Club on Fremont Street in Las Vegas. He sold the two properties and used the proceeds to build a new resort, the Desert Inn. After running out of funds due to rising costs, Clark sold a majority interest in the Desert Inn to Moe Dalitz and the resort opened April 24, 1950. Clark added an eighteen-hole golf course the next year. The new resort attracted many prominent guests and received national attention. Clark sold his interest in the Desert Inn in 1964.
In addition to the Desert Inn, Clark also built the Paradise Gardens housing development, naming the streets after himself and his family. He also served as mayor of the township of Paradise Valley. Clark passed away from a heart attack in 1965.
Toni served as a glamorous co-host to her husband Wilbur at the Desert Inn. Born Lena Gaglionese on April 4, 1915 in Seattle, Washington she later moved to Reno where she met Wilbur Clark. After her marriage, she was recognized for her fashion and style. After the Desert Inn opened, she helped plan parties and entertained guests at the resort. After Wilbur Clark died, she remained active in philanthropy in Las Vegas and supported the Variety Club and the Nevada Dance Theater. She later married her long-time friend Larry Finuf. Toni Clark passed away on October 4, 2006.
Sources:
Jeff Burbank. Online Nevada Encyclopedia, “Desert Inn.” May 19, 2011. http://www.onlinenevada.org/articles/desert-inn Accessed April 6, 2018.
“Las Vegas Loses Its First Lady,” Las Vegas Sun, October 6, 2006.
Preferred Citation
Wilbur and Toni Clark Papers, 1944-1991. MS-00361. Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada.
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Acquisition Note
Materials were donated in 1995 by Toni Clark; accession number 95-49.
Processing Note
Material was processed in 1999 by Gerry Evans. In 2016, Joyce Moore revised and enhanced the collection description to bring it into compliance with current professional standards. In 2018, as part of an archival backlog elimination project, Angela Moor revised the collection description to bring it into compliance with current professional standards. In 2019, Angela Moor added descriptions for the audiovisual material.
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Separated Materials
Some of the photographs in this acquisition were removed from this collection and placed in the Wilbur Clark Photographs, 1910-1975. PH-00302. Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada.