This collection is comprised of the personal papers of noted Las Vegas entertainment writer, producer, and critic Bill Willard, which date from 1887 to 1999. It contains material on his father's theater and political involvements as well as Willard's early childhood and high school years. His time in the United States Army is chronicled by the editorials and correspondence he wrote. His papers trace his continued involvement in writing, entertainment, and art which culminated in his direction of the Arnold Shaw Popular Music Research Center. The collection also includes pictures of his artwork, articles he wrote for various newspapers and magazines, scripts, skits, jokes, awards, over 700 audio cassette recorded interviews done for the "Rap with the Artist" series, and personal memorabilia.
Ilene Bittle (1936-) was an educator from the Clark County School District, and a life-long resident of Henderson, Nevada. Over the years, she collected assorted memorabilia and visual materials from the old Basic High School in Henderson. Materials included scrapbooks, newspaper clippings, event programs and invitations, newsletters, and other school mementos. She donated this collection to UNLV Special Collections & Archives in 1993. She was also a founding member of Friends of Henderson Libraries.