Nevada State Museum Newsletter Volume XXXIX, Number 2 May 2003

At the Museum . . . Nevada History Day Draws a Crowd

By BOB NYLEN Nevada State Museum Curator of History On March 22 the Nevada State Museum hosted the state championship for Nevada National History Day. The event is sponsored by the Nevada Humanities Committee and this year's theme, "Rights and Responsibilities," inspired more than 160 students in the 6th through the 12th grades to enter one or more of the four contest categories of papers, exhibits, media or performances. Competitions are divided into junior and senior divisions, and those placing first and second in each of the four categories are eligible for the national competition, scheduled for June in College Park, Maryland. An award ceremony was held in the Assembly Chamber at the Nevada State Capitol, and the top prizes for the day went to the following students:

1st place Individual Exhibits, Pershing County High School, Lovelock, Jeff Meyers, Senior Division

Russell R. Elliott, $350 prize sponsored by the Nevada Corral of Westerners International for the best entry on Western History: Hannah Braun, a home school student. Clark J. Guild Award, $100 prize divided into $25 dollar awards given by the Friends of the Nevada State Museum: Amanada Young from Vaughn Middle School in Reno for her historical paper in the Junior Division, "The Miranda Story;" Bre'Anna Beaman-Bernhard from the Carson Middle School for historical paper in the Junior Division, "To Have and To Hold: The Fourth Amendment;" Vaughan Middle School of Reno for excellent participation in History Day, and Caughlin Ranch Elementary School in Reno for excellent participation in History Day. Frances Humphrey Prize from the history program at the Nevada State Museum, Katherine Peters of Dayton Intermediate School for her historical paper in the Junior Division: "Muslim Women: The Right to Dress Change." Hazel Bretzlaff Van Allen, $200 prize from the history program of the Nevada State Museum for the Best of Show: Onreka Adams and Dalaian Johnson of ICDA Charter High School in Reno for their Group Performance in the Senior Division: "16th Street Church vs. the Jury."

1st place Individual Exhibits, Eureka High Schoo, Eureka, John Russell, in center

Grace Danberg, $200 prize for the best historical paper: Allie Susslin of ICDA Charter High School in Reno for her historical paper in the Senior Division: "Rights and Responsibilities of the Foster Care System;" Grace Dangberg $200 prize for the Best 20th Century Entry: Marie Smith, Katharina Casteneda, Amy Vicente, and Kindal Sherbourne of Dilworth Middle School in Sparks for their Group Documentary in the Junior Division: "Gambling in

Nevada." Southwest Oral History Association for the Best Documentary: Morgan Thacker of Pershing County Middle School in Lovelock for her Individual Documentary in the Junior Division: "Stewart Indian School."

Nevada Mining Association, $100 for the best entry on Mining or Technology: Michelle Taylor, Shanlee Moyle, Irma Davila, and Maya Gonzalez of Eureka County High school for their Group Performance in the Junior Division: "Hoover Dam." The Bretzlaff Foundation History Program project funds assisted the museum staff with holding the event. The Nevada State Museum staff would like to thank the Nevada Humanities Committee staff, History Day judges, museum docents and volunteers, teachers, students and parents for making the event a great success.

Views of the Past The history program has just completed a PastPerfect virtual exhibit on the photographic collection of P.E. Larson. It can be viewed on the Nevada State Museum website at Nevadaculture.org. The exhibit was made possible by the Bretzlaff Foundation History Program projects fund. Diane Underwood, history department research associate, put the virtual exhibit together. The Swedish born photographer P.E. Larson photographs on Goldfield are a significant collection. His photographs document western life and culture in the boomtown of Goldfield. Larson came to Goldfield in 1905, and immediately began photographing a wide range of subjects, including the mines, miners, stores, gambling halls, street scenes, burros, and people in various walks of life. When he moved his family from Goldfield in 1908, he probably never realized the historic P.E. Larson and Son Edward in Goldfield, ca. 1907. value of his photographic work. This virtual tour of his "Baby Larson, first boy born in Goldfield, P.E. Larson, photographic collection at the Nevada State Museum the first photographer, and Pioneer Jack, first to arrive." provides the public with a chance to enjoy his photographs. The P.E. Larson photograph collection was given to the museum in 1976. After his death in 1941, many of the photographs lay sealed in a trunk for decades before being discovered. His children donated his photograph collection to several public institutions: the University of Washington-Special Collections, the Alaska State Museum, and the Nevada State Museum. The children in their donation of his photographs on Goldfield and central Nevada also included his cameras and other memorabilia from his Palm Studio at Goldfield. In 1983, the museum exhibits department designed a changing gallery to display his extraordinary photographs and restored cameras. The exhibit was called Frozen in Silver and covered his Goldfield years, 1905-1908. A new centennial pictorial history of Goldfield, The Glory Days in Goldfield by noted Nevada historian and writer Sally Zanjani uses many of Larson's photographs to tell the story of Goldfield. Her book is available at the museum store.

