Abstract
The Southern Nevada Gem and Mineral Society Records (1950-2024) contain the records of the Clark County Gem Collectors, Las Vegas Gem Collectors, and the current Southern Nevada Gem and Mineral Society. The collection contains articles of incorporation, by-laws, membership directories, meeting minutes, correspondence, financial records, show paperwork, and award certificates. Also included are photographs of the organizations since the 1970s and digital scans of Gem Times and The Polished Slab newsletters.
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Scope and Contents Note
The Southern Nevada Gem and Mineral Society Records (1950-2024) contain the records of the Clark County Gem Collectors, Las Vegas Gem Collectors, and the current Southern Nevada Gem and Mineral Society. The collection contains articles of incorporation, by-laws, membership directories, meeting minutes, correspondence, financial records, show paperwork, and award certificates. Also included are photographs of the organizations since the 1970s and digital scans of Gem Times and The Polished Slab newsletters.
Access Note
Collection is open for research. Arrangements must be made in advance to access digital files; please contact UNLV Special Collections and Archives for additional information.
Publication Rights
This material is made available to facilitate private study, scholarship, or research. The donor, the Southern Nevada Gem and Mineral Society, transferred all right, title and interest they had in the Southern Nevada Gem and Mineral Society Records (MS-01188) to UNLV. However, some material may be protected by copyright, trademark, privacy, publicity rights, or other interests not owned by UNLV. Users are responsible for determining whether permissions are necessary from rights owners for any intended use and for obtaining all required permissions. Acknowledgement of the UNLV University Libraries is requested. For more information, please see the UNLV Special Collections policies on reproductions and use or contact us at special.collections@unlv.edu.
Arrangement
Materials are arranged chronologically.
Biographical / Historical Note
In 1932, in Las Vegas, Nevada, a group of local rock collectors organized what was then called the Prospector's Club. The Club's purpose was to educate and promote the unique and interesting variety of activities associated with gemstones and minerals. In 1940, Club member Paul Mercer published a newsletter called The Polished Slab, which continues to this day. In 1950, they officially incorporated as the Clark County Gem Collectors. In February of that year, the first meeting of the newly incorporated club was called to order by President W. M. Brown and was held at the Parks Museum. The Parks Museum was a private museum on the property of Gene and Anna Parks, located on the eastern side of the city.
In November of 1967, the club divided into two separate groups, and formed the Las Vegas Gem Club, in addition to the Clark County Gem Collectors. The two clubs coexisted peacefully in the valley, and many members belonged to both clubs. In 2002, the members of the two clubs voted to merge back into one club. January of 2003 saw the first meeting of the newly incorporated Southern Nevada Gem and Mineral Society.
Source:
"Southern Nevada Gem and Mineral Society History," accessed July 29, 2024. https://www.snvgms.org/sngmshistory
Preferred Citation
Southern Nevada Gem and Mineral Society Records, 1950-2024. MS-01188. Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada. http://n2t.net/ark:/62930/f1220d
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Acquisition Note
Materials were donated in 2024 by the Southern Nevada Gem and Mineral Society; accession number 2024-090.
Processing Note
In 2024, Sarah Jones accessioned the collection, reboxed the materials, and created a box-level finding aid in ArchivesSpace. Digital files were ingested off a thumb drive and access copies were created. Issues of the societies' newsletter, Gem Time and The Polished Slab, were separated out and cataloged as part of UNLV Special Collections and Archives' periodicals.
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Appraisal Note
Acquired by Aaron Mayes, Visual Materials Curator, as part of UNLV Special Collections and Archives' holdings on community organizations and local history.
Separated Materials
Issues of the Southern Nevada Gem and Mineral Society's newsletter, Gem Time and Polished Slab, that were acquired as part of this collection have been separated and described individually in the University Libraries' catalog.