September 25-26, 2015 Nevada Historical Society History Conference Thinking Beyond Nevada’s Borders: Western History in New Perspectives Society reinvents conference OVERVIEW The Nevada Historical The first conference had of Nevada, early explorers and Fri: 5-7pm Society is happy to reinvent three conference sessions, emigrants in Nevada, and the Reception Lecture our annual history confer- two banquets and two early development of the Sat: 8:30-9:00am ence. It's been seven years luncheons and was held at livestock business in Nevada. Continental since the Society hosted the the historic Riverside Hotel. last conference in 2008. Governor Grant Sawyer gave Breakfast Today, the topics might have an address to the attendees 9:00am The first history conference changed but the fascination of during the Centennial Conference Begins put on by the Society dates Nevada’s history still lives on. Banquet on May 8, 1964. back to May 7 thru 9, 1964 10:15-10:30am in honor of the state’s Break The session topics covered Centennial and the Society’s were the influence of the 11:50-1:00pm 60th anniversary. Lunch on your own Mormons in the settlement 2:45-3:00pm Break Brief history about the Society 4:45pm For 46 years, from 1904 to She wrote tirelessly to many from her vision to create what Conference ends 1950, Dr. Jeanne Elizabeth ‘old timers’ around the state has become Nevada’s oldest Wier was the Executive asking them to record their cultural institution. The profes- Secretary, what is now known reminiscences of early Nevada. sional staff continue her legacy as Director, of the Nevada She spent most of her summer as they work with the public to INSIDE THIS Historical Society. As a vacations on the road, in actively collect for tomorrow’s PROGRAM founding member of the trains, wagons, and even on Nevadans. Academy of Arts and Sciences, horseback searching the state Schedule 2-3 the University-based for what she termed ‘historical organization behind the relics’ to bring back to the Society’s origins, she was the Society’s collections. She Division M&H 3 Society’s guiding light. believed that if the history of At first, the Society Nevada wasn’t collected membership rate was $1 per year. Yet even with 400 Presenter Bios 3-7 Wier was essentially the immediately that it would be Society, since she had taken it lost to future generations. initial members statewide, upon herself to begin the Society could not survive Quarterly History 4 collecting Nevada materials It is through her exhaustive on such a small budget. and storing them in her home. and relentless work that many With a full time job at the of the resources available for In 1907, the Legislature Volunteering 5 University of Nevada, first as the study of Nevada exist to- created the Nevada an associate professor of day. It has been 111 years Historical Society as an Society Mission 6 History and then as the head since Jeanne Elizabeth Wier agency of state government, of the Department of History began her quest to save Ne- yet the Society was not and Political Science, Wier still vada’s history by preserving all included in the Governor’s Membership 7 managed to create a viable types of collection materials. budget until 1909. society – and she did it without The Society and the citizens of ever receiving a salary. Nevada continue to benefit P a g e 2 NHS History Conference Conference Schedule Friday, September 25th, 2015 Friday evening lecture is ‘All Roads Lead to Nevada’ 3:00pm – 5:00pm – Check in for presenters Diana L. Ahmad is an historian of the 5:00pm – 6:00pm – Reception in the nineteenth-century American West focusing on CHANGING GALLERY the vice, as well as on traditional overland trails 6:00pm – 7:00pm – Lecture in Research Library history. Her current book manuscript, “Success by Conference Guest Speaker, Diana L. Ahmad, depends on the Animals: Emigrants, Livestock, PhD – author and Professor of History at the and Wild Animals on the Overland Trails, 1840- Missouri University of Science and Technology. 1869, is currently under submission. Diana L. Ahmad, guest lecturer Conference schedule Saturday, September 26th 10:35am-10:55am: “Mystery on the Candidate, Director of History Depart- Mainline: What Wrecked the “City of ment Writing Center, and History In- 8:30am – 9:00am – Admission and San Francisco?” by Christopher Mac- structor, University of Nevada, Reno. Refreshments (CHANGING GALLERY) Mahon, student – California State 9:00am – 4:45pm – Lectures University Channel Islands History 1:25pm-1:45pm: “Reno at the Races: (RESEARCH LIBRARY) - Limited Department. Sporting Life versus Progressive Re- form” by Emerson Marcus, State Seating is available. 11:00am-11:20am: “Mining Mercury Historian, Nevada National Guard. 