The Sierra Club Toiyabe Chapter Records (1951 to 2021) are composed of files from Sierra Club officers and environmental activists in the Southern Nevada (formerly Las Vegas) Group of the Toiyabe Chapter. The collection documents the involvement of the Southern Nevada group in a variety of environmental concerns, such as air quality, transportation, urbanization, and nuclear issues, in which the chapter has expressed interest. The records are comprised of correspondence, memoranda, meeting minutes and agendas, newspapers, magazines, newsletters, pamphlets, press releases, legislation, recommendations, resolutions, and general information. Due to the group’s location in the heart of the Mojave Desert, the collection provides excellent case studies of significant changes in the post-World War II American environmental movement, notably the increased recognition of the worth of desert lands.
Includes meeting agenda and minutes, along with additional information about funding resolutions and money allotment. CSUN Session 29 Meeting Minutes and Agendas.
On March 1, 1981, Alan Gurwitz interviewed Elton Garrett (born 1902 in St. Joseph, Missouri) about his experiences in Southern Nevada and more specifically his work in Boulder City. Garrett first talks about the development of Boulder City from its inception in 1931 and how it has grown throughout nearly fifty years. He also discusses his work in journalism for the Boulder City Journal, the building of Boulder Dam, and atomic testing at the Nevada Test Site. The second part of the interview involves a discussion of the founders of Nevada Southern University, Garrett’s work on legislative committees, and his work as a schoolteacher and school principal. The interview concludes with Garrett’s thoughts on the future of Boulder City and its continued growth.
On March 13, 1976, Mary Germain interviewed Thalia Dondero (born 1921 in Greeley, Colorado) about her life in Nevada and her experiences as the first female commissioner for the Clark County Commission. Dondero first talks about her upbringing and her eventual move to Southern Nevada. She also discusses her involvement in extracurricular activities, such as being a leader for the Girl Scouts, and how some of those experiences led her to get involved in politics. Dondero also mentions her work with National Geographic and her passion for working with oil paintings and watercolors. The final part of the interview involves some of Dondero’s accounts as a commissioner for Clark County and some of the challenges she has faced in that position.