Skip to main content

Search the Special Collections and Archives Portal

Albert S. Henderson Papers (MS-00191)

Abstract

The Albert S. Henderson Papers (1879-1962), document his career and service as a district judge in Las Vegas, Nevada. Included are correspondence, a personal statement from his election campaign, certificates and proclamations, his memorial book, numerous newspaper clippings, an 1879 edition of Eureka and Its Resources, and various ephemera: union cards, name tags, and election cards.

Finding Aid PDF

Date

1879 to 1962
bulk 1946 to 1960

Extent

0.37 Cubic Feet (1 box and 1 oversized folder)
2.09 Linear Feet

Related People/Corporations

Scope and Contents Note

The Albert S. Henderson Papers (1879-1962), document his career and service as a district judge in Las Vegas, Nevada. Included are correspondence, personal statement from his election campaign, certificates and proclamations, his memorial book, numerous newspaper clippings, an 1879 edition of Eureka and Its Resources, and various ephemera: union cards, name tags, and election cards.

Access Note

Collection is open for research.

Publication Rights

Materials in this collection may be protected by copyrights and other rights. See Reproductions and Use on the UNLV Special Collections website for more information about reproductions and permissions to publish.

Arrangement

Collection remains in original order.

Biographical / Historical Note

Las Vegas, Nevada district judge Albert Scott Henderson, commonly known as A.S. or Bert, was born in Eureka, Nevada on November 2, 1879. He was the son of a Canadian who moved to Eureka, Nevada to take advantage of the rapidly growing mining industry. Henderson's career as a public servant began at age fifteen when he was elected to his first public office as secretary to the Lander County Republican Convention. Henderson graduated from high school in 1897, and immediately became a teacher, then a principal, and later president of the school board. In 1910 he relocated to the Las Vegas, Nevada area. He was known as a pioneer resident of Las Vegas.

Henderson received his formal education from the University of Nevada in Reno and began his political career after he was admitted into the Nevada Bar Association in 1908. He was a member of the Nevada legislature from 1921 to 1923, and was speaker of the house from 1923 to 1925. He served as a Nevada State Senator from 1927 to 1929 and 1931 to 1933. During this time, Henderson was instrumental in writing much of the legislation concerning Boulder Dam. He served as a Clark County district attorney and Las Vegas city attorney. Many of the city and county ordinances still in effect were written by Henderson. He served as an advisor to the Colorado River Commission and was involved in many controversies over water, power, and revenue rights. By 1946 Henderson's work on behalf of both the city and state were recognized when Governor Vail Pittman appointed him as a district judge. Henderson was re-elected repeatedly to this position, until he resigned and retired on October 31, 1960.

In addition to serving in public office, Henderson was active in the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, serving as president for one term. As a leader in the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, he was responsible for shaping city street programs, highway programs, and other important city projects. Henderson was also active in the fraternal organizations and affairs of both Las Vegas and Clark County. He served in the Elks, Eagles, Las Vegas Kiwanis and Odd Fellows as a ranking officer.

Henderson was married to Roseilla Wadsworth from 1905 until her death in 1940. They had two daughters, Wanda Pegram and Alice Doll. In 1941, A. S. Henderson married Ena Russell. A.S. Henderson died on November 13, 1961 at age 82, and was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Las Vegas.

Related Collections

The following resource may provide additional information related to the materials in this collection:

Albert Scott Henderson oral history interview, 1973 December 3. OH-00834. Oral History Research Center, Special Collections, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada.

Preferred Citation

Albert S. Henderson Papers, 1879-1962. MS-00191. Special Collections, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada.

Acquisition Note

Materials were donated in 1973 by Albert Scott Henderson and in 1983 by Ena Henderson; accession numbers T-113.

Processing Note

Collection was processed in 2002 by JoAnn Spair. In 2016 Joyce Moore revised and enhanced the collection description to bring it into compliance with current professional standards.

Resource Type

Papers

Collection Type

EAD ID

US::NvLN::MS00191

Separated Materials

The photographs in this acquisition were removed from the collection and placed in the A. S. Henderson Photograph Collection. PH-0317. Special Collections, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada

Finding Aid Description Rules

Describing Archives: A Content Standard
English