Abstract
The Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce Records (1911-2020) contain organizational documents from the Chamber’s history, including administrative and financial records, legal documents such as ordinances and legislation, newsletters and promotional guides, advertising and publicity materials for the city and its retailers, and original photographic prints, negatives, and reproductions. The collection also contains audiovisual materials featuring Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce events from approximately 1997 to 2013.
Finding Aid PDF
Date
Extent
Related People/Corporations
Scope and Contents Note
The Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce Records are comprised of organizational records of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce from 1911 to 2020. Included are records from executive board meetings and committees, correspondence, administrative and financial documents, and ordinances and legislation. There are newsletters and guides to doing business in Las Vegas, advertising and publicity materials for the Chamber and the city, photographs of members and various events, and materials from the Chamber’s annual conference, Preview Las Vegas. Many of the items from 1940 to 1970 pertain to the Downtown Merchants Bureau, an organization of businesses located in the Downtown Las Vegas area. Also included are audiovisual materials such as VHS tapes, Betamax tapes, DVDs, and cassettes featuring LVCC events. Digital files in this collection also feature LVCC events and promotional videos.
Access Note
Collection is open for research. Use copies of the recordings do not exist, reformatting/production of use copies is required before access will be granted; this may delay research requests. Advanced
notice is required.
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 remain as they were received.
Biographical / Historical Note
Founded in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1911, the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce (LVCC) is an organization of business leaders who work to improve their community and the area's business climate. A volunteer board of trustees governs the Chamber and a professional staff runs the day-to-day operations. The LVCC is a private, member-funded organization.
The organization hosts more than 100 events annually to connect local businesses, and has a membership of over 6,000 businesses across a broad range of industries, representing more than 200,000 people. The LVCC provides a variety of tools, resources, products, and services to its members.
In December 2012, the organization’s name was changed to the Las Vegas Metro Chamber of Commerce. This was done to reflect the growth of the metropolitan area and includes the cities of Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, and Henderson.
In January 2020, the Chamber once again revised their name to the Vegas Chamber, to reflect the continuing evolution of the Las Vegas Valley.
Sources:
Vegas Chamber. “About the Chamber.” Accessed January 28, 2020. https://www.vegaschamber.com/about-the-chamber/
Vegas Chamber. “Las Vegas Metro Chamber Transforms into Vegas Chamber.” Accessed January 28, 2020. https://www.vegaschamber.com/las-vegas-metro-chamber-transforms-into-vegas-chamber/
- 1911
- The Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce organization was formed.
- 1929
- Work on Boulder Dam breaks ground. Chamber leaders have been in discussions and negotiations to ensure that Southern Nevada receives a major boost in its struggling economy for the dam's construction.
- 1933
- With heavy pushing from Chamber leaders, the first post office and federal building are erected in Las Vegas.
- 1941
- The U.S. Army Air Corps Gunnery School opens in the space now occupied by McCarran International Airport. The Chamber and Senator Pat McCarran are instrumental in the gunnery school's formation.
- 1945
- Chamber president Maxwell Kelch launches the Livewire Fund to promote Las Vegas as a worldwide destination. This is an instrumental step in the formation of the Desert Sea News Bureau, now known as the Las Vegas News Bureau.
- 1947
- The Chamber, as a part of its initiatives through the Livewire Fund, commissions the West-Marquis Firm to design an advertising campaign for tourism. Their original design is the iconic "Vegas Vic," which inspired the famous neon sign still seen on Fremont Street today.
- 1955
- The Chamber of Commerce forms the Better Business Bureau and United Way of Southern Nevada in a citywide effort to increase community stewardship.
- 1960
- With the growing popularity of the jet plane, and United Airlines advertising service to Las Vegas, the Chamber holds a board meeting to endorse the airport in an effort to support a bond election, a crucial step that helps McCarran International Airport become one of the United States' busiest airports.
- 1983
- Community leaders, through the Chamber, create Las Vegas Events to attract non-gaming visitors to the area.
- 1998
- The Chamber advocates for passage of school bonds to fund $3.5 million for school construction and renovation.
- 2009
- The Chamber publishes landmark studies on public employee pay and benefits and successfully lobbies for comprehensive reform measures to help reduce the state's unfunded future budget liability and shortfall.
- 2012
- The Chamber successfully advocates for the designation of Interstate 11, connecting Phoenix, Arizona to Las Vegas, which would serve as an economic lifeline to the area. In December 2012, the organization changes its name to the Las Vegas Metro Chamber of Commerce.
Preferred Citation
Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce Records, 1911-2020. MS-00366. Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada.
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Acquisition Note
Materials were received periodically from 1996 to 2021 from the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce; accession numbers 96-7, 2011-20, 2013-15, and 2021-032.
Processing Note
Materials were processed by Peter Michel, Su Kim Chung, and Joyce Moore. In 2020, Landon Paljusaj enhanced the descriptions and revised the finding aid in ArchivesSpace. In 2021, Tammi Kim accessioned the 2021 addition and updated the finding aid. Digital files were transferred off of optical discs and described.
Subjects
Administrative Information
Resource Type
Collection Type
EAD ID
Separated Materials
Some of the periodicals that were acquired as part of this collection have been separated and described individually in the University Libraries' catalog.