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 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 Florence McClure Photograph Collection (approximately 1985-1997) consists of color photographic prints. Images show McClure and members of the Las Vegas, Nevada Community Action Against Rape (CAAR) organization that she co-founded with Sandi Petta in 1973. Also included are images of Nevada public figures and several travel images from China.
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.
Information about the Aruba Hotel (Thunderbird) sign that sits at 1215 S Las Vegas Blvd. Site name: Thunderbird Hotel and Casino (Las Vegas, Nev.) Site address: 1215 S Las Vegas Blvd Sign owner: 1215 Las Vegas Blvd LLC; C.F. Saticoy, LP Sign details: The building was constructed in 1964 (Assessor). A vintage postcard from 1967 shows the Lotus Inn Motel and a Sambo's restaurant (VintageVegas.com, 2017). The hotel was renamed the Monte Carlo Inn in 1979, but reverted in the 1980's to the Lotus Inn (VintageVegas, 2017). In 1985, it became the Tally Ho (VintageVegas). Casino owner Bob Stupak renamed it the Thunderbird in 1986 or 1987 (VintageVegas). Stupak proposed building 15-story, $400 million resort hotel called the Titanic on the site, but vocal opposition from residents of the nearby John S. Park neighborhood and a trademark controversy derailed the project (Knightly, 2014). The property was renamed the Aruba Hotel in the early 2000's and became the Thunderbird in 2016 (O'Brien, 2016; VintageVegas). As of April 2017, a 15-story residential building was planned for the site (Carter, 2017). Sign condition: Condition is 5, excellent. The lower portion of the sign is wrapped in plastic. The exposed upper portion of the sign shows the cabinet, paint and neon all in new condition. All of the neon tubes are intact and functioning. Sign form: Blade Sign-specific description: The lower portion of the rectangular metal cabinet is wrapped in black plastic. "THUNDERBIRD" is spelled out in white blocks and red serif letters which run vertically down both sides of the plastic wrap. The upper portion of the cabinet is exposed. The cabinet is topped by a bird shape facing the street. The bird and visible part of the rectangular cabinet are painted forest green. Both sides of the bird are covered in white, blue, pink, yellow and green skeleton neon. Underneath the bird , a horizontal yellow skeleton neon tube is visible. Sign - type of display: Neon Sign - media: Steel Sign environment: Las Vegas Blvd north of the Strip. Property is surrounded by other motels and wedding chapels. Sign - date of installation: c. 2007 Sign - thematic influences: Tropical, Caribbean and Old Vegas. The parrot on top of the sign closely resembles the symbol of the former Thunderbird hotel on the Las Vegas Strip. The property has used the Thunderbird name intermittently since the 1980's, even when it was the Aruba hotel and the word "THUNDERBIRD" appeared over an "Aruba" sign. (Vegas24Seven, 2012) Survey - research locations: Assessor's website Survey - research notes: Carter, J. (2017 April 27). Fights are brewing over a proposed 15-story building downtown. Las Vegas Weekly. Retrieved from https://lasvegasweekly.com/intersection/2017/apr/27/fights-are- brewing-over- proposed-building- downtown/ Knightly, A. M. (2014 August 31). A history of landmarks never built. Las Vegas Review Journal. Retrieved from https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/a-history- of-landmarks- never-built/ O'Brien, J. (2016 January 21). Thunderbird Hotel reopening with former Arts Factory owner at helm. Retrieved from http://vegasseven.com/2016/01/21/thunderbird-hotel- reopens/ http://www.vegas24seven.com/substance-cd- release-sinicle- the-great- circuiting-mechanical- death-a- sinners-confession- at-the- aruba-hotel- saturday-june- 30th/ Vegas24Seven.com. (2012). Substance CD Release, Sinicle, The Great Circuiting, Mechanical Death, A Sinners Confession at The Aruba Hotel Saturday June 30th . Retrieved from Vintage Vegas. (2017 February 16). Archive: Lotus Inn Motel, c. 1967. Retrieved from http://vintagelasvegas.com/post/157345077754/lotus-inn- las-vegas Zeitzer, I. (2007 June 29). On The One, The Aruba Hotel " Las Vegas, NV- 6/22. Retrieved from http://www.jambands.com/reviews/shows/2007/06/29/on-the- one-the- aruba-hotel- las-vegas- nv-6-22#ixzz4rBUwxlkh Surveyor: Mitchell Cohen Survey - date completed: 2017-08-30 Sign keywords: Blade; Neon; Steel