The collection is comprised of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) Department of Anthropology and Ethnic Studies administrative records, memoranda, and correspondence dating from 1966 to 2006. The collection includes information about UNLV's department of Anthropology and Ethnic Studies from its inception at Nevada Southern University, its transition to UNLV, and research initiatives the department has undertaken.

The Nevada Mining Photograph Collection depicts mining activities, miners, and mining towns in Nevada from 1868 to 1937. The photographs primarily depict the towns of Tonopah, Nevada and Goldfield, Nevada, including mills, buildings, mine shafts, and panoramic views of the landscape. The photographs also depict Beatty, Lost City, Delamar, Candelaria, Winnemucca, Virginia City, Rhyolite, Elko, and Reno, Nevada. The photographs also include portraits of early settlers in Nevada, Native Americans, children, parades, celebrations, and funerals.

The Nye County, Nevada Photograph Collection contains photographs from Nye County, Nevada from 1880 to 1990. The collection includes a wide variety of photographs that document the activities, landmarks, geographical features, towns, ranches, and families of Nye County. The collection covers the areas of Amargosa Valley, Ash Meadows, Beatty, Duckwater, Gabbs, Goldfield, Kawich Mountains, Manhattan, Pahrump, Round Mountain, Rhyolite, Smoky Valley, Springdale, Tecopa, Tonopah, and Twin Springs. The activities documented include mining, prospecting, herding animals, schooling, ranching, building construction, railroad construction, and hunting and fishing.