Abstract
The Thomas A. Turner Structural Engineering Papers (approximately 1952-1990) consist of structural engineering plans, calculations, and correspondence for a variety of construction projects Turner worked on as a founding partner of the firm Jack Miller and Associates (JMA). The projects include hotels and casinos, municipal buildings, commercial businesses, and private residences throughout Clark and Nye counties, with the majority located in Las Vegas and Henderson, Nevada.
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Scope and Contents Note
The Thomas A. Turner Structural Engineering Papers (approximately 1952-1990) consist of structural engineering plans, calculations, and correspondence for a variety of construction projects Turner worked on as a founding partner of the firm Jack Miller and Associates (JMA). The projects include hotels and casinos, municipal buildings, commercial businesses, and private residences throughout Clark and Nye counties, with the majority located in Las Vegas and Henderson, Nevada.
Access Note
Collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
This material is made available to facilitate private study, scholarship, or research. UNLV holds copyright for all material in this collection. Users are responsible for determining whether permissions are necessary from rights owners for any intended use and for obtaining all required permissions. Please contact UNLV Special Collections and Archives (special.collections@unlv.edu) for additional information.
Arrangement
Materials remain as they were received and are in alphabetical order.
Biographical / Historical Note
Thomas A. Turner was born November 18, 1925 in Bishop, California. The Turner family moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1936, and Thomas was salutatorian of the 1943 Las Vegas High School graduating class. He briefly attended the California Insitute of Technology (Cal Tech), but was drafted into the U.S. Army during World War II. After he returned, Turner completed his studies at Cal Tech and graduated with a civil and structural engineering degree.
He briefly worked with the above-ground testing program at the Nevada Test Site before joining Miller, Wilson and Smith Architectural and Construction Firm. In 1953, he formed Jack Miller and Associates (JMA) Architecture and Design firm with his uncle (Jack Miller), where he spent the remainder of his career. He was also active in many civil and professional organizations.
He married Patricia Ann Clancy in 1952 and had two children, Kent Turner and Laure Forsberg. Thomas Turner passed away May 11, 2008.
Source:
"Thomas Turner obituary," Legacy.com. Accessed February 3, 2026. https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/lvrj/name/thomas-turner-obituary?id=48842743
Preferred Citation
Thomas A. Turner Structural Engineering Papers, approximately 1952-1990. MS-01224. Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada.
Acquisition Note
Materials were donated in 2026 by Laure Forsberg; accession number 2026-001.
Administrative Information
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Appraisal Note
Acquired by Aaron Mayes, Visual Materials Curator, as part of UNLV Special Collections and Archives holdings in architecture and the built environment. All material that formed the original gift has been retained.