9:00am – 9:20am: “The Boundaries of and Tungsten in 1950s Nevada” by Being a Nevadan: National Reputa- John M. Gomes, retired mining engi- 1:50pm-2:10pm: “Washoe Redux: tion and Exceptionalism,” by Michael neer, Mineral County. Territory, Sovereignty, and Anthro- Green, PhD - author and Associate pologists” by Edan Strekal, Project Professor of History at the University 11:25am-11:45am: “Sisters All! To- Archivist at the University of Nevada, of Nevada, Las Vegas. nopah’s Women go to War, 1914- Reno Special Collections and 1918” by Phillip I. Earl, author and University Archives, and Instructor of 9:25am – 9:45am: “New Perspectives Curator of History, Emeritus – Nevada Core Humanities, University of Neva- for Native American Western Historical Society. da, Reno. History: Preparing the Western 2:15pm-2:35pm: “Resistance to “the Shoshone Defense Project Records, a 11:50-1pm – Lunch on your own New Primary Source at the University Hoofed Locusts:” Nevada’s Response of Nevada, Reno” by Jacquelyn 1:00pm – 4:45pm – Lectures to Sheep on the Public Ranges, 1889- Sundstrand, Associate Professor and (RESEARCH LIBRARY) - Limited 1903” by Iker Saitua, PhD Candidate, Manuscripts and Archives librarian, Seating is available. Center for Basque Studies, University University of Nevada, Reno Special of Nevada, Reno Moderated Panel: Managing Nevada Collections Department. Land and Livestock (Commentator: 9:50am – 10:10am: “The Inside Story William Rowley, PhD – Professor of of the National Judicial College” by History, University of Nevada, Reno The first stated mission of the June Wisniewski, author and research- Nevada Historical Society was to er. 1:00pm-1:20pm: “America’s Forest and Range Outback: Science and collect the memories of the state’s 10:15am-10:30am – Break Land Management in Nevada, 1910- earliest pioneers before they 1930” by Ryan Powell, PhD passed from the scene. Conference Schedule P a g e 3 2:45pm-3:00pm – Break 3:50pm – 4:10pm: “Then & Now: On the “…it is for us as a Society to see that 3:00pm – 3:20pm: “Constructing Back Road with Sheriff Logan After All These the landmarks of our history are not Country Wilderness: The Sierra Club and Years” by Jackie Boor, author - LOGAN: obscured, neither the portraits of our the Clair Tappaan Lodge at Donner The Honorable Life and Scandalous Death heroes and our pioneers lost to pre- Summit” by Kimberly J. Roberts, M.A., of a Western Lawman (2014). sent view. Certain it is that the day Photograph Curator - Special Collections cannot be far distant when no human Department, University of Nevada, Reno. 4:15pm – 4:45pm: “The Nevada Historical Society Quarterly -- Past, Present, and memory will be able to furnish the 3:25pm – 3:45pm: “C.D. Baker and the Future” by John Reid, PhD – Quarterly details of the events which have made Rise of Las Vegas” by Eugene P. Moehring, Editor-in-Chief, and Chair for History, us what we are today.” PhD - author and Professor of History at Political Science, and Law Department at The Mission of the Historical Society the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. TMCC, Reno. Jeanne Elizabeth Wier, 1905 NEVADA DIVISION The Department of Tourism and MUSEUMS AND HISTORY Cultural Affairs is a cabinet level agency that works to market Nevada as a premier Mission: The Division of Museums and History destination for leisure and business preserves, shares, and promotes the under- travelers and enhance the quality of life standing and celebration of Nevada’s natural for all who live in the state. and cultural heritage for the enrichment of all generations. You’ll find a wealth of Nevada’s most exciting, intriguing, creative & historic Vision: Recognized as the most trusted experiences. We hope you’ll explore the stewards and engaging storytellers of myriad of places and meet the fascinating Nevada’s heritage. people who make living in and visiting the state so extraordinary. Philosophy: We will work as a team to build The Society is part of the Discover Nevada’s remarkable tourism and consensus and fulfill our vision, putting the cultural arts offerings. Department of Tourism & public’s needs first while adhering to the Cultural Affairs and highest professional standards. Division of Museum & History. Presenter Bios Diana L. Ahmad, Ph.D. Jackie Boor Author and Professor of History at the Missouri University of Science and Technology Jackie Boor is an award-winning author with more than thirty years of research experience. Her career began in 1968 a teen Diana L. Ahmad received her Ph.D. from the University of Mis- correspondent for two Northern California newspapers. A resi- souri and is an historian of the nineteenth-century American dent of Sacramento, her first major work published in 2010, In- West focusing on the vice, as well as on traditional overland side the President’s Helicopter: Reflections of a White House trails history. Her current book manuscript, “Success depends on Senior Pilot is an award-winning memoir of LTC Gene Boyer.