Abstract
The Desert Inn "Black Book" Photograph Collection (1955-1969) consists of 36 black-and-white photographs of individuals arrestest for gambling-related crimes in Reno, Sparks, and Las Vegas, Nevada and Oakland, California. The photographs contain information on the verso with name, date of birth, crime(s) committeed, and known aliases and associates and where gathered by Desert Inn security. These types of photographs were widely circulated amongst casinos, particularly after the formation of the Gaming Control Board in 1955 and the Gaming Control Act in 1959. Crimes listed include slot spooner, slot slugger, dice switcher, and hand mucker.
Finding Aid PDF
Date
Extent
Related People/Corporations
Scope and Contents Note
The Desert Inn "Black Book" Photograph Collection (1955-1969) consists of 36 black-and-white photographs of individuals arrestest for gambling-related crimes in Reno, Sparks, and Las Vegas, Nevada and Oakland, California. The photographs contain information on the verso with name, date of birth, crime(s) committeed, and known aliases and associates and where gathered by Desert Inn security. These types of photographs were widely circulated amongst casinos, particularly after the formation of the Gaming Control Board in 1955 and the Gaming Control Act in 1959. Crimes listed include slot spooner, slot slugger, dice switcher, and hand mucker.
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 and Archives website for more information about reproductions and permissions to publish.
Arrangement
Materials remain in original order.
Preferred Citation
Desert Inn "Black Book" Photograph Collection, 1955-1969. PH-00191. Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada. http://n2t.net/ark:/62930/f1cj5x
Permalink
Acquisition Note
Sarah Jones removed these photographs from cataloged Desert Inn promotion and publicity material and created a separate collection based on conversations with curators Su Kim Chung and Aaron Mayes; accession number 2022-115.
Processing Note
In 2022, Sarah Jones rehoused the material and created the finding aid.