Abstract
The Donna Andress Papers (1890-2021) contain the personal papers of Donna Andress, a longtime resident and activist in Southern Nevada. Materials include correspondence and newspaper clippings from the Nevada Welfare Committee, on which Andress served as chairperson during the 1970s, in addition to pamphlets and newsletters from various Nevada historical organizations and committees. The papers reflect her involvement with community organizations throughout Southern Nevada.
Finding Aid PDF
Date
Extent
Related People/Corporations
Scope and Contents Note
The Donna Andress Papers (1890-2021) contain the personal papers of Donna Andress, a longtime resident and activist in Southern Nevada. Correspondence and newspaper clippings pertaining to the Nevada Welfare Committee, on which Andress served as chairperson during the 1970s, are included. The collection also features pamphlets and newsletters from the Nevada State Museum, Spring Mountain Ranch State Park, and the Nevada Historical Society. Personal items include eyeglasses from Andress’ grandparents, and a traditional Chinese design basket believed to have been gifted to Andress’ parents soemtime in the 1930s or 1940s. Photographs document a 1971 Continuing Education trip to the Colorado River, in addition to Andress as a child with Searchlight politician Dick Arnold.
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 and Archives website for more information about reproductions and permissions to publish.
Arrangement
Materials are arranged by category.
Biographical / Historical Note
A longtime resident of Southern Nevada, Donna Andress grew up in Searchlight, Nevada during the 1920s and 1930s, where she babysat future politician Harry Reid. She was active in Las Vegas politics, and served in community organizations such as the Welfare Rights Committee in the 1970s and the Service League, which preceded the Junior League of Las Vegas. Andress' husband, Clyde Gail Andress, was also a resident of Las Vegas during the 1930s. He served in the United States Naval Air Corps during World War II and as jury foreman of Hank Greenspun's trial regarding an editorial published about United States Senator Joseph McCarthy. Clyde Andress was also involved in car sales and construction in Las Vegas.
Donna Andress is the daughter of Clarabelle Decker, who was a teacher, librarian, and author in Las Vegas, Nevada. Decker served as the first Clark County Supervisor of Libraries, and was instrumental in the establishment of several libraries throughout Clark County.
Sources:
Gail and Donna Andress oral history interview, 2008 November 26. OH-00092. Oral History Research Center, Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada.
"Clyde Gail Andress Obituary (1925-2021)." Davis Funeral Homes & Memorial Park Eastern Ave. September 29, 2021.
Schnur, Sabrina. "Las Vegas History on Display at Couple’s 75th Wedding Anniversary." Las Vegas Review-Journal, July 9, 2019.
Preferred Citation
Donna Andress Papers, 1890-2021. MS-01089. Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada. http://n2t.net/ark:/62930/f1pj2k
Permalink
Acquisition Note
Materials were donated in 2021 and 2023 by Donna Andress; accession numbers 2021-151 and 2023-034.
Processing Note
In 2022, Kassidy Whetstone organized and rehoused the materials, and created the finding aid in ArchivesSpace. In 2023, Sarah Jones processed the 2023 addition and updated the finding aid.
Subjects
Administrative Information
Resource Type
Collection Type
EAD ID
Separated Materials
Some of the publications that were acquired as part of this collection have been separated and described individually in the University Libraries' catalog.