New Shelving Donation Special Thanks From the Anthropology Program By ALANAH WOODY and GENE HATTORI Nevada State Museum Anthropology Program Thanks to the generosity of: Sharon P. Chase (Chase International), The Luke B. Hancock Foundation, The James W. Calhoun Foundation, and Gloria and Pete Fundis, the Anthropology Program is pleased to announce that we purchased new, state-of-theart shelves for the basketry vault, and installation is now under way. Without our patrons' support, this world-class collection would have remained in overcrowded, non-archival conditions. Together they've rescued a real Nevada treasure from slow but sure degradation from our former cramped storage methods and

exposure to unpainted and painted solid wood and plywood shelving! Our new shelves are stainless steel and powder coated steel--they really are a wonderful sight to see. We've also had to accept the fact that our existing vault is just too small to properly store the collection of 1,180 Southwestern and western U.S. baskets. Our next fundraising goal is to house the non-Nevada and non-California basketry in steel collection cases in the general collection area. The vault will be reserved for our Nevada, California, Great Basin, and other rare baskets. Why do we need so many baskets? We have a world-class research collection of Great Basin and California basketry, thanks to the generosity of the public and the efforts of the state. Anthropologists, Native American basket weavers, archaeologists and art historians travel to the museum from throughout the U.S. to study our baskets, especially our undisplayed collection. Of particular importance to scholars and Native Americans are the museum's numerous "documented" baskets. These are baskets where the weaver's name, tribe, and date of manufacture were recorded. The last issue of American Indian Art Magazine has an article on Great Basin basketry hats by Judith Finger, Cleveland Art Museum, featuring one of our basketry hats collected in Pioche in 1876. We also loan our baskets to other museums for temporary displays. Finally, our staff frequently uses our collection to assist us in identifying baskets brought in by the public. Additional thanks also goes out to those who helped and are helping with the remodel. UNR anthropology student, Theresa Christensen, helped inventory, pack and move all 1,180 baskets, including six Dat So La Lee specimens, into temporary storage in the history vault in the North Building. Theresa used this experience as her special project for Professor Don Fowler's historic preservation class. We know that we have 1,180 baskets from the work of our former intern Rachel Delovio who inventoried and cataloged the collection as part of her Texas Tech University graduate program. UNR anthropology graduate students Gene Griego, Kurt Perkins, and Ed Joli tore out the old wooden shelves, and they are assisting us with installing the new shelving. After the baskets are placed in the vault, we're planning "behind-the-scenes tours" beginning with Archaeology Awareness Week (May 12-16). If you can't make those tours, we'll show you the newly remodeled Anthropology Program basket vault by appointment. Call Roz Works at 687-4810 ext. 228 to schedule either tour.

Minting Operations The Nevada State Museum minting operation since Coin Press No. 1 was repaired last year and production began in June has been outstanding with the minting of over 6,000 medallions. The total success of the operation goes to museum volunteers Ken and Karen Hopple who operate the Press No. 1 and have dedicated many hours of volunteer time to the project. The museum staff wants to thank them for their dedication to preserving Coin Press No. 1. Since press operations began last June, the Hopples have minted 2,311 silver and 3,694 brass medallions. Most of the medallions are available for purchase at the museum store. In addition, some outside groups have partnered with the museum to produce medallions including: Dini Cultural Center in Yerington, Nevada Gaming Commission, Nevada Judicial Historical Society, and the Nevada State Engineer's Office. In the next few months the museum will be minting medallions for the Nevada State Legislature and the centennial medallion for the City of Reno. The museum also released a new medallion in our own series for the centennial of Goldfield 1902-2002. The Hopples operate the coin press the last Friday of each month. Please stop by and visit and see them operate Coin Press No. 1 and hear them tell you how minting was done at the Carson U.S. Mint. For additional information on minting operations at the museum please contact Bob Nylen at 775-687-4810. ext. 239, or email him at [email protected]. Minting totals for January-March, 2003 January -- 222 silver and 400 brass medallions. February -- 453 silver and 189 brass medallions. March -- 150 silver and 599 brass medallions. Total -- 825 silver and 1188 brass medallions.

