Abstract
The Leon Rockwell Papers (1829-1986), consist of materials that document Leon Rockwell's life in Las Vegas, Nevada from 1906 until his death in 1968. Included are diaries, correspondence, photographs, postcards, Las Vegas community event programs, ledger sheets, business cards, and scrapbooks. There are a number of books, information on organizations and businesses that Rockwell owned, real estate documents, and early records of the Las Vegas Volunteer Fire Department, of which Rockwell was an original member.
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Scope and Contents Note
The Leon Rockwell Papers (1829-1986) consist of diaries, correspondence, photographs, postcards, Las Vegas community event programs, ledger sheets, business cards, and scrapbooks. There are a number of books, information on organizations and businesses that Rockwell owned, real estate documents, and early records from the Volunteer Fire Department, of which Rockwell was an original member. Also included are excerpts of diaries confiscated from Japanese prisoners that have been translated into English, correspondence from Leon and Ronald Rockwell during their time in the Navy during World War One, and information on the Women's Klu Klux Klan (KKK) from 1923. There are two essays about dentistry, written by Leon Rockwell, Jr.
Access Note
Collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
Materials in this collection may be protected by copyrights and other rights. See Reproductions and Use on the UNLV Special Collections website for more information about reproductions and permissions to publish.
Arrangement
Material is arranged alphabetically.
Biographical / Historical Note
Early Las Vegas pioneer Leon Halliday Rockwell was born in Elmira, New York in 1888. He received a grammar school education and was then forced to begin working due to the death of his father. He worked a variety of jobs across the country from railroad laborer to cowboy and milk-hand. He joined his brother Ronald in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1906, along with his brother Earl Rockwell. The brothers became prominent citizens of Las Vegas, and Leon and Earl constructed the first airfield in Clark County, Nevada and leased it to Western Air Express in 1920, which opened the city to air transportation.
Leon Rockwell worked for the Telephone Company and Power Company before opening his own business, The Electric Shop. He was a founding member of the Las Vegas Volunteer Fire Department, engaged in real estate trading, and was part owner of a clothing store. He was a member of the Indian Collectors Association, an active member of the Elks, loved to travel, and had an interest in history and folklore.
Leon Rockwell spent only four years away from Las Vegas. For two years he served overseas in the United States Navy during World War One and two years traveling with his family in California. His brother Ronald suffered from injuries sustained during the war and spent the rest of his life in a hospital in California. Ronald passed away in 1936. Leon Halliday Rockwell passed away in Las Vegas, Nevada in September of 1968.
Source:
https://contentdm.library.unr.edu/cdm/ref/collection/unohp/id/2529
Preferred Citation
Leon Rockwell Papers, 1829-1986. MS-00013. Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada.
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Acquisition Note
Materials were donated to Special Collections; accession number MS-13.
Processing Note
Material was processed in 2016 by Joyce Moore.