Elmer R. Rusco Collection on Ethnicity and Race in Nevada (MS-00196)

Elmer R. Rusco received his academic training in Political Science. He attended the University of Kansas, receiving his B.A. in 1951, and his M.A. in 1952. He continued his schooling at the University of California, Berkeley, earning his Ph.D. in 1960. Dr. Rusco taught Political Science as an Assistant Professor at Parsons College and at the University of Nevada, Reno starting in 1963. In 1965, he joined the Bureau of Governmental Research at the University of Nevada, Reno, serving as the Assistant Director. He became the Director of the Bureau in 1967.

Dr. Rusco's areas of specialization were political theory, American politics, and voting behavior, and he published numerous articles and books focusing on these topics. He held memberships in Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Psi, Pi Sigma Alpha, American Political Science Association, Western Political Science Association, and the American Association of University Professors.

His doctoral dissertation entitled, "Machine Politics, California Model: Arthur H. Samish and the Alcoholic Beverage Industry" won the annual award of Western Political Science Association in 1961. He received a grant from the Eagleton Institute of Politics in 1961, and from the Desert Research Institute, University of Nevada in 1964 and 1965.

Other activities included Dr. Rusco's Legislative Internship with the California Assembly, 1960-1961, membership on the University of Nevada Policy Committee on Academic Standards, 1964-1966, and membership on the Ad Hoc Executive Board of the Center for Western North American Studies.