Nevada State Museum to Offer Unique Prizes at Coin Show 2003 The Nevada State Museum is offering three unique prizes for this year's Coin Show to be held on September 6 and 7 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The prizes include a unique framed historic Carson City U.S. Mint photograph with a 1883 "CC" Morgan Dollar, Goldfield Centennial and State Seal medallions, and a men's and women's coin watch. The three prizes are on display in the entryway of the museum. For more information on the Coin Show and prizes contact Kathi Baker, coin show coordinator, at 775-687-4810, ext. 222, or email her at [email protected].

The photo with coins will be awarded at the coin show. —Photo by Sue Ann Monteleone

Coming Events NEVADA STATE MUSEUM May 27: The History of Archaeology In the Great Basin by Dr. Don Fowler, Ph.D., Professor of Anthropology at the University of Nevada, Reno. June 24: The History of the Stewart Indian School by Beverly Mobley, History Department Research Associate. July 22: TBA August 26: The Ghost Town of Bodie, California and Other Western Nevada Ghost Towns by Ghost Town Historian and Publisher Stanley Paher. These programs are part of the Museum's Frances Humphrey evening lecture series held on the fourth Tuesday of every month from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. There is no charge for the programs. The Loftin Park entrance on the north side of the museum complex will be used for all programs. For more information call 687-4810, ext. 239. *-*-*-*-*-*-*-* NEVADA STATE RAILROAD MUSEUM May 14: Virginia & Truckee Locomotives by Mike Colllins. June 11: TBA July 9: No program this month. August 13: No program this month Programs at the Nevada State Railroad Museum are held in the Interpretive Center at 7:00 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month, and are sponsored by the Friends of the Museum. Admission is free.

Marjorie Russell Center Receives Hello Hollywood Hello Costumes By JAN LOVERIN Nevada State Museum Curator of Textiles and Clothing One of the most interesting collections at the Marjorie Russell Center are the entertainment costumes, e.g. showgirls and showmen's wear. We have been fortunate over the years to acquire a variety of costumes primarily from Hello Hollywood Hello. This large scale production was performed at what was the MGM, then Bally's and now the Hilton in Reno, from 1978 to 1989.

Many years ago I got to know Maria Romaggi, wardrobe manager of this show, and together we hosted a Costume Society meeting on the design (we brought in designer Pete Menefee), for maintenance, repair and in many cases replacement of these costumes. Over fifty people attended this exciting event. I encouraged Ms. Romaggi to consider preserving these very unique garments, and subsequently a donation was made to the Nevada Historical Society. In addition, a local ballet company, which had secured some of these costumes, realized that they needed to be preserved, and they have been donated to the Center. Word has spread, and we received some privately acquired costumes from this very same production. Further, in collecting costumes from the entertainment industry, we also have been looking for supplemental materials. Stage hand, Joe Crocco, came forward and offered the museum his extensive collection of backstage passes, celebrity buttons and promotional materials from his career. Just recently we have also become aware of a program from the Lido in Las Vegas from 1956, and I just interviewed a woman who was a showgirl with Frank Sinatra during the 1960s, when he played at the Cal-Neva. She in turn, knows a woman who was the "elephant girl" at John Ascuaga's Nugget in Sparks. Although there have been oral histories of many showgirls, I am asking these people to take a moment and write down their own memories of this very unique part of their lives. Hopefully we will accrue an inventory of stories which can be used to enhance the stories the garments can't tell.

