The Robert Lang Professional Papers (1976-2020) mainly contain urban planning research and reports from former University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) professor and public policy expert Robert Lang. Materials represent different public policy related projects and issues Lang worked on when he was employed with the Fannie Mae Foundation in Washington, D.C., and Brookings Mountain West and the Lincy Institute at UNLV. Materials also include Lang's teaching files which include course syllabi, class presentation slides, and course readers. Research, notes, and drafts of Lang's books including Boomburbs: The Rise of America's Accidental Cities, Edgeless Cities: Exploring the Elusive Metropolis, and Blue Metros, Red States: The Shifting Urban-Rural Divide in America's Swing States are also represented in the collection. The collection also includes documentation for invited conferences and events documenting different conferences and events, copies of Black's Guide for commercial real estate in the United States.
The Vassili Sulich Papers (1951-2005) document the life of Vassili Sulich: ballet dancer, choreographer, and co-founder of the Nevada Dance Theatre, the first professional dance company in Nevada. Included are correspondence, newspaper clippings, newsletters, photographs, posters, and scrapbooks.
On February 26, 1980, Yatska Aldarondo interviewed psychiatric counselor, Dr. Nell Jeffers (born in Houston Texas) about her life in Las Vegas, Nevada. Dr. Jeffers discusses her work as the student and faculty counselor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. The two also discuss some of the hardships of living in a desert, as well Dr. Jeffers’ plans to move into private psychiatric practice.
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.
Interview with Gertrude Greenblatt by Dario Gratini on March 1, 1981. In this interview Greenblatt talks about arriving in Las Vegas in the 1940s, and the changes that took place place such as population growth, price increases, employment requirements, and recreation. She also talks about the changes in utilities and environmental issues.
Temple Beth Sholom invitation and program for the building dedication includes a guide to the Judaic art in the synagogue and a list of past presidents.
In this essay, Jerry Countess provides narrative context for a demographic study of the Jewish population in Las Vegas, and addresses the services and community needs revealed by the study and the growing Jewish population.