Author: NWHP

Holmes, Dorothy Nash – Reno, Washoe

Posted on May 9, 2018January 12, 2021 by NWHP

Dorothy Nash Holmes is a native Nevadan born in Reno, Nevada. She is a graduate of the University of Nevada Reno and held a variety of jobs before deciding to go to law school. Dorothy has been a lawyer for more than 33 years and was the 75th woman to be licensed to practice law in Nevada. She was the first woman to do prosecution in the Washoe County District Attorney’s Office, and she holds...
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Hilts, Ruth – Reno, Washoe

Posted on May 9, 2018January 12, 2021 by NWHP

Ruth is not only an accomplished longtime artist, but she is also a fount of historical knowledge of the city of Reno. She was born in 1923 when Reno, Nevada’s largest city had a population of about 20,000 and she has participated in all facets of Reno’s community growth as it has reached its current population of 237,000. Not only does Ruth recount her long history in the Reno art community,...
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Helming, Deann – Austin, Lander

Posted on May 4, 2018January 12, 2021 by NWHP

Wyoming native Deann Helming moved to Austin in 1981. Her interview illustrates the self-reliant life of a rural Nevada woman raising a family in a small town (population 192) hundreds of miles away from larger towns, such as Ely (population 4,000) or Fallon (population 8,000), with more shopping opportunities. Clothing, groceries, medical appointments, as well as high school age children’s a...
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Fox, Ada (Sister Michael Fox) – Reno, Washoe

Posted on May 4, 2018January 12, 2021 by NWHP

Sister Michael entered the Carmelite Monastery of the Resurrection in Indianapolis, Indiana and transferred to Nevada in 1956 to help in the building of the Carmel of Reno Order, which had been established just two years before. Although she intended to stay just one year, now more than sixty years later she is still here. Sister Michael is blessed with a wonderful artistic talent and is the ...
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Ericson, Fritsi – Reno, Washoe

Posted on May 4, 2018January 12, 2021 by NWHP

Fritsi is a third generation Nevadan born in Reno, Nevada. A former educator and staff member for Congressman James D. Santini (1975-1983), Fritsi’s interest in women and children’s well-being led her to become a founding member of the Nevada Women’s Fund, and in 1984 she became its chief administrator. Fritsi retired in 2005 as president and CEO. As a community activist, Fritsi has held nume...
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Emm-Smith, Cheri – Schurz, Lyon

Posted on March 9, 2018August 20, 2018 by NWHP

Native American, Cheri Emm-Smith was born in Schurz, Nevada. A graduate of the University of Nevada, Reno, and Arizona State University, College of Law she is presently (2017) serving as Yerington Municipal Court Judge, as well as engaged in private practice. Cheri has served as District Attorney of Mineral County and Deputy District Attorney of Churchill County. Cheri wears another hat, also. S...
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Damele, Arlene – Eureka, Eureka

Posted on March 9, 2018August 20, 2018 by NWHP

Arlene Damele, born in Elko, has lived in rural Nevada all her life. She and her husband ranched in Eureka County, where common amenities such as telephones were nonexistent. If she had an emergency when her husband had their only car, she was to light a pile of old tires, stacked for such a reason, to signal for help. Later they moved to the town of Eureka where she worked for the Eureka County...
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Cafferata, Patricia – Reno, Washoe

Posted on March 9, 2018August 20, 2018 by NWHP

Educator, State Legislator, attorney, State Treasurer, and author of numerous Nevada books and articles, Patty has had a diverse career in law and politics. She was the first woman elected to a constitutional office in Nevada when she was elected State Treasurer in 1982. Patty is a lifelong resident of Reno and is active in recording and preserving the history of Nevada. Patty Cafferata...
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Bennett, Kay – Silver Springs, Lyon Co.

Posted on March 9, 2018August 20, 2018 by NWHP

Kay came to Nevada from California in 1978 and shortly after, took the position of Director of Surgery at Carson Tahoe Hospital. She has been active in community government affairs since then, as well as aviation. Kay has served on numerous boards including the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency and Carson City Board of Supervisors. A pilot and former owner of Silver Springs Airport, Kay is a member...
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Batjer, Marybel – Reno, Washoe

Posted on March 9, 2018August 20, 2018 by NWHP

Carson City native, Marybel’s job experiences have taken her to Washington DC and California, as well as Nevada. She has held Pentagon and White House positions in both the Reagan and George H.W. Bush administrations. Marybel has worked for 3 Governors; Nevada’s Kenny Guinn, and California’s Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jerry Brown. She also served as former Vice President of Public Policy and Corp...
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Baker, Gretchen – Baker, White Pine

