Dorothy Dorothy Papers (MS-00352)

Singer, songwriter, columnist, and pilot Dorothy Dorothy was born to James "Buck" Buchanan Richardson and Lulu Cooley in California. Dorothy wrote poetry throughout her early school years. She and her sister Beth were a popular singing duo throughout northern California until three throat surgeries forced Dorothy to give up singing. She then wrote song lyrics under the name Dorothy Varnum. Dorothy attended San Francisco College and after graduation opened her own brokerage firm. Dorothy took flying lessons at Mills Field in San Francisco, California and subsequently gained her pilot’s license. She was acquainted with Amelia Earhart, who organized an association of women flyers. Dorothy was a member of this group, known as the Flying 99's and was actively involved later in life while living in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Dorothy worked as a comptometer operator in the statistical department of Shell Oil Company. After an injury to her back, she went to Palm Springs where her sister, Beth Chase, lived. During her recuperation she wrote a "chatter" column for the local newspapers and resort publicity. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, she returned to work as a comptometer operator for Northrup in their payroll department. She married John Moore MacAdam in 1943, but he died in 1945. She then met and married Dale B. Dorothy. Dale Dorothy served in Lima, Peru during World War II and was flying for Pan Am Airlines when they met. The couple established residency in Las Vegas, Nevada in the late 1940s .

Dorothy organized and was the first president of the Women's Democratic Club of Whitney, Nevada. The club held meetings, raised funds, and campaigned for candidates. In spite of the club's name, male members were permitted to join. She worked with Virginia Catt and Gladys Dula to organize the Boulder City, Nevada Democratic Club, and with Sara Denton to organize the Blue Diamond, Nevada Democratic Club. Later Dorothy established a Democratic Club chapter in Pahrump, Nevada.

In 1949 the Dorothys bought a 1,400 acre alfalfa and cotton ranch in Pahrump. She actively promoted the potential of Pahrump with the establishment of infrastructure such as roads, telephones, and electricity. Dorothy successfully lobbied local and state politicians to improve the road to Pahrump. Her efforts were successful and a paved road from Las Vegas to Pahrump opened in 1954.

While in Whitney, Dorothy wrote a daily column for the Review-Journal newspaper in Las Vegas, Nevada from 1946 to 1948. From 1949 to 1958 she wrote a weekly column for the Las Vegas Sun newspaper. She also wrote for the Tonopah (Nevada) Times , and the Henderson (Nevada) News. She also wrote agricultural articles for the California Farmer in the 1950s.

The Dorothys migrated from Pahrump back to Las Vegas in 1958. Dorothy helped organize and served in the Silver Gavels, a national parliamentarian club, and handled publicity for the National American Legion Convention. From 1958 to 1967 she promoted the United Nations Grove at Lorenzi Park. Each United Nations member was to plant a tree native to their homeland in the grove. The planning commission, however, opted for playground equipment instead of the grove and fountain.Other organizations that Dorothy Dorothy belonged to included the Las Vegas Press Club; the Vegas Club for the Deaf; Nevada State Parole Board Commission, Western Probation, Parole, and Correctional Association, the Humane Society, Soroptimists, the Mesquite Club, and the Business and Professional Women's Club.

Dorothy died on October 31, 1986.