Guide to the Fred and Maurine Wilson Photograph Collection This finding aid was created by Lindsay Oden and Melise Leech. This copy was published on February 11, 2020. Persistent URL for this finding aid: http://n2t.net/ark:/62930/f1ns66 © 2020 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 Fred and Maurine Wilson Photograph Collection Table of Contents Summary Information ..................................................................................................................................... 3 Biographical Note ............................................................................................................................................ 3 Scope and Contents Note ................................................................................................................................ 4 Arrangement .................................................................................................................................................... 5 Administrative Information ............................................................................................................................. 5 Related Materials ............................................................................................................................................. 6 Names and Subjects ........................................................................................................................................ 6 Collection Inventory ........................................................................................................................................ 6 Early Las Vegas, Nevada photographs ........................................................................................................ 6 Southern Nevada photographs .................................................................................................................... 15 Hoover Dam and Colorado River photographs ......................................................................................... 20 Southwestern United States photographs ................................................................................................... 23 Wilson Family photographs ....................................................................................................................... 27 - Page 2 - Guide to the Fred and Maurine Wilson Photograph Collection Summary Information Repository: University of Nevada, Las Vegas. University Libraries. Special Collections and Archives. Contributor: Wilson, Fred Holmes, 1896-1958 Creator: Wilson, Maurine Hubbard, 1898-1990 Title: Fred and Maurine Wilson Photograph Collection ID: PH-00014 Date [inclusive]: approximately approximately 1860-1990 Date [bulk]: 1900-1950 Physical Description: 3.34 Cubic Feet (28 hanging folders, 1 shared binder of slides, 1 shared box of negatives, 4 flat files, and 3 boxes) Physical Description: 9.90 Linear Feet Language of the English Material: Abstract: The Fred and Maurine Wilson Photograph Collection depicts the Wilson Family, events, and locations in Las Vegas, Nevada and the Southwestern United States from approximately 1860 to 1990. The photographs primarily depict early Las Vegas, including the Mormon Fort and Kiel Ranch; mines, towns, and railroads in Southern Nevada; the construction and planning of the Hoover (Boulder) Dam on the Colorado River; and the Wilson Family. The photographs also include prominent Las Vegas families such as the Park Family, aerial photographs of the city, landmarks on Fremont Street and downtown Las Vegas, and desert landscapes. Preferred Citation Fred and Maurine Wilson Photograph Collection, approximately 1860-1990. PH-00014. Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada. ^ Return to Table of Contents Biographical Note Helen Maurine Hubbard Wilson (1898-1990) was born in Missouri, but moved to Colorado with her parents where she graduated high school and attended Colorado Women's College in Denver as a music major. In 1922, she married Fred Holmes Wilson (1898-1958), a native of Cañon City, Colorado who had served in the Naval Geologic Services during World War I. In 1925, the couple moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, where - Page 3- Guide to the Fred and Maurine Wilson Photograph Collection Fred worked for the United States Postal Service and Maurine taught music and served as the organist for the First Methodist Church. Soon after their arrival in Las Vegas, the Wilsons met and became close friends with Dr. William S. Park and his family. They shared a deep interest in the history, archaeology, and geology of southern Nevada, and the two families made many trips throughout the southwest and California. In 1929, Fred Wilson and William S. Park began to assemble a photographic and film history of early Las Vegas, documenting everything from baseball games to the first air mail delivery to Las Vegas. Their efforts were cut short when Fred Wilson's health began to decline in 1940. After that, Wilson devoted his time to historical research. Fred Wilson passed away in 1958 after a long illness. Maurine Hubbard Wilson preserved the legacies of her husband and William S. Park, donating the bulk of their photographic and manuscript collections to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Special Collections and Archives over the course of the 1970s and 1980s. She died in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1990. Source: "The Lost City," National Park Service, accessed April 18, 2019, https://www.nps.gov/lake/learn/the-lost- city.htm Hopkins, A. D., "A Heritage in Home Movies," Nevadan, Las Vegas Review-Journal March 16, 1980, pp.30-31J. Philips, Marjory, "Maurine Hubbard Wilson: a salute to the people who are building our Southern Nevada community," Nevada Manuscripts Program for the Bicentennial, 1976. ^ Return to Table of Contents Scope and Contents Note The Fred and Maurine Wilson Photograph Collection depicts the Wilson and Hubbard families, events, and locations in Las Vegas, Nevada and the Southwestern United States from approximately 1860 to 1990. The photographs primarily depict early Las Vegas, including the Mormon Fort and Kiel Ranch; mines, towns, and railroads in Southern Nevada; the construction and planning of the Hoover (Boulder) Dam on the Colorado River; and the Wilson Family. The photographs also include prominent Las Vegas families such as the Park Family, aerial photographs of the city, landmarks on Fremont Street and downtown Las Vegas, and desert landscapes. The items described include black-and-white photographic prints, postcards, negatives, and slides; items listed are photographic prints unless otherwise specified. ^ Return to Table of Contents - Page 4- Guide to the Fred and Maurine Wilson Photograph Collection Arrangement Materials are arranged into five series: Series I. Early Las Vegas, Nevada photographs, approximately 1870-1960; Series II. Southern Nevada photographs, 1863-1960; Series III. Hoover Dam and Colorado River photographs, approximately 1925-1960; Series IV. Southwestern United States photographs, approximately 1900-1974; Series V. Wilson Family photographs, approximately 1860-1990. ^ Return to Table of Contents Administrative Information Access Note Collection is open for research with the exception of materials that are closed in accordance with Nevada Revised Statute (NRS) 383.011-383.540. Restrictions are noted at the file level of this inventory. Portions of this collection have been digitized and are available online. 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 several installments from 1975 to 1980 by Fred and Maurine Wilson; accession numbers 75-289, 76-27, 77-6, 78-32, 78-118, 80-112. Processing Note Materials were processed by Special Collections 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 2020, as part of an archival backlog elimination project, Melise Leech revised the collection description to bring it into compliance with current professional standards. ^ Return to Table of Contents - Page 5- Guide to the Fred and Maurine Wilson Photograph Collection Related Materials Related Materials The following resources may provide additional information related to the materials in this collection: Fred and Maurine Wilson Collection, 1916-1980. MS-00012. Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada. ^ Return to Table of Contents Names and Subjects • Photographs • Las Vegas (Nev.) • Hoover Dam (Ariz. and Nev.) • Colorado River (Colo.-Mexico) • Death Valley (Calif. and Nev.) • Mines and mineral resources • Railroads • Kiel Ranch (North Las Vegas, Nev.) • Las Vegas Mormon Fort (Nev.) Collection Inventory Early Las Vegas, Nevada photographs, approximately approximately 1870-1960 Physical Description: 1.44 Cubic Feet (11 hanging folders, 3 flat files, and 1 shared box of negatives) Physical Description: 4.63 Linear Feet Scope and Contents Note: The early Las Vegas, Nevada photographs depict the Euro-American