Posted on March 9, 2018August 20, 2018 by NWHP

Gretchen came to Nevada in 2001 from Indiana to work as a biologist at Great Basin National Park and never left the area. Having resided in Baker (town has no relation to her name) for over 15 years, she is the author of three publications; Great Basin National Park: A Guide to the Park and Surrounding Area; The Great Basin for Kids; and a Nevada cave-based mystery, An Un-Conventional Murder. S...
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Atcheson, Lynn – Reno, Washoe

Posted on March 9, 2018August 20, 2018 by NWHP

Through her community leadership and professional achievements, Lynn has contributed to the health and vitality of the Truckee Meadows and Washoe County for many years. A native Nevadan, born in White Pine County, Lynn has spent most of her of her adult life in Reno. She has held leadership positions with Sierra Pacific Power Co. (now Nevada Energy), Harrah’s, as Director of Public Affairs, and ...
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Adin, Lucille – Sparks, Washoe

Posted on March 9, 2018August 2, 2023 by NWHP

A native of South Carolina, Lucille and her husband came to Nevada in 1962. A stay-at-home mom with her small children, Lucille, nevertheless, found she was always volunteering at her children’s schools. Volunteering was still a part of Lucille’s life even as she worked full-time for Washoe County School District when her children were older. After her retirement she became even more active...
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First Ladies First Event

Posted on March 8, 2018January 4, 2022 by NWHP

Produced by Women of Diversity Productions, Inc.Watch First Ladies First at Women of Diversity Productions, Inc.
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Making a Difference: Nevada Women in Politics 1965 – 1982

Posted on March 8, 2018May 4, 2018 by NWHP

Produced by Sylvia Ontaneda-Bernales for KNBP, 2008 *Posted with the permission of KNPB
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About NWHP

Posted on August 31, 2016November 8, 2018 by NWHP

The Nevada Women’s History Project was founded by former Clark County State Senator Jean Ford to collect and disseminate information about Nevada women to historians and the general public through its website, publications and other public outreach. Upon retiring from political life, Jean became Acting Director of Women Studies at the University of Nevada, Reno in 1991. In the spring of 1992 she d...
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THE GENESIS OF NWHP

Posted on August 23, 2016November 8, 2018 by NWHP

By Janet White From the NWHP News, Vol. 1, No. 1, January 1996, page 2. It began quite simply, a phone call or two, then a few more. Many, many questions, some with no answers. Some suggestions on where the required information might be found. Always more questions than solutions. Who was she? Where was she born and where did she live? When did she come to Nevada? Why did she come here? Who ...
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Christianne Hamel – 2016

Posted on May 31, 2016November 8, 2018 by NWHP

NWHP Women of Achievement - Honoree 2016 Christianne Hamel, NWHP’s Woman of Achievement honoree for 2016, attended UNR with the thought of obtaining a Nursing degree. Marriage and a move to Wisconsin changed her focus. She obtained a degree in Horticulture Marketing and Production at Gateway Technical College in Kenosha, Wisconsin. She subsequently moved to Las Vegas, NV where she owned an int...
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Patti Bernard – 2015

Posted on February 11, 2016May 31, 2016 by NWHP

NWHP Women of Achievement - Honoree 2015 Patti Bernard has been chosen as this year’s NWHP honoree for Woman of Achievement. She has held various positions on the NWHP board. She has spearheaded the project of securing biographies of Nevada’s First Ladies and placing them on our website. Patti has worked tirelessly for the project by putting on luncheons and programs to educate our members abou...
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Mona Reno – 2014

Posted on February 11, 2016May 31, 2016 by NWHP

NWHP Women of Achievement - Honoree 2014 Mona will preside over Nevada’s 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage in 2014, as Chair of the Nevada Women’s History Project. She and husband Ron reside in Silver City, Nevada. Mona Reno was the Nevada State Data Center Librarian and the Foundation Center Librarian, at the Nevada State Library from 1993-2009. Mona received her Master’s in Library S...
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Sally Zanjani – 2013

Posted on February 11, 2016July 8, 2016 by NWHP

NWHP Women of Achievement - Honoree 2013 Descendant of the Springmeyers, a pioneer Carson Valley family, Sally Zanjani received her Ph.D. from New York University in 1974 and was associated until 2009 with the political science department at the University of Nevada, Reno. She is the author of more than seventy articles and ten nonfiction books. Her book A Mine of Her Own: Women Prospectors ...
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Linda Wyckoff – 2012

Posted on February 11, 2016May 31, 2016 by NWHP

NWHP Women of Achievement - Honoree 2012 Linda Wyckoff has lived in Reno, Nevada since 1979. Originally from New Brunswick in eastern Canada, she came to the western US with her geologist husband. She graduated from UNR in 1983 with a Master’s in Business Administration. In the mid-90’s she became an American citizen but, fortunately, did not have to relinquish her Canadian citizenship. She ...
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Grace Davis – 2011

