Abstract
The Wengert Family Papers (approximately 1900-2000) consist of scrapbooks, newspaper clippings, correspondence, postcards, photographs, and other documents from members of the Wengert family. The Wengert family were members of the Las Vegas, Nevada community since 1907. The collection contains items detailing Lottie Ward Wengert’s life in Iowa before she moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, such as high school and college documents and diplomas, as well as programs and invitations for events in Iowa, Las Vegas, and other cities. The materials regarding Cyril S. Wengert are mostly newspaper clippings about his accomplishments and articles and cards expressing sympathy after his death. Other items include documents from the U-Wah-Un Study Club, of which Shirley Wengert was a member.
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Scope and Contents Note
The Wengert Family Papers (approximately 1900-2000) consist of scrapbooks, newspaper clippings, correspondence, postcards, photographs, and other documents from members of the family. The Wengert family were members of the Las Vegas, Nevada community since 1907. The materials regarding Cyril S. Wengert are mostly newspaper clippings about his accomplishments, articles and cards expressing sympathy after his death, and fliers for the dedication of the Cyril S. Wengert Nevada Power Building. The collection contains items detailing Lottie Ward Wengert’s life in Iowa before she moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, such as high school and college class schedules, postcards, dance cards, and diplomas. Also belonging to Lottie are programs and invitations for events in Iowa, Las Vegas, and other cities. The papers also include items that belonged to Cyril Spencer Wengert, Lottie and Cyril’s son, who died at age seven from surgical complications. These items include valentines, cards, and his baby book. Shirley Wengert, their daughter, was a member of the U-Wah-Un Study Club, and contained in the collection are documents from the club such as yearbooks, meeting minutes, and bylaws.
Publication Rights
Collection is open for research.
Materials in this collection may be protected by copyrights and other rights. See Reproductions and Use on the UNLV Special Collections and Archives website for more information about reproductions and permissions to publish.
Arrangement
Materials are arranged by topic.
Biographical / Historical Note
Cyril Sebastian Wengert, born in Austin, Minnesota on December 5, 1889, was a business and civic leader in Las Vegas, Nevada. He left Minnesota in 1907 to join his father in Las Vegas, where he worked as an ice wagon driver for the I. C. Johnson Ice Company. Seeking a different type of work, Wengert went to Seattle, Washington in 1909 to attend Wilson’s Business College. He returned to Las Vegas in 1911 after he was offered a job at the First State Bank by John S. Park. Wengert worked in banking for thirty-five years until 1946, when he accepted a position at the Southern Nevada Power and Telephone Company. In 1954, Southern Nevada Power and Telephone split into two separate companies, and Wengert remained with Nevada Power. Wengert worked there until he died on February 27, 1965.
Lottie Ward Wengert was born on September 17, 1891 in Algona, Iowa. She lived in Iowa and attended Grinnell College and Iowa State College. Lottie Ward moved to Wells, Nevada to work as a teacher after graduation from Iowa State College. She taught there for one year, until 1917, when she moved to Las Vegas, Nevada and taught home economics at Las Vegas High School. It was in Las Vegas that she met Cyril S. Wengert, and they were married in Iowa on September 26, 1921. The Wengerts raised four children in Las Vegas: Marylin, Ward, Robert, and Shirley. Lottie Ward Wengert died on September 14, 1968.
The Wengerts were involved in several Las Vegas civic organizations, including the American Legion, the Rotary Club, the Elks Lodge, and the Knights of Columbus. In 1971, Cyril S. Wengert Elementary School was named in honor of Wengert's commitment to community service in Las Vegas. The Wengerts' daughter, Shirley, belonged to several civic organizations, including the U-Wah-Un study club.
Sources:
Nevada Preservation Foundation. “NPF Obtains Historic Designation for Former Home of Cyril Wengert.” Accessed January 24, 2020. https://nevadapreservation.org/npf-obtains-historic-designation-for-former-home-of-cyril-wengert/
Online Nevada Encyclopedia. “Cyril S. Wengert.” Accessed January 17, 2010. http://www.onlinenevada.org/articles/cyril-s-wengert
“Wengert Rites to be Held Wednesday.” Las Vegas Review-Journal, September 17, 1968.
Preferred Citation
Wengert Family Papers, approximately 1900-2000. MS-00192. Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada.
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Acquisition Note
Materials were donated in 1976 and 2018 by Shirley Wengert; accession numbers T-114 and 2018-010.
Processing Note
Material was processed by UNLV Special Collections staff in 1976. In 2014, as part of a legacy finding aid conversion project, Ian M. Baldwin wrote the collection description to bring it into compliance with current professional standards. In 2017, Joyce Moore revised and uploaded the collection. In 2018, Maggie Bukowski processed the 2018 accession and updated the finding aid. In 2020, Lauren Paljusaj revised the inventory and finding aid.
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Separated Materials
Some of the photographs in this acquisition were removed from the collection and placed in the Wengert Family Photograph Collection, 1890-1966. PH-00046. Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada.