Abstract
The Cork Proctor Papers document the career of comedian Cork Proctor from 1942 to 2012. The papers include photographs, programs, advertisements, and newspaper articles that illustrate both the longevity and influence of one of Nevada's most famous comedians. From 1972 to 2012, in both Reno and Las Vegas, Proctor consistently worked as a stand-up comedian, writer, and roaster.
Finding Aid PDF
Date
Extent
Related People/Corporations
Scope and Contents Note
The Cork Proctor Papers document the career of comedian Cork Proctor from 1942 to 2012. The papers include Proctor's photographs of his father, his family, and his career; correspondence; audio recordings of performances; newspaper clippings and reviews; award certificates; programs, advertisements and other promotional materials; legal documents; and scripts. Also included are audio tapes of interviews with Cork Proctor.
Access Note
Collection is open for research. Where use copies do not exist, production of use copies is required before access will be granted; this may delay research requests. Advanced notice is required.
Publication Rights
This material is made available to facilitate private study, scholarship, or research. It may be protected by copyright, trademark, privacy, publicity rights, or other interests not owned by UNLV. Users are responsible for determining whether permissions are necessary from rights owners for any intended use and for obtaining all required permissions. Acknowledgement of the UNLV University Libraries is requested. For more information, please see the UNLV Special Collections policies on reproductions and use or contact us at special.collections@unlv.edu.
Arrangement
Materials are arranged alphabetically by topic.
Biographical / Historical Note
Cork Proctor moved to Las Vegas in 1940 and began performing throughout Nevada as a musician. In 1972, he began doing stand-up comedy in Reno. His career as a comedian got him work across Nevada and the United States for 40 years, and he established himself as one of Nevada's foremost stand-ups. Before retiring in 2012, he published a memoir titled My Mind is an Open Mouth. Proctor passed away at the age of 91 on June 6, 2024.
Sources:
Katsilometes, John. "‘One of a kind’: Las Vegas comic, a headliner for 50 years, dies,"
Proctor, Cork. My Mind Is An Open Mouth: A Life Behind the Mic. Las Vegas, NV: Stephens Press, 2014.
Preferred Citation
Cork Proctor Papers, 1942-2012. MS-00445. Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada.
Permalink
Acquisition Note
Materials were donated in 2002 by Cork Proctor; accession number 2002-012. Materials were collected by the director of the Arnold Shaw Popular Music Research Center and transferred to Special Collections.
Processing Note
Material was processed by Joyce Moore in 2008. In 2014, as part of a legacy finding aid conversion project, Lindsay Oden revised and enhanced the collection description to bring it into compliance with current professional standards and entered the data into ArchivesSpace. In 2019, Landon Paljusaj updated the inventory in ArchivesSpace. In 2025, Tammi Kim rehoused materials from oversized box 08 and updated the inventory in ArchivesSpace.