Ham, Artemus W., Sr., 1892-1970

Artemus W. “Art” Ham Sr. (1892-1970) was a highly respected Las Vegas, Nevada attorney and a philanthropist who devoted his work towards the Las Vegas community as well as the development of the Las Vegas strip. Ham was also president of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce in 1929 and a recognized supporter to the University of Las Vegas, Nevada (UNLV). He became active in the city’s real estate and had faith in the future of Las Vegas.

Artemus W. Ham Sr. was born on February 14, 1892 in Chicago to Mr. and Mrs. Elmer N. Ham. His father, Elmer N. Ham, was a conductor on one of the first trains to enter Las Vegas. Ham received his elementary and high school education in Los Angeles, California and gained an interest in the practice of law. He matriculated and graduated from the University of Michigan Law School with an LLB degree in 1914, returning to Los Angeles to practice law with his brother, Walter A. Ham. Ham then met his wife Alta Mereness Ham and married on June 8, 1915 in Los Angeles. The newlyweds eventually moved to Las Vegas, Nevada the following year in 1916. Becoming early residents of Southern Nevada, Ham and his wife were active in the community’s social and political activities and displayed great leadership in the legal profession and business affairs of Las Vegas. The couple had three children together: Artemus W. Ham Jr., Betty Katherine Ham, and Robert Ham. The family lived on 1000 South Sixth Street.

Ham served as an attorney during his early years after settling in Southern Nevada, specializing in mining law. He then worked as a Las Vegas attorney from 1924 to 1928 and soon progressed to become an acknowledged divorce attorney for Hollywood celebrities in the 1930s and the 1940s with partner Judge Ryland G. Taylor. Ham announced his retirement from law practice on October 16, 1946 and continued to handle the cases of some of his long-time clients. After serving in the armed forces and finishing his studies in law, eldest son Artemus W. Ham Jr. collaborated with Ham in 1948 in the law firm of Ham and Ham and soon took over his father’s practice. During his career, Ham was admitted to the Nevada state and the American Bar associations, the California state Bar association, the Michigan Bar, and the Las Vegas Bar associations. He served as president of the Las Vegas Bar association for two terms in 1925 and 1934 and was a member of the Board of Governors for 10 years.

Due to his pledge of $100,000 for early UNLV’s Performing Arts Center, the university’s concert hall was named the Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall. The Ham family continues to practice their philanthropy by providing scholarships to the university to this day. Artemus W. Ham Sr. passed away on May 25, 1970.

Sources:

Jones, Florence Lee. “A Lawyer Watches Las Vegas Grow.” Las Vegas Review-Journal, September 3, 1963: 19. NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current. Accessed May 28, 2020.

Lohman, Travis. “The Ham behind the fine arts buildings.” Rebel Yell, 2008-09-18, Page 8. Accessed May 28, 2020.

Jones, Florence Lee. “Socially Speaking.” Las Vegas Review-Journal, June 13, 1965: 68. NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current. Accessed May 28, 2020.

"Ham Family holds Reunion in Las Vegas with Four Generations Participating." Las Vegas Review-Journal, May 13, 1951: 14. NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current. Accessed May 28, 2020.

”Founders of Center Announced at Dinner.” Las Vegas Review-Journal, April 28, 1968: 103. NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current. Accessed May 28, 2020.

Betty Ham Dokter Photographs Collection, 1850-1976. PH-00012. Special Collections, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada. Accessed May 28, 2020.