The Byrd Wall Sawyer Photograph Collection contains color photographic slides depicting Byrd Wall Sawyer’s home, the Carson House, in Carson City, Nevada; towns and cities; and landscapes throughout Nevada between approximately 1950 to 1970. Nevada towns and cities primarily depicted include Belmont, Manhattan, Reno, and Dixie. Nevada landscapes include Carson River, Carson Mountains, Olinghouse Canyon, Washoe Lake, King’s Canyon, Lake Winnemucca, Washoe Valley, and Lake Tahoe.
Oral history interview with Richard D. Chase conducted by Helen Rondthaler on October 17, 1972 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Chase discusses the history of Las Vegas, Nevada from 1945, touching on topics such as the housing shortage during the 1940s, The Red Rooster swingers’ club, Billy Moore, Sam Larson, Ira Goldring, atomic bomb testing, and the Nevada environment. Chase discusses the importance of construction-based labor to the development of Southern Nevada. Chase also explains at length the impact of the Nevada Test Site on his construction company.
Oral history interview with John West conducted by Claytee D. White on August 10, 2000 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, West discusses his family background and arriving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1954. West describes his educational experiences in Las Vegas and his career as a clinical psychologist. He recalls his father’s career in medicine and becoming the first African American licensed medical doctor in Las Vegas. West then talks about attending entertainment events before race integration was introduced, and the voting patterns in West Las Vegas. Lastly, West discusses his father’s decision to remain living in West Las Vegas and operating his medical office there after integration.
The Harry Hayden Whiteley Photograph Collection (approximately 1940-1967) contains photographic prints and one photographic negative depicting buildings, people, and project locations associated with the Las Vegas, Nevada architect Harry Hayden Whiteley. There is also one album containing photographs of contemporary churches compiled by Whiteley between 1953 to 1958.
The Dorothy Ray Photograph Collection on Southern Nevada, approximately 1900-1946, depicts infrastructure in Caliente, Nevada in the early to mid-twentieth century. The collection also contains images of a flash flood that occurred in 1905 in Carp, Nevada and Stine, Nevada that washed away roads and railroad tracks. This collection provides historical documentation about early to mid-century Caliente, Nevada.
The Fanny’s Dress Shop Photographs (1930-1982) show one of Las Vegas’ premier women’s clothing stores. The collection includes images of Fanny Soss’ shop on Fremont Street, her store in the Flamingo Hotel, and Helldorado parades. Images include shop window displays.
The Frank Williams Papers on Early Nevada (1892-1946) consists of manuscripts written for the most part by Frank Williams, an early resident of Southern Nevada. The collection includes Williams' autobiography as well as histories of Goodsprings, Potosi Mine, Mesquite Valley, and the Yellow Pine Mining districts. Finally, this collection contains reports and material reflecting Frank Williams' two terms as University Regent (1909-1912 and 1923-1942) at the University of Nevada, Reno, and his four terms in the Nevada State Assembly.
William M. Stewart Correspondence is primarily comprised of handwritten letters addressed to U.S. Senator William Morris Stewart, between 1854 and 1872. Many of the letters were written during his first term in office. Also included is one document about the reappointment of a postmaster of Sutro, Nevada, and a manuscript telegram from Frances P. Hayes about the territorial organization and judicate district in Indian Territory.
The Mavis Eggle "Books as They Were Bought" collection provides a broad overview of printed material from the 1780s through 1949. Gathered by book collector Mavis Eggle, the collection serves as a social history of books, newspapers, and ephemera. Physical characteristics of the books include a variety of printer's marks, publishers' bindings, bookplates, and early subscription libraries. The collection's titles are a diverse and creative gathering of poetry, children' literature, religious texts, broadsides, newspapers, and popular fiction. Together, the items in the Mavis Eggle "Books as They Were Bought" collection illustrate changes in literature, printing and publishing, advertising, and book history over a time period of more than 170 years.
The Alan Byron Olson Photographs (approximately 1933) consist of one negative album containing 100 photographic negatives taken by Alan Byron Olson around 1933 that depict the Hoover Dam (then known as Boulder Dam) and the Boulder City Hospital. Olson was a medic for the Boulder City Hospital and the images also depict various hospital staff and other locations related to Hoover Dam. The collection also includes digital copies of the negatives.