The Pearl Francis Neeley Photograph Collection (approximately 2000-2024) consists of digital reproductions of Francis and Neeley family photographs taken from approximately 1890 to 1945 throughout Central and Southern Nevada. Notable locations include Pioche, Eagle Valley, Spring Valley, and Las Vegas, Nevada. Also included in the collection is a digital reproduction of an autobiographical typescript by Neeley titled “My Life History,” and a multipart audio recording of Neeley recollecting her experiences growing up in rural Nevada and other events in her life. This collection consists entirely of digital surrogates.
The collection is comprised of drawings (1965-1996) completed by American architect Gary Guy Wilson and/or his architectural firm, Gary Guy Wilson, AIA, Architect Studios and contains 613 sets of drawings from over 250 different projects. Primarily focused on the Las Vegas, Nevada area, the materials feature hand-drawn architectural drawings, ranging from preliminary sketches to construction documents, and a number of printed computer aided drawings. The drawings also contain work from a number of consultants, engineers, and other architects who collaborated on the development of the various projects. The drawings include: commercial and professional buildings of varying scales, such as convenience stores, hotels, casinos, shopping centers, and office developments; schools; military buildings at both Nellis and Indian Springs Air Force Bases; multi-family residential developments; and custom single-family homes located throughout the Southwest (United States).
Information about the Poker Palace sign that sits at 2757 N Las Vegas Blvd. Site address: 2757 N Las Vegas Blvd Sign owner: Marvin and Laura Coleman Sign details: This location opened 1974 with a castle theme. This location is also claimed as a locals casino. In 2015 their main pylon roadside sign caught on fire, but it was recently replaced. Sign condition: 4- the signs that were not in the fire are still in relatively good condition Sign form: Two pylons and architectural sign Sign-specific description: The building itself has many different neon signs on it mostly red neon. Also the buildings architecture matches the palace theme. There are two pylon signs the first one states "Poker Palace Bingo" in channeled neon letters, then below is a reader board. The second pylon is just north a little of the first one, this is the one that caught on fire in 2015. After the fire the beam bases of the sign remained. This sign has "Poker Palace Casino" in red channeled letters. Sign - type of display: Neon and incandescent Sign - media: Steel and plastic Sign - non-neon treatments: Reader board Sign animation: Flasher for incandescent light bulbs. Sign environment: This is located in North Las Vegas in a residential area and by a few other small businesses. Sign - date of installation: Late 2015/ early 2016 for new pylon sign, others look to be older Sign - date of redesign/move: 2015 pylon sign went up in flames and was destroyed, then replaced Sign - thematic influences: The building looks like a palace which goes with their names and theme. Also their signs showcases similar shapes to the building. Survey - research locations: Poker Palace website http://pokerpalace.net/History.html , Images of sign , Review Journal article https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/local-las-vegas/nlv-casino-marquee-fire-sends-up-plume-visible-for-miles/ Surveyor: Wyatt Currie-Diamond Survey - date completed: 2017-08-23 Sign keywords: Architectural; Neon; Incandescent; Steel; Plastic; Flashing; Reader board; Pylon; Fascia
Oral history interview with William O'Neill McCurdy by Claytee D. White on January 26, 2022 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: A Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, McCurdy describes his childhood growing up in Las Vegas, Nevada, graduating from Valley High School, and attending Western Nevada College in Carson City, Nevada. He worked for many years for the Parks and Recreation department, and has served on numerous boards including the Citizens' Advisory for Regional Transportation (RTC), Habitat for Humanity Board of Director, Mineral County Economic Advisory Committee, City of Las Vegas Community Block Grant Advisory Board, and Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority Commission. Currently, McCurdy owns McCurdy & McCurdy Media Group, a political consulting and advertising firm which has assisted numerous political candidates in fulfilling their dreams of helping to govern Las Vegas, Clark County, the State of Nevada, and even in the United States Congress.