From the UNLV Libraries Single Item Accession Photograph Collection (PH-00171). University of Nevada Board of Regents. Back row, L-R: John Tom Ross, Louis Lombardi, Molly Knudtsen, Lily Fong, James "Bucky" Buchanan. Front row, L-R: Robert Cashell, Brenda Mason, John McBride, Chris Karamanos.

From the Hazel Baker Denton Photograph Collection (PH-00312). Inscription on the back reads, "Mr. Mariger, Ralph, Mrs. Mariger- May 1937."

From the Hazel Baker Denton Photograph Collection (PH-00312). Inscribed on the back is, "Lewis, Ralph, Jerry - Winter 1932."

From the Hazel Baker Denton Photograph Collection (PH-00312). Inscription on the back reads, "Ralph and Suzanne Adele Eubank - Lake Tahoe, NV- June 1943."

The mountains near Virginia City, Nevada. Virga can be seen falling from the clouds. Like many cities and towns in Nevada, Virginia City was a mining boomtown; it developed virtually overnight as a result of miners rushing to the Comstock Lode silver strike of 1859 on the eastern slopes of Mount Davidson. But, Virginia City far surpassed all others for its peak of population, technological advancements developed there, and for providing the population base upon which Nevada qualified for statehood. The riches of the Comstock Lode inspired men to hunt for silver mines throughout Nevada and other parts of the American West. At its peak, Virginia City had a population of over 25,000 residents and was called the richest city in America. Dominated by San Francisco moneyed interests, Virginia City was heralded as the sophisticated interior partner of San Francisco. “San Francisco on the coast and Virginia City inland” became the mantra of west coast Victorian entrepreneurs. Early Virginia City settlers were in large part the backwash from San Francisco and the California Gold Rush, ten years before. Mine owners who made a killing in the Comstock mines spent most of their wealth in San Francisco.

Economist and author John Kenneth Galbraith (left), Marjorie Barrick (second from left), author and commentator William F. Buckley, Jr. (third from left), and UNLV President Leonard Goodall (at right) at a Barrick Lecture event at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.