The Elmo C. Bruner Architectural and Real Estate Appraisal Records date from 1937 to 1996 and contain architectural and appraisal records from Las Vegas, Nevada. Bruner joined A.L. Worswick’s office in 1947, taking it over following Worswick’s retirement in 1954. In 1958, Bruner formed the Las Vegas Appraisal and Finance Corporation. The bulk of the collection consists of appraisal records for residential and commercial properties in Las Vegas, Henderson, and North Las Vegas. These records provide a detailed look at the urban development of the region as well as building design, style, and neighborhood characteristics. The architectural drawings highlight the work of Worswick and Bruner, including Frazier Hall at Las Vegas High School and the original adobe administration building at McCarran Airport.
The Mike O'Callaghan Professional Papers (1943, 1968-2004) mainly consist of research files gathered by Mike O'Callaghan in his post-political capacity as executive editor of the Las Vegas Sun as well as owner and publisher of the Henderson Home News, Boulder City News, and Green Valley News. The papers also contain handwritten and typewritten drafts of O'Callaghan's "Where I Stand" article for the Las Vegas Sun, along with his reporter's notebooks, monthly planners, and photographic prints. The research files cover a wide variety of topics, including but not limited to environmental issues; nuclear waste; state and local politics; military and veterans affairs; foreign relations including Israel, Iraq, and Korea; and education. The collection also contains copies of speeches given by O'Callaghan as the 23rd Governor of Nevada between 1971 and 1979, some of which contain handwritten notations.
The Story of Classic Las Vegas Oral History Interviews (approximately 1950-2006) is comprised of raw and edited video recordings of oral history interviews used for The Story of Classic Las Vegas documentary which was produced, directed, and edited by Lynn Zook. The documentary offers first person historical overviews of what it was like to live in Las Vegas, Nevada from the 1920s to the 1970s. Individuals interviewed include a wide range of community members of the Las Vegas Valley including business owners, educators, entertainers, politicians, gaming professionals, casino workers, and activists. Materials also include a media kit with promotional materials and interview transcript for one of the interviewees, Betty Willis.
The Bob Coffin Political Papers (approximately 1861-2021) document the political career of independent Democrat Bob Coffin who served in the Nevada Assembly, State Senate, and Las Vegas City Council from 1983 to 2019. Collection materials primarily consist of legislative research files associated with Coffin's committee assignments. City Council records in this collection include budget files, constituent concerns, and city project files. The collection also includes election materials used for Coffin's political campaigns and include posters, mailers, as well as newspaper clippings and information on Coffin's opponents.
The Young Electric Sign Company (YESCO) Corporate Records (1914-2000) document the history of the Young Electric Sign Company (YESCO) and is comprised of photographs of sign production and finished signs, negatives, slides, transparencies, anniversary scrapbooks, and videotapes. The collection also contains meeting minutes, correspondence, price books, drawings, calculations, newspaper and trade magazine articles on YESCO, advertising materials, and oral history interviews and audio recordings of YESCO designers and executives. YESCO is responsible for many of the neon signs in and around Las Vegas, Nevada and Reno, Nevada, as well as other Western states.
The Bill Schafer Papers (1980-2018) contain personal and professional papers of Las Vegas, Nevada journalist and publisher, Bill Schafer, and photographs from various LGBTQIA+ related events in Las Vegas. The materials include files related to Schafer's work managing the Las Vegas Night Beat and Las Vegas Bugle publications. The collection contains copies of various LGBTQIA+ directories and photographs from events such as the Las Vegas Pride parade and the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada's annual Honorarium. Also included are photographs and papers from Schafer's involvement with the Imperial Royal Sovereign Court of the Desert Empire, Inc.
The Thomas Hickey Political Papers (1964-1996) contain the professional files of Hickey’s career as a Nevada State Assemblyman and Senator. Materials include constituent correspondence, voting records, memoranda, newspaper clippings, bills, and research documentation on topics such as the Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Repository, the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), education, health, prisons, finance, and Nevada infrastructure. The collection highlights Hickey’s role on committees including finance, transportation, government affairs, and ways and means.
The Frontier Hotel and Casino Collection documents the history, entertainers, and events at the Frontier Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada from 1942 to 1988. The collection includes promotional material, photographs, correspondence, invoices, legal documents, and newspaper clippings.