 |
 |
|
|
|
Because of its close geographical proximity to Lake Tahoe, the Special Collections Department at the University of Nevada, Reno Library has made it a priority to collect materials that relate to the Lake and its surrounding region. Lake Tahoe has always had an important relationship with Nevada in many different ways. Its tributary, the Truckee River, flows from Lake Tahoe, through the Sierra Nevada, and into Nevada where its waters flow the center of Reno. Its waters then flow into Pyramid Lake and are also diverted through Derby Dam into the Carson River watershed where it is used for irrigation.
Because of the importance of Lake Tahoe to our region, the Special Collections Department has a high priority to collect materials that document its history and development. Over the past thirty years it has acquired a substantial body of research materials that receive substantial use by university students, faculty, and researchers from outside the university. Numerous Tahoe related articles, books, and research papers have been written, which have used the department's collections. Lake Tahoe photographs from Special Collections are in constant use for illustrating books and articles, along with video productions.
Lake Tahoe materials in Special Collection include books, archives and manuscripts, photographs, maps, architectural drawings, and promotional materials. These materials deal with a diverse number of subjects including recreation, logging, environmental issues, Native Americans, geology, botany, water use, and architecture.
It is important to remember that while Special Collections has a substantial amount of online resources, those seeking information should always contact the department directly, either in person or by email. This is because there may be resources that are not available online. Our professional staff can often assist researchers in finding materials that might not otherwise be located.
BOOKS can be found by searching in the library's online catalog. Go to Advanced Search and search for "Tahoe" specifying Location as Special Collections and Format as Book.
PHOTOGRAPHS can be found in the Images of Lake Tahoe website. They can also be found in the department's online Photograph Catalog. There is also a card catalog in the Special Collections Reading Room that contains information about approximately 7,000 images, including those of Lake Tahoe.
MANUSCRIPT and ARCHIVAL collections can be found by searching in the library's online catalog. The best way to find manuscript materials in Special Collections is to go to Advanced Search and search for "Tahoe" specifying Location as Special Collections and Format as Theses/Manuscript or Archival Material.
MAPS can be found by searching the library online catalog. Go go to Advanced Search and search for "Tahoe" specifying Location as Special Collections and Format as Map.
ARCHITECTURAL DRAWINGS can be found by searching the Special Collections Architectural database. Put Tahoe under Location to find drawings of buildings/residences at Lake Tahoe.