Elton and Madelaine Garrett Papers

Name/Title

Elton and Madelaine Garrett Papers

Entry/Object ID

MS.7

Scope and Content

Elton and Madelaine Garrett Papers MS 7 Elton and Madelaine Garrett Papers Elton McK Garrett [November 8, 1902 - April 19, 1992] came to Las Vegas in January 1929 just ahead of the Boulder Canyon Project. He served as an editor and reporter for the" Las Vegas Age" in 1929-30, and was the Boulder City editor for the "Las Vegas Evening Review-Journal"in 1931-33. It was Garrett's stories and columns on Boulder City and Hoover Dam construction which provide us today with some of the most accurate, vivid, and extensive descriptions of the project. In 1933 Garrett became vice principal and principal for the Boulder City schools and eventually a successful real estate agent. Along the way Garrett was a member of or founded nearly all of Boulder City's civic and fraternal organizations; was a leader in the battle for Boulder City incorporation; was instrumental in founding Nevada Southern University [University of Nevada, Las Vegas]; served as a U. S. Commissioner in the Lake Mead National Recreational Area; and was even a founder of the municipality of Vegas Verde, which today is known as North Las Vegas. In the years preceding his death he founded and promoted the Rotary Club's Peace Plaque Project. Garrett married Madelaine Elwell on July 22, 1944, who had joined the faculty of Boulder City High School. Madelaine became one of the most important figures in the cultural life of Boulder City. Her duties at the high school included teaching Glee Club, Madrigals, the Boulder City High School Band, the Junior High School Band, and the Junior High Chorus. She staged and directed many of the productions of the Boulder City Little Theatre; founded the Bel Canto Singers; coordinated and performed in Boulder City's May Festival; and tutored generations of Boulder City children in music. The material contained in this collection includes personal papers and artifacts that belonged to Elton Garrett, as well as his " Nuggets of Nevada Color" and"Nuggets of Boulder Color" columns from 1930-33. * * *

