The Junior League of Las Vegas Photograph Collection contains photographic prints and negatives, as well as postcards of locations in and around Las Vegas, Nevada between approximately 1900 and 1980. Early photographs in the collection offer views of the Las Vegas townsite, buildings, railroads, the Las Vegas High School, Overland Hotel, Arizona Club, and residential areas. Other photographs during this time depict the Hoover Dam (Boulder Dam) construction and Death Valley, California. Later photographs show the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) campus, downtown Las Vegas, and the Las Vegas Strip.
The Edith Giles Barcus Family Photograph Collection (approximately 1878-1954) consists of black-and-white photographic prints and negatives, as well as postcards and photograph albums. The images depict locations in Nevada including Las Vegas, Goldfield, Searchlight, and Tonopah, in addition to locations in Arizona, California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Utah, and Mexico. Also included are images of family, friends, and associates of the Giles Barcus family. The albums contain photographs depicting the Giles family as they traveled through the southwest United States and Mexico, as well as postcards from prominent locations in the southwestern United States.
The Beda and C. Norman Cornwall Photograph Collection (1940s-1978) primarily contains black-and-white photographic prints of Beda and C. Norman engaging in various civic activities. The collection also includes photographic prints of Beda Cornwall’s reception at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, as well as C. Norman Cornwall’s riding group, the Los Rancheros Visitadores, during their trek through the Santa Ynez Valley in California. Beda Cornwall was the president of the Citizens’ Library Association of Las Vegas and C. Norman Cornwall was a prominent Las Vegas attorney.
The Toni and Wilbur Clark Photographs depict Las Vegas, Nevada casino owner and land developer Wilbur Clark and his wife Toni from 1910 to 1975. The photographs primarily document Wilbur and Toni Clark at the Desert Inn, the hotel and casino Wilbur co-owned. The photographs also depict him with politicians and entertainers, and Wilbur and Toni Clark’s house in Las Vegas.
The W. I. Booth and A. Allen Photograph Album of Goldfield, Nevada (approx. 1900-1910) contains forty-five black-and-white photographs taken by photographers W. I. Booth and A. Allen. The images depict the Goldfield, Nevada townsite; mines, miners, camps, and equipment; horses pulling freight and carriages across the desert; and topographical features of Goldfield and outlying areas. The photographs document the mining boom in the Goldfield area during the early 20th century.
The Sherwin “Scoop” Garside Photographs contain photographs from journalist and photographer “Scoop” Garside from 1907 to 1969. The photographs primarily depict events and buildings in Southern Nevada, including construction of the Hoover (Boulder) Dam, the Helldorado Parade in Las Vegas, Nevada, hotels and casinos, schools, and social events. The photographs also depict the Garside Family, including Las Vegas Review-Journal owner Frank Garside, “Scoop” Garside’s father.
The Nevada Women’s Conference Photograph Collection depicts the statewide women’s conference held in June 1977 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The photographs include keynote speaker Gloria Steinem, event organizers, workshops, volunteers, and musical performances.
On March 15, 1976, Stephen Kalish interviewed Alfred “Al” Isola (born August 3rd, 1917 in Oakland, California) in his office about his garbage company and early Southern Nevada. The two discuss Las Vegas’ lack of a unified garbage system and how dumping sites have had to adjust their practices in order to limit their impact on pollution. Isola also explains the different disposal protocols for wet and dry trash. On the second tape of the interview, an unidentified woman enters the conversation.
On April 4, 1976, Paul Wilkins interviewed former miner Clifford Kemple (born September 28th, 1909 in Salt Lake City, Utah) in his home in Las Vegas, Nevada. The two discuss Kemple’s early life in Goodsprings, Nevada and Las Vegas, Nevada. Kemple also talks about changes that he has noticed in Las Vegas more broadly.
On March 1, 1980, Ken Pyatt interviewed his grandmother, Merna Dennison (born September 9th, 1917 in Blanding, Utah) in her home in Henderson, Nevada. During the interview, Merna pinpoints Cashman Field as a landmark of Las Vegas. She recalls the Helldorado Parade as one of Nevada’s biggest annual celebrations in which her family attended and participated on numerous occasions. She mentions serving on the Clark County School Board and discusses the growth of the city of Las Vegas, particularly the development and expansion of both McCarran Airport and the Strip.