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Lamont Patterson Papers (MS-00454)

Abstract

The Lamont Patterson Papers date from 1955 to 1996 and document the career of William “Lamont” Patterson (1916-1997), a jazz columnist for the Las Vegas Sun. The collection includes drafts of newspaper columns, professional correspondence, newsletters, newspaper clippings, photographs, radio program transcripts, concert programs, and ephemera relating to Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, and other performers. There is also a wooden plaque that was presented to Patterson from the Sands Hotel and Casino that includes a piece of the original Copa Room stage.

Finding Aid PDF

Date

1955 to 1996

Extent

1.30 Cubic Feet (2 boxes)
1.08 Linear Feet

Related People/Corporations

Scope and Contents Note

The Lamont Patterson Papers date from 1955 to 1996 and document the career of William “Lamont” Patterson (1916-1997), a jazz columnist for the Las Vegas Sun. The collection includes drafts of newspaper columns, professional correspondence, newsletters, newspaper clippings, photographs, radio program transcripts, concert programs, and ephemera relating to Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, and other performers. There is also a wooden plaque that was presented to Patterson from the Sands Hotel and Casino that includes a piece of the original Copa Room stage.

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 alphabetically.

Biographical / Historical Note

Lamont Patterson (1916-1997) was a jazz columnist and Las Vegas, Nevada resident. Originally named William Patterson, he served as a press and protocol officer for the U.S. Air Force during World War II. Writing under his nickname "Lamont" Patterson, his career as a reporter and columnist began in 1939. Patterson personally knew many artists such as Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Count Basie, and Liberace. He died in Las Vegas, Nevada, and is buried at Palm Mortuary in Henderson, Nevada.

Source:

Teresa Hinds, "Former SUN jazz columnist Patterson dies," Las Vegas Sun, April 8, 1997, accessed February 23, 2018, https://lasvegassun.com/news/1997/apr/08/former-sun-jazz-columnist-patterson-dies/.

Preferred Citation

Lamont Patterson Papers, 1955-1996. MS-00454. Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada.

Acquisition Note

Materials were donated to the Arnold Shaw Music Center and in 2002, materials were transferred to the University Archives; accession number 2002-24.

Processing Note

As part of a backlog elimination project, Faye Mazzia processed the collection and created a finding aid in 2018.

Resource Type

Papers

Collection Type

EAD ID

US::NVLN::MS00454

Finding Aid Description Rules

Describing Archives: A Content Standard
English