Guide to the Toni and Wilbur Clark Photographs This finding aid was created by Lindsay Oden and Lauren Paljusaj. This copy was published on December 05, 2019. Persistent URL for this finding aid: http://n2t.net/ark:/62930/f1pm28 © 2019 The Regents of the University of Nevada. All rights reserved. University of Nevada, Las Vegas. University Libraries. Special Collections and Archives. Box 457010 4505 S. Maryland Parkway Las Vegas, Nevada 89154-7010 [email protected] Guide to the Toni and Wilbur Clark Photographs Table of Contents Summary Information ..................................................................................................................................... 3 Biographical Note ............................................................................................................................................ 3 Scope and Contents Note ................................................................................................................................ 4 Arrangement .................................................................................................................................................... 4 Administrative Information ............................................................................................................................. 4 Related Materials ............................................................................................................................................. 5 Names and Subjects ........................................................................................................................................ 5 Collection Inventory ........................................................................................................................................ 6 Wilbur Clark's Las Vegas, Nevada business photographs ........................................................................... 6 Wilbur Clark's personal photographs ......................................................................................................... 18 - Page 2 - Guide to the Toni and Wilbur Clark Photographs Summary Information Repository: University of Nevada, Las Vegas. University Libraries. Special Collections and Archives. Creator: Clark, Wilbur, 1908-1965 Contributor: Clark, Toni, 1915-2006 Title: Toni and Wilbur Clark Photographs ID: PH-00302 Date [inclusive]: 1910 to 1975 Physical Description: 0.81 Cubic Feet (14 hanging folders, 1 shared box of negatives, and 1 flat file) Physical Description: 2.52 Linear Feet Language of the English Material: Abstract: The Toni and Wilbur Clark Photographs depict Las Vegas, Nevada casino owner and land developer Wilbur Clark and his wife Toni from 1910 to 1975. The photographs primarily document Wilbur and Toni Clark at the Desert Inn, the hotel and casino Wilbur co-owned. The photographs also depict him with politicians and entertainers, and Wilbur and Toni Clark's house in Las Vegas. Preferred Citation Toni and Wilbur Clark Photographs, 1910-1975. PH-00302. Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada. ^ Return to Table of Contents Biographical Note Businessman and developer Wilbur Clark was born in Keyesport, Illinois on December 27, 1908 to Shirley and Lulu Clark. He moved to San Diego, California as a teenager, working a series of jobs before relocating to Reno, Nevada. While working in casinos and investing in other businesses in Reno, Clark kept his eye on business opportunities in Las Vegas, Nevada. Wilbur Clark married Toni Gaglionese in 1944. That same year, he purchased the El Rancho Vegas on the Las Vegas Strip and also invested in the Monte Carlo Club on Fremont Street in Las Vegas. He sold his interest in the two properties in 1946 and used the proceeds to begin building a new resort on the Strip, the Desert Inn. Due to rising post-war construction costs the project ran low on funds, and Wilbur Clark sold a majority interest in the Desert Inn to Moe Dalitz in order to finish construction. Wilbur Clark's Desert Inn - Page 3- Guide to the Toni and Wilbur Clark Photographs opened on April 24, 1950, adding an eighteen-hole golf course a year later. He was a partner in the Desert Inn until he sold his interest in 1964. In addition to the Desert Inn, Wilbur Clark built the Paradise Gardens housing development in Las Vegas, naming the streets after himself and his family. He also served as mayor of the township of Paradise Valley, Nevada. Wilbur Clark died of a heart attack on August 27, 1965. Sources: Burbank, Jeff. "Desert Inn." Accessed November 20, 2019. http://www.onlinenevada.org/articles/desert-inn DeMateo, Deanna. "Wilbur Clark." Accessed November 20, 2019. http://www.lvstriphistory.com/ie/ clark.htm ^ Return to Table of Contents Scope and Contents Note The Toni and Wilbur Clark Photographs document the life of Las Vegas, Nevada casino owner and land developer Wilbur Clark and his wife Toni from 1910 to 1975. In addition to photographs of Wilbur's early life, the collection mostly depicts Wilbur and Toni Clark and the Desert Inn in Las Vegas, Nevada. There are photographs of Wilbur Clark at events with various business associates, politicians, and entertainers. The collection also includes photographs of Wilbur and Toni Clark's home in Las Vegas. ^ Return to Table of Contents Arrangement Materials are arranged into two series: Series I. Wilbur Clark's Las Vegas, Nevada business photographs, 1943-1975; Series II. Wilbur Clark's personal photographs, 1910-1960. ^ Return to Table of Contents Administrative Information Access Note Collection is open for research. - Page 4- Guide to the Toni and Wilbur Clark Photographs Publication Rights Materials in this collection may be protected by copyrights and other rights. See Reproductions and Use on the UNLV Special Collections and Archives website for more information about reproductions and permissions to publish. Acquisition Note Materials were donated in 1995 by Toni Clark; accession number 95-49. Processing Note Materials were processed by Special Collections and Archives staff. In 2016, as part of a legacy finding aid conversion project, Lindsay Oden wrote the collection description in compliance with current professional standards. In 2019, Lauren Paljusaj revised the finding aid. ^ Return to Table of Contents Related Materials Related Collections The following resources may provide additional information related to the materials in this collection: Toni Clark oral history interview, 1996 July 02. OH-02781. Oral History Research Center, Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada. Wilbur and Toni Clark Collection, 1944-1991. MS-00361. Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada. ^ Return to Table of Contents Names and Subjects • Photographs • Casinos • Hotels • Las Vegas (Nev.) • Desert Inn Hotel and Casino (Las Vegas, Nev.) - Page 5- Guide to the Toni and Wilbur Clark Photographs Collection Inventory Wilbur Clark's Las Vegas, Nevada business photographs, 1943-1975 Physical Description: 2.5 Linear Feet (14 hanging folders, 1 flat file, and 1 shared box of negatives) Scope and Contents Note: Wilbur Clark's Las Vegas, Nevada business photographs depict Wilbur Clark's businesses in Las Vegas, including the Desert Inn and meetings with other prominent Nevada figures, from 1943 to 1975. The photographs include the celebration of the Desert Inn's first anniversary and Wilbur Clark's 48th birthday party held at the Desert Inn. The photographs also depict Clark meeting with numerous individuals, including politicians such as President Harry Truman, Tennessee Governor Frank Clement, Speaker of the House of Representatives Sam Rayburn, and former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt; entertainers such as Liberace and Elvis Presley; and Nevada governors Charles Russell and Vail Pittman. The photographs also document the CBS television show hosted at Wilbur and Toni Clark's house. The items described include photographic prints and negatives; items listed are photographic prints unless otherwise specified. Arrangement: Materials remain in original order. Title/Description Containers Wilbur Clark, Hank Greenberg, and a man outside of El Rancho Vegas, Las folder 01 Vegas, Nevada, approximately 1943-1945 (0302_0017) (view online) Mrs. Ted Charleston, the Regent H. R. H. Abdul al-Ilah of Iraq, and Toni Clark, folder 01 Las Vegas, Nevada, 1945 June 27 (0302_0019) (view online) Wilbur Clark, Las Vegas, Nevada, approximately 1950-1960 (0302_0020) (view folder 01 online) Wilbur Clark, Las Vegas, Nevada, approximately 1950-1960 (0302_0021) (view folder 01 online) Wilbur Clark working on a scale model of a roulette table, Las Vegas, Nevada, folder 01 approximately 1946-1955 (0302_0022) (view online) Wilbur Clark, Las Vegas, Nevada, approximately 1950-1960 (0302_0023) (view folder 01 online) Wilbur Clark with a man, approximately 1945-1950 (0302_0024) (view online) folder 01 Wilbur Clark Clark and guests at a bar, Las Vegas, Nevada, approximately folder 02 1946-1954 (0302_0029) (view online) Wilbur Clark Clark and guests at a bar, Las Vegas, Nevada, approximately folder 02 1946-1954 (0302_0030) (view online) Wilbur Clark posing on a diving board at the Desert Inn, Las Vegas, Nevada, folder 02 approximately 1947-1960 (0302_0031) (view online) Wilbur Clark in front of the Desert Inn sign, Las Vegas, Nevada, approximately folder 02 1950-1960 (0302_0032) (view