Collection

Manuscripts

Category

Support Level

Acquisition

Notes

001.159

Archive Items Details

Notes

MS 7 Elton and Madelaine Garrett Papers inventory [5 boxes and 1 folder] Box 1 of 5 folder no. 1. biographical material 2. Boulder City Development Company [includes Assignment of Lease, 1941] 3. drawings, notes, and poetry [Elton Garrett] 4. Elton Garrett automobile papers [1939-42] 5. Elton and Madelaine Garrett awards and citations [1927-90] 6. Elton Garrett awards and citations: Central Telephone Company [1985] 7. Elton Garrett bank book [1943-44] 8. Elton Garrett birthday cards 9. Elton Garrett business cards and advertisements 10. Elton Garrett campaign cards 11. Elton Garrett correspondence: Adams, Eva [1942] 12. Elton Garrett correspondence: Bunker, Berkeley [1941] 13. Elton Garrett correspondence: educational [1937-42] 14. Elton Garrett correspondence: Garrett, Charles W. [1927 and 1962] 15. Elton Garrett correspondence: Lloyd, Elwood [1929] 16. Elton Garrett correspondence: McCarran, Pat [1942] 17. Elton Garrett correspondence: Ryan, Frank [1949] 18. Elton Garrett correspondence: Scrugham, J. G. [1941-42] 19. Elton Garrett correspondence: Silver, C. [September 3, 1941] 20. Elton Garrett correspondence: Thayer, Duke [1942] 21. Elton Garrett correspondence: Young, Walker [1975] 22. Elton Garrett driver's licenses [1956, 1958, 1980] 23. Elton Garrett membership cards 24. Elton Garrett's Nevada State Board of Education Life Diplomas [1941] 25. Elton Garrett's Nevada State Board of Education teaching certificates 26. Elton Garrett teaching contracts [1934-39] 27. Elton Garrett voting materials 28. essays - "Autobiography" [profiles of Garrett's acquaintances (1976)] 29. essays - "Dear Mittens" [memorial letter (undated)] 30. essays - "How I Found God" [1984] 31. essays - "How [To] Build a Religious Leader Or ... A Great Teacher" 32. "Firsts" achieved by Elton Garrett 33. housing: Application To Purchase House [April 15, 1936] 34. housing: earnest money receipt and agreement for 555 Ave. G [1949] 35. housing: Meadland, Inc. [1976-77 (includes 1971 copy of will)] 36. insurance documents 37. memorial materials for Elton Garrett [1992] 38. Nevada Southern University [xeroxed papers] 39. novelty cards 40. open house event [November 7, 1980] 41. Peace Plaque material 42. programs: City of Hope Second Annual Governor's Regal Ball [1975] 43. programs: Nevada Governor's Inaugural Ball [1971] 44. programs: Nevada State Democratic Convention [1954] 45. receipts: poll tax [1942-43] 46. receipts: property improvements [1941-42] 47. receipts: Public School Teachers' Retirement Salary Fund Board [1938-42] 48. receipts: Red Cross [1941] 49. receipts: school supplies [1939-41] 50. stationery 51. tax notices and receipts [1937-43] 52. Woollett, William 53." Nuggets of Nevada Color" [1930 (xeroxes)] 54."Nuggets of Nevada Color" [January - June 1931 (xeroxes)] 55. "Nuggets of Nevada Color" [July - December 1931 (xeroxes)] 56. "Nuggets of Nevada Color" [January - March 1932 (xeroxes)] 57. "Nuggets of Boulder Color" [July 16, 1932 - June 5, 1933 (xeroxes)] 58."Nuggets of Boulder Color" [November - December 1932 (clippings)] 59. "Nuggets of Boulder Color" [January 1933 (clippings)] 60. "Nuggets of Boulder Color" [February 1933 (clippings)] 61. "Nuggets of Boulder Color" [March 1933 (clippings)] 62. "Nuggets of Boulder Color" [April 1933 (clippings)] 63. "Nuggets of Boulder Color" [May 1933 (clippings)] 64."Nuggets of Boulder Color " [June 1933 (clippings)] Box 2 of 5 [artifacts] loose plaque: "Rotary Club of Boulder City/Rotarian of the Year/ 1981 - 1982/Elton M. Garrett/For His Continued Efforts/ To Promote World Peace/And Understanding Through/ Plaquery" Tray 1 of 4 1. business card holder 2. Elton M. Garrett Realty plastic wallet/pouch 3. plaster plaque 4. yellow cotton bag with "Boulder City Journal" 1932 stenciled on 5. glass plaque in recognition of Garrett's service on the Boulder City Chamber of Commerce Executive Board [1988] 6. book bag [?] printed with "Garrett Bobcats" [ca. 1980s] Tray 2 of 4 1. pen holder ["Elton Garrett/Boulder City/Rotarian of the Year, 1981"] 2. pen holder ["Elton Garrett/Happy 87th Birthday/Las Vegas Board of Realtors"] 3. plaque ["Elton Garrett/1st Honorary Marshall/of/Las Vegas Board of Realtors/American Home Week/Gold Tournament/1989"] 4. plaque ["Elton Garrett/ Board of Directors/ Honorary Director/ 