The Jacob E. Von Tobel Photograph Collection contains black-and-white photographs of the pioneer Von Tobel family from 1900 to 1980. The collection includes photographs of the Von Tobel family, early Las Vegas, Nevada buildings and landmarks, and aerial photographs of Las Vegas and surrounding areas.
The Ham Family Photograph Collection contains five photographic albums primarily featuring images of the Ham family's travels throughout the western United States and Artemus W. Ham Jr. and Betty Ham Dokter during their childhood between approximately 1900-1949. Also included is one photograph used as a Christmas greeting for the Ham family from 1981. The photographs feature locations including Cedar Breaks National Monument, Utah; Grand Canyon, Arizona; and Yosemite National Park, California. The collection also contains photographs of the Ham family at Mormon sites throughout Utah. Lastly, there are postcards and photographs of locations throughout the United States, Germany, and Japan.
Bio taken from the "about" section of the Joyce Straus - Foundation for the Arts website:
"Joyce Elise Straus, (nee Lazowick), was born Oct. 1, 1935, in Philadelphia, to her parents Jacob and Frances. Joyce came to Las Vegas in 1961 with her husband of 56 years, the late Dr. Neil B. Straus, to raise their family.
Steven Parker grew up and went to school in Connecticut. His only sibling was finishing a post doctorate at Yale and had accepted a job at one of the California State schools when his life was tragically ended through suicide. Parker graduated from Assumption College in Massachusetts with a bachelor's in political science and got a scholarship to the State University of New York at Albany. About halfway through his Master of Public Administration degree, the dean encouraged him to go on for his doctorate.