Nevada's Oasis Conference Strong Cultural Voice Heard Loud and Clear By BOB HARMON Public Information Officer, Department of Cultural Affairs Out of the rock and sand of the Nevada wilderness springs an oasis of culture that embraces and benefits every community. The Nevada Department of Cultural Affairs' Oasis 2003 Conference in March presented a unique opportunity for the state's diverse cultural communities to come together and forge a foundation to meet the challenges and opportunities of the new century. Oasis 2003 was an exciting time for the Nevada State Museum when the "Merci Boxcar" was moved from the Nevada State Railroad Museum to the Woodrow W. Loftin Park between the historic U.S. Mint Building and the museum's North Building. Nevada's recently restored Merci Boxcar is one of forty-nine sent to the United States from France in 1949 in appreciation for U.S. support as the French rebuilt after the Second World War. The boxcars were nicknamed 40-and-8's because they could carry forty soldiers or eight horses when used as transports for Allied soldiers during both World Wars. The boxcar was a special treat for those who attended the museum's open house on the eve of the Oasis Conference. Conference sessions featured some of the region's best speakers on subjects such as Building Cultural Leadership, Partnerships in Cultural Technology, Cultural Benefits of Literacy, and Digging Up Diversity. Division of Museum and History staff and other Oasis attendees learned about resources and potential collaborations, such as traveling exhibit programs and grant programs that will benefit Nevada's cultural agencies. The Nevada Museum Association served as one of the conference's co-sponsors. The conference included a variety of presentations exploring the impact of diversity, technology and the economy on Nevada's cultural community. Conference speakers included Dr. Sue Fawn Chung, Professor of History at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas; Dr. Kelly Dixon of the Comstock Archaeology Center, Virginia City; M. Christine Dwyer, Senior Vice President of RMC Research Corporation and co-author of Policy Partners, Making the Case for State Investments in Culture; UNR Economics Professor Dr. William Eaddington; Nevada State Demographer Jeff Hardcastle; and keynote speaker Mel Chin. All in all, Oasis 2003 created a unique opportunity for anyone interested in the arts, education, humanities, preservation and history to network and connect in the midst of thought-provoking panels and discussions. The conference reflected the Department of Cultural Affairs' commitment to building a cultural voice in Nevada while improving quality of life, enhancing lifelong learning, and encouraging tourism and economic development. We look forward to maintaining the spirit of Oasis during the coming years and hosting a similar conference some time in the future. If you missed the Merci Boxcar when it was outside the State Museum, it is on display at the Nevada State Railroad Museum. The Merci Boxcar as it was placed between the two buildings of the Nevada State Museum before, during and after the Oasis Conference. Members of the Railroad Museum staff were involved in transporting and placing the car.-Photos by George Baumgadner.

Some Recent Changes to the Coin Press Gallery By RAY GEISER Nevada State Museum Exhibits Manager The exhibits staff has been experimenting with paint and light in the Coin Press Gallery. The intent was to illuminate the features of the coin press in a way that befits its importance as an icon of the museum. First, the dimly lit replica light fixtures were removed and the ceiling was painted black to hide the air conditioning systems. Track lighting was installed to focus the attention primarily on the coin press, and secondly on the workstations and signage. We have closed the iron shutters to better control the light and decrease the distraction of traffic on Carson Street. A beautiful and functional antique jeweler's workbench has replaced the folding card table in the corner of the room. A drab gray electric motor, a later addition to the original steam driven coin press, was covered over with a vented black box. Plain wooden chairs will replace the metal folding chairs preserving the period look. We are making every effort to bring our exhibits into compliance with ADA regulations. New text labels and hands on interactive components are in the design phase. These will help our guests better understand the mechanics of the press and the terminology of minting. The legibility of labels, text placement and lighting concerns are being addressed. Plans are in the works to make the coin collection more accessible to everyone without jeopardizing its security. One of the best forms of exhibits, if you haven't already noticed, are being conveyed through the interest and enthusiasm of coin minting that Ken and Karen Hopple share with our visitors. The Nevada State Museum is very fortunate to have them participating in this program and setting the high standard of excellence in the products they produce. The exhibits department works closely with curators, collection managers, and with the facilities supervisor and his staff to implement many of these changes. Equally important are the questions and comments; not only on what works the best, but what doesn't work as well. Staff, volunteer and visitor suggestions are always greatly appreciated.

Message From Our Director Jim Barmore Thank you Penny Fairfield! This spring Penny completes her second year as president of the Friends of the Nevada State Museum, previously called the Docent Council. Under Penny's leadership, Friends helped conduct special events, educational programs, publications, and research. Friends assisted exhibit preparation and collection management. Friends staffed the museum store, a critical revenue source for museum programs and service. Membership has grown and fund raising has expanded. Congratulations Penny. Thank you for your skillful leadership, supportive style, hard work, and commitment to our mission. I've thoroughly enjoyed working with you and look forward to your continuing contribution to the Friends of the Nevada State Museum.