1985/Boulder City Chamber of Commerce"] Tray 3 of 4 1. name plate [wood] 2. name plate [plastic] 3. mechanical address book 4. plaque ["Member/No Solicitations Considered/Unless First Submitted to/The Better Business Bureau"] 5. plaque ["Nevada Outstanding Citizen Award/for Meritorious Service/to/the People of/Boulder City ... Awarded to/Elton Garrett/by/Nevada Savings and Loan"] Tray 4 of 4 1. plaque ["Elton M. Garrett/ In Appreciation of Your/ Contributions Toward/World Peace and Understanding/Presented By/the Bahai's/of Boulder City, Nevada/World Peace Day/September 19, 1982"] 2. plaque ["Elton Garrett/Presented By/Boulder First Nighters/In Recognition of/Your Continuing Support/of Community Theatre/April 28, 1984"] 3. plaque ["Certificate of Recognition" (from the Boulder City Chamber of Commerce, 1984)] 4. plaque ["The Boulder City/Chamber of Commerce/Presents a Lifetime/Directorship to/Elton M. Garrett/In Grateful Appreciation/of His/Untiring Efforts in/Promoting the Chamber/1977"] 5. wooden paper holder shaped like a clothespin Box 3 of 5 [artifacts] 1. small box of badges, bow ties, ribbons, leather wallet 2. bound collection of Nevada State Assembly Bills [1959] 3. Boulder City Rotary Club scrapbook with news clippings and photographs [1958-59] 4. printing plate and proof of an advertisement for Elton M. Garrett Realty from the Las Vegas Review-Journal [n. d.; ca. 1950s] 5. four campaign posters ["Elect Elton/ Garrett/ Democrat/ ... County Commissioner"] 6. Record of Proceedings—Trial of Petty Offenses, Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Docket 8, Cases 5 [August 6, 1969] - Case 400 [September 28, 1969] Box 4 of 5 [artifacts] Tray 1 of 2 1. badges 2. two Elton M. Garrett Realty refrigerator magnets 3. two license plate key chains 4. printing plate with Elton Garrett's portrait 5. brass [?] business card holder ["Elton M. Garrett/Boulder City Chamber of Commerce/Honorary Director 1986"] Tray 2 of 2 1. fifteen rubber stamps for various businesses and organizations; notary public stamp 2. two seal presses [Garrett-Greater Nevada Properties, Inc., 1984; and Elton M. Garrett notary public (n.d.)] Box 5 of 5 [artifacts] 1. one leather satchel 2. one painted masonite sign board ["Elton M. Garrett/Licensed/Real Estate Broker"] 3. 1904 Indian Head penny [AU] - the first money ever earned by Elton Garrett [in November 1905, picking cotton in Okmulgee, Indian Territory—later Oklahoma— when Garrett was 5 years old (with documentation in Garrett's hand)] 4. $1 bill [series 1935A, silver certificate] won by Elton Garrett in a 1943 game of snooker, signed on the back and dated by the men Garrett beat 5. Framed photocopy of a piece of paper with the words: "Good Will Among Men;" typed legend on the back, signed by Elton M. Garrett, reads, "December 19, 1941/Rotarian Clee: During the first year Superintendent Elbert Edwards and I were associated in the administrative affairs of Boulder City Schools, I once asked Elbert what he considered the greatest need of mankind. He reached for a pad and pencil and scrawled out four words. I carried the slip in my pocket a long while. This is a photo static copy of it. Christmas compliments to you and yours!" Folder 1 of 1 1. pencil drawing of the Garrett home at 628 Avenue K by R. Theodore "Ted" Goodwin [12.75" x 9-5/8"] 2. "Curmudgeon Award" for Elton Garrett from the city of Boulder City, awarded October 26, 1993 * * *

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

Elwell, Madelaine

Person or Organization

Garrett, Elton

Person or Organization

Adams, Eva

Person or Organization

Bunker, Berkeley

Person or Organization

Garrett, Charles W.

Person or Organization

Lloyd, Elwood

Person or Organization

McCarran, Patrick

Person or Organization

Ryan, Frank

Person or Organization

Scrugham, James G.

Person or Organization

Silver, C.

Person or Organization

Thayer, J. A. "Duke"

Person or Organization

Young, Walker

Person or Organization

Goodwin, R. Theodore "Ted"

Person or Organization

Woollett, William

Person or Organization

Garrett, Madelaine

Related Entries

Notes

biography file, GARRETT, Elton and Madelaine Elwell photograph collectionno. 0008 [Elton and Madelaine Garrett Collection] photographs in several other collections

Created By

admin@catalogit.app

Create Date

June 22, 2002

Updated By

bcmha.archives@gmail.com

Update Date

September 3, 2025