Ronzone Family Papers (1900-1991) include newspaper clippings, business documents, correspondence, certificates, yearbooks, publications, artifacts, and photographs. The papers document their lives in Nevada, their department store, and Dick Ronzone's involvement in local politics.
The Las Vegas Art Museum Records (1952-2009) contain administrative files, press, marketing materials, and scrapbooks that document the history of the Las Vegas Art Museum (LVAM). Collection materials include exhibition files, annual reports, financial statements, board meeting agendas and minutes, event invitations, press releases, and newspaper and magazine clippings documenting the museum's activities. Materials include photographs from museum events as well as photographs of artwork displayed as part of visiting and permanent exhibitions. Audio and video recordings include interviews with museum staff and local news coverage of events. Also included are architectural floor plans for the Sahara West Library, which was used as a gallery space for LVAM. Digital files in this collection include recordings and presentation slides from LVAM lectures with curators and artists. Other digital files include photographs from LVAM events and workings files from LVAM staff.
The Shelley Berkley Papers (1987-2012) consist primarily of correspondence and other documents pertaining to Shelley Berkley's tenure as United States Representative for Nevada 1st congressional district. Topics include nuclear waste storage at Yucca Mountain, education, women's rights, health care, foreign affairs, veterans, economics, and homeland security. The collection also includes photographs, interviews, and awards. Shelley Berkley served as a member of Congress between 1999 and 2013.
On April 5, 1976, collector Broderick T. Ackerman interviewed Michael Miller who has lived in Nevada since 1910. In this interview, Mister Miller speaks about his time working on ranches and as a trapper in Northern Nevada. He also speaks about his time running nightclubs in Las Vegas, Nevada, as well as seeing much growth throughout his time living in Las Vegas.
On March 25, 1978, Kim Geary interviewed Joan Johnson (born 1911 in Oklahoma) in her home in Las Vegas, Nevada. The two discuss Joan Johnson’s personal history and her reasons for originally moving to Las Vegas. Johnson recalls early Las Vegas entertainment, as well as the development of businesses and their unions.
On April 27, 1981, Darin Toldisky interviewed Cecile Dotson Crowe (born October 17th, 1911, in Millville, Utah) at Clark County Library in Las Vegas, Nevada. This interview covers Mrs. Crowe’s account of the building of Hoover (Boulder Dam). Mrs. Crowe discusses the Six Companies, Boulder City, and recalls President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s visit to Nevada by train to dedicate the dam on the 30th of September, 1937.
On January 4, 1999, Harvey Diederich (b. 1920 in Chicago, IL) was interviewed in his home by K.J. Evans about his experience as a publicist in the gaming industry. Diederich first discusses his background and education in journalism and later discusses the relationship between the Las Vegas News Bureau and hotel/casino publicists. Evans questions Diederich about some of his specific projects, such as those dealing with celebrities and particularly the ones that stood out as the most successful, most unsuccessful, and most creative. Diederich also mentions some of the individuals for whom he worked as well as the various cities to which he traveled for work.
On March 25, 1981, Brenda Sue Cody interviewed local business owner, Charles Alvin (Todd) Early, Jr. (born in Yerington, Nevada) at his Central Credit office in Las Vegas, Nevada. The interview covers the history of Nevada. During the interview, Charles discusses mining, the building of Boulder (Hoover) Dam, and travelling by train as the central mode of transportation, in the early days. He also discusses a quick and easy divorce process and gambling as the main tourist attractions in Nevada.
On March 2, 1977, Sam Copeland interviewed Carol Forsythe about her experience living in Las Vegas, Nevada. Carol first describes the details with which she was familiar about her husband’s career as a firefighter, specifically facts about the growth of the Clark County Fire Department. Forsythe later talks about the development of the town when she first arrived in Las Vegas, and she later describes the different residences at which she and her family lived. She also describes the different changes in building and development over time in Las Vegas, and she mentions the early use of swamp coolers before air conditioning. The narration concludes with Forsythe’s description of the Helldorado tradition and its changes as well as her family’s Episcopalian faith and the churches they attended.
Mark Mangiaracina interviews Eugene Brandise, born in Denver, Colorado, in his home about Nevada’s growth over time. Brandise discusses his experience as a construction worker and construction business owner as a resident of Las Vegas for over 25 years. He also discusses changes in the gaming industry over time, specifically how hotels and casinos treat their patrons.