Special Collections, UNR Libraries

06/17/2026

Lucius Beebe and Mr. T-Bone Towser would like you to know that a new exhibit is coming in about six weeks, so you should visit our current one on student cartoonists while you can! In this heat, it’s a lovely air-conditioned activity, as well as being free for everyone. Come take in our exhibit and then explore the Knowledge Center as a break from the hot weather. Photo ID: UNRS-P1993-53/12.

06/14/2026

The foamcore stand of our “library ladies” got a lot of attention at the fair, so we’re hoping our extended Wolf Pack and Nevada networks can help us out! We know these women were University of Nevada students, dressed to attend a campus football game around 1904, but we don’t know their names. Does anyone recognize these faces?

06/11/2026

Come find us at the fair! We’ll be here with University Libraries at the University of Nevada, Reno colleagues every day in the Livestock Arena, sharing swag, cool library resources, and some more photos from the archives. Maybe you’ll see an animal on show to rival Boneparte, a 7-year-old Percheron Norman from 1890’s state fair in Reno! Photo ID: UNRS-P2017-13-133
State Fair of Nevada

06/10/2026

Two quick reminders!
1. Due to helping staff the University Libraries’ booth at the State Fair in Reno this weekend, our reading room is closed on Friday, June 12. Come find us at the fair instead!
2. High school graduations are taking place on campus the next few days - parking will be complicated!

06/10/2026

Churchill County Fair and Nevada State Fair. Exhibit of fruits (in foreground) of C G Swingle at the 22nd annual Nevada State Fair held at Fallon, Nevada September 11 to 16 in 1916. This exhibit included apples, quinces, grapes, plums, pears, and more. Mr. Swingle carried off over $150 in prizes for this exhibit! Photo taken September 14, 1916 by John R. Post. Makes us hungry! Photo ID: UNRS-P2008-18-0279

06/10/2026

“The beautiful `Blue Ribbon Belles’ set the theme for the rollicking State Fair Frolics in the 7th floor Fun Room of the world famous Harolds Club” in downtown Reno in 1964. Very different from the earlier alfalfa palace and mining display! Photo ID: UNRS-P1992-03-0495

06/09/2026

More very tiny photos of that state fair exhibit setup in 1947 Fallon. Hard to see, but still very cool! Ray Gough was in charge of the joint exhibit booth with the State Analytical Laboratory and Bureau of Mines. We’ll be at the fair all weekend with a rotating cast of library colleagues showing off their cool projects and resources - come find us! Photo IDs: UNRS-P1988-55-0701, 0702, 0703, 0704, and 0705.

06/05/2026

Check this out from our colleagues in Jon Bilbao Basque Library!

Discover Lertxundia and the Earl Collection of Basque arborglyph rubbings, preserving the artistic and cultural legacy of Basque sheepherders in the American West.

06/03/2026

Are you excited about next weekend’s State Fair yet? We are, and we’re looking forward to seeing you onsite at the fairgrounds here in Reno! We’ve heard a rumor that there’s a plan to recreate this alfalfa palace from the 1915 fair in Fallon! Photo ID: UNRS-P1105-1

05/27/2026

State fairs include all kinds of activities and displays, not only agricultural! This is a photo of the Mackay School of Mines exhibit at the State Fair in Fallon in autumn 1947 - not totally sure what they’re exhibiting, though. any insights?

Item number UNRA-P578-1.