As Southern Nevada this week welcomes the 2005 Global Gaming Expo (G2E), the world's largest gaming industry convention, Clark County has declared Tuesday, September 13, 2005 "Gaming Heritage Day", recognizing UNLV's efforts to preserve and document the colorful history of gaming in our community. The university's Center for Gaming Research will display an eye-popping photographic exhibit titled, "A Centennial Celebration of Gaming in Las Vegas: Documenting Yesterday for the Benefit of Tomorrow" on the floor at G2E. Commissioner Myrna Williams visited UNLV Libraries' Special Collections recently to preview this collection of rare artifacts - many of which have never before been seen by the public.
This unique exhibit, created for G2E, includes many priceless and never-before-seen items from UNLV Libraries' collections, including personal letters from Jacqueline Kennedy and Billy Graham to Desert Inn mogul Wilbur Clark; burnt casino chips and melted room keys that survived the infamous El Rancho fire; souvenir menus created for Elvis Presley's historic concerts at the Las Vegas Hilton; an original job application for the position of "dancer" at the historic Sands hotel, and much more. Though these pieces will be experienced at G2E only through photographic reproduction, the actual artifacts will be seen later this fall in public exhibition.
The Center for Gaming Research at UNLV, part of the university Libraries, has long been a vital resource for gaming scholarship and the examination of gaming history in Southern Nevada. The diligent work of UNLV Special Collections has preserved and documented that history and culture since 1957, amassing one of the most unique university collections in the world.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Enclosed tape includes footage of "Gaming Heritage Day" presentation at UNLV's Lied Library, as well as artifacts from the unique collection.
