The locations in Southern Nevada and the Southwestern United States photographs depict people in Southern Nevada and the Southwestern United States from approximately 1900 to 1975. The photographs include politicians and engineers investigating the Colorado River for the future sight of the Hoover (Boulder) Dam in Black Canyon; Hoover Dam workers and construction; the towns of Goodsprings, Beatty, and Indian Springs in Nevada; the Grand Canyon in Arizona; and Mount Charleston in Nevada. The items described include black-and-white photographic prints, postcards, and negatives; items listed are photographic prints unless otherwise specified.

The Southern Nevada photographs depict towns, mines, railroads, workers, and settlers in Southern Nevada from 1863 to 1960. The photographs primarily depict Native American petroglyphs, desert landscapes, mines and mining machinery, and the archaeological dig at Pueblo Grande de Nevada (also known as the Lost City). The photographs depict the towns of Virginia City, Beatty, Genoa, Searchlight, Rhyolite, St. Thomas, Lost City, Pioche, and Overton. The items described include black-and-white photographic prints, postcards, negatives, and slides; items listed are photographic prints unless otherwise specified.