The Joan Adams Shoofey Papers (approximately 1943-2024) consist of photographs, newspaper clippings, and written anecdotes documenting the life of Las Vegas, Nevada beauty queen, public relations professional, and entrepreneur Joan Adams Shoofey. The photographs detail various aspects of Shoofey's life, including marriages, social events, beauty pageants, and businesses. Notable local and national celebrities and politicians featured in the images include Elvis Presley, Don Rickles, Tom Jones, Sam Boyd, Paul Laxalt, Oscar Goodman, and Oran Gragson, among others.
The Joan Adams Shoofey Papers (approximately 1943-2024) consist of photographs, newspaper clippings, and written anecdotes documenting the life of Las Vegas, Nevada beauty queen, public relations professional, and entrepreneur Joan Adams Shoofey. The photographs detail various aspects of Shoofey's life, including marriages, social events, beauty pageants, and businesses. Notable local and national celebrities and politicians featured in the images include Elvis Presley, Don Rickles, Tom Jones, Sam Boyd, Paul Laxalt, Oscar Goodman, and Oran Gragson, among others.
Collection is open for research.
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Born in Fresno, California, Joan Adams Shoofey moved to Stateline, Nevada after graduating from high school, where she and a friend ran the Stateline Country Club. Shoofey moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1955, where she competed in beauty pageants and earned the title of Miss Sahara Hotel, and later, Miss Nevada. She worked in public relations as an entertainment coordinator at the Sahara, and later went on to hold that role at the Flamingo and the International. She married Alex Shoofey in 1962 and the couple had a daughter, Teri Shoofey, before divorcing in the 1970s. In addition to her work in public relations, Shoofey was an entrepreneur and ran multiple businesses. As of 2026, Joan Adams Shoofey resides in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Source:
Joan Adams Shoofey oral history interview, 2024 January 30. OH-03915. Audio recording. Oral History Research Center, Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada.
Joan Adams Shoofey Papers, approximately 1943-2024. MS-01244. Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada.
Donated in 2026 by Joan Adams Shoofey; accession number 2026-072.
In 2026, Landon Paljusaj rehoused, arranged, and described the materials, and wrote the finding aid in ArchivesSpace.
Administrative Information
Acquired by Stefani Evans, Oral History Research Center project manager, to supplement Joan Adams Shoofey's oral history interview with UNLV Special Collections and Archives. All material that formed the original gift has been retained.