The Juanita Greer White Photographs (approximately 1960-1979) depict Dr. Juanita Greer White’s activities in politics and higher education in Southern Nevada. Images depict Dr. Greer White receiving a Distinguished Nevadan Award, acting as a Nevada Delegate for the National Conference on Aging, and her time spent in the Nevada State Legislature.
The Arthur and Joe Lyon Papers (1930-1935, 1985, 2020) document the first transnational automobile trip taken from North America to Central America in 1930 by Arthur and Joe Lyon, two brothers from McDermitt, Nevada. The materials in this collection include Arthur and Joe Lyon's passports with stamps from their trip and their travel scrapbook. Materials also include the brothers' handwritten notes about their trip from the 1930s and original typescript for Central America Through a Windshield written in 1985. The collection also includes a published hardcover copy of 1930: From Manhattan to Managua, North America's First Transnational Automobile Trip published in 2020.
The Harold Minsky Photograph Collection (1957-1977) contains photographic prints, negatives, and slides collected by Las Vegas burlesque show developer Harold Minsky. Subjects include performers in costume, showgirls, comedians, advertisements for shows, performances, and some of the venues at which Minsky's shows were held, including the Thunderbird Hotel and Casino, the Aladdin Hotel and Casino, and the Dunes Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The Walter V. Long Photographs consist of three black-and-white photographic prints and corresponding negatives dating from approximately 1923 to 1966. The photographs include two formal portraits of Walter V. Long and one image of him as a teacher with the Tonopah High School Band in Southern Nevada.
The Woodrow Wilson Photograph Collection consists of black-and-white photographic prints and negatives. The images depict black elected government leaders attending the first Conference of Black Elected Officials held in Washington, D.C. in September 1969. Of particular interest are images of Nevada's first black state legislator, Woodrow Wilson; Georgia state representative, Julian Bond; and President Richard Nixon.
The J. Ross Clark Scrapbook dates from approximately 1897 to 1972 and consists of newspaper clippings collected by his wife, Miriam Evans Clark. The clippings relate to professional events in the lives of J. Ross Clark and his brother, Senator William A. Clark. A small number of the clippings refer to births, marriages, and deaths in Miriam Evans and J. Ross Clark's families. Also included are documents written by J. Ross Clark's grand-niece, Dorothy Murdock Dunkley, that offer additional information about the Clark and associated families.
The James Cashman Sr. Papers date from approximately 1890 to 1969 and contain correspondence, photographs, insurance records, and bank records related to Cashman and his businesses in Southern Nevada. The collection documents the lives of the Cashman family and their businesses in southern Nevada.
On February 25, 1977, Walter John Ritzau interviewed Elizabeth Schneehagen Garrison (born 1943 in Las Vegas, Nevada) about her life in Southern Nevada. Garrison first talks about her schooling in Las Vegas and her first homes in Las Vegas. She also discusses the atomic testing, the Devils Hole in Ash Meadows, early church involvement, recreational activities, and some of the environmental aspects of Las Vegas. Garrison later describes her work for the Central Telephone Company before describing the Helldorado parade and some of the early activities designed for children. In the latter part of the interview, she describes her father’s garden, the changes in the city environment and building, shopping locations, and more about her home life.
A view of the Dunes Hotel tower under construction. The famous sultan statue is visible in the foreground. The marquee is visible in the background advertising "Now in the Persian Room Vive Les Girls French Stage Spectacular 8:30 pm, 11:30 pm, 1:15 am" and "Persian Room All new direct from Paris Vive Les Girls! Produced by Danny Costello Star of the Ed Sullivan Show". The Dunes, which was themed after the Arabian Nights stories, opened on May 23, 1955 with 200 hotel rooms, located in several two-story buildings. From the time of its opening, the Dunes was known for the 35 foot tall fiberglass sultan statue that stood above its main entrance. In 1961, a 24-story, 250-room hotel tower, known as Diamond of the Dunes, was added to the northern part of the property, bringing the total number of rooms to 450. At the top of the tower was the Top O' the Strip restaurant and lounge. The tower was the tallest building in the state at the time. In 1979, the South Tower was added, expanding the hotel to 1300 rooms. A second casino in a separate, round building on the site opened in 1983 under the name Oasis Casino at The Dunes. In 1985, the sultan statue was moved to the golf course during renovations, and later caught fire, reportedly due to an electrical short. On November 17, 1992, the Dunes was sold to Wynn's company, Mirage Resorts, Inc., for $75 million. On January 26, 1993, the Dunes closed its doors for good. Steve Wynn bought the Dunes and started the redevelopment trend with the demolition of the 32-year-old North Tower. On October 27, 1993, the Dunes was demolished in a grand ceremony that involved major fireworks displays and the use of several "cannon blasts" from the English ship 'HMS Britannia' of Treasure Island Hotel and Casino. The 15-year-old South Tower was demolished 9 months later in July 1994, with no fanfare and minimal media attention. The Bellagio now stands in its place. The property is located at 3600 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas, NV 89109.
On February 21, 1972, James Hanson interviewed Mrs. Lucille Down (born December 14th, 1911 in Wellington, Kansas) in her home in Las Vegas, Nevada. The interview covers the lives of Union Pacific Railroad workers, and local education at schools such as the Las Vegas Grammar School and Las Vegas High School. Lucille discusses her first job, which was at the Southern Nevada Telephone Company. She also mentions having a swamp cooler attached to her family home. She concludes this interview with recollections on the social, recreational, religious and economic, changes that contributed to the development and growth of Las Vegas, Nevada.