Posted on February 11, 2016May 31, 2016 by NWHP

NWHP Women of Achievement - Honoree 2011 Grace worked in the accounting and auditing fields before retiring. A second ‘career’ began when she joined the NWHP to help collect women’s histories. “The realization that so much valuable and fascinating history has not been preserved for future generations makes being a part of this organization a very rewarding experience.” Grace is a third-ge...
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Holly Van Valkenburgh – 2010

Posted on February 11, 2016March 2, 2017 by NWHP

NWHP Women of Achievement - Honoree 2010 I met Jean Ford when she was teaching the Travel class at Reno Business College and I was the Librarian. She invited me to participate in the initial meeting of the Nevada Women’s History Project and our association continued. It was certainly an exciting time! During the years I have been the Chair of the North Steering Committee, the Vice-Chair, Tre...
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Lisa-Marie Lightfoot – 2009

Posted on February 11, 2016August 10, 2016 by NWHP

NWHP Women of Achievement - Honoree 2009 Lisa-Marie Lightfoot, our honoree at this year’s Nevada Women’s Fund 18th Annual Salute to Women of Achievement luncheon, was recognized for her volunteer work with several organizations. In addition to working full-time in a demanding job as administrator of the Washoe County School District volunteer program, she has extended her time and talent doing ...
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Isabel Espinoza – 2008

Posted on February 11, 2016July 8, 2016 by NWHP

NWHP Women of Achievement - Honoree 2008 Northern Region Finance Chair Isabel Espinoza received the 2008 Nevada Women’s Fund Woman of Achievement award at a luncheon held on June 10th at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno. She was nominated by the NWHP North Region for her outstanding work as an organizer of tours, espinozalecture series, Nevada Day parade entries, and book sales. She served on...
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Kay Sanders – 2007

Posted on February 11, 2016May 31, 2016 by NWHP

NWHP Women of Achievement - Honoree 2007 On June 6, 2007, our friend and one of the original founders of the Nevada Women’s History Project will be honored as a Woman of Achievement at the Nevada Women’s Fund Annual luncheon.sanders Catharine (Kay) Sanders was chosen for her tireless efforts to promote the goals of the Nevada Women’s History Project. Kay has worn many hats including State Co...
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Kathleen Noneman – 2006

Posted on February 11, 2016July 8, 2016 by NWHP

NWHP Women of Achievement - Honoree 2006 The 2006 NWHP honoree for Woman of Achievement at the annual Nevada Women’s Fund event innoneman Reno is our past State and Northern Region Chair Kathleen Noneman. The luncheon was held on May 16th at the Reno Hilton. Mary Anne Convis was her escort. Kathy was one of the founding members of the NWHP who started the organizational planning in November ...
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Kathleen D. Clemence – 2005

Posted on February 11, 2016May 31, 2016 by NWHP

NWHP Women of Achievement - Honoree 2005 Our outstanding member Kathleen Clemence was honored at the fourteenth annual Nevada Women’s Fund Salute to Women of Achievement luncheon on May 10th in Reno. She was selected to represent the Nevada Women’s History Project as their 2005 Woman of Achievement. Kathleen was unanimously chosen for this honor as she had spent more than a year volunteering he...
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Mary Anne Convis – 2004

Posted on February 11, 2016May 31, 2016 by NWHP

NWHP Women of Achievement - Honoree 2004 Mary Anne Convis, who is a NWHP co-chair of the Sarah Winnemucca Statue Project and Project Review Chair for the Northern Region, will be honored on May 11th at the Nevada Women’s Fund Women of Achievement luncheon in Reno. She will be recognized for her outstanding work in the convisNevada Women’s History Project, and in particular, her success in spear...
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Alice Gottschalk Downer – 2001

Posted on February 11, 2016July 8, 2016 by NWHP

NWHP Women of Achievement - Honoree 2001 Lovelock native Alice Gottschalk Downer was honored on May 2nd as the 2001 Woman of Achievement representing the Nevada Women’s History Project. Alice was recognized for her contributions to education, community service, and research into the lives of pioneer Nevada women and their families. She was introduced at a luncheon held at the Reno Hilton. Al...
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Betty Glass – 2000

Posted on February 11, 2016November 8, 2018 by NWHP

NWHP Women of Achievement - Honoree 2000 Betty Glass, co-author with Jean Ford and Martha Gould, of Women in Nevada History: An Annotated Bibliography of Published Sources has been selected by the NWHP for the 2000 Women of Achievement award sponsored by the Nevada Women’s Fund in Reno. She will receive the award at a luncheon to be held May 24th in Reno.glass Betty has been a member of the ...
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Carrie Townley Porter – 1999

Posted on February 11, 2016October 11, 2019 by NWHP

NWHP Women of Achievement - Honoree 1999 Carrie Townley Porter, state coordinator for the Nevada Women’s History Project was nominated by the NWHP for the 1999 Woman of Achievement award. This is the first year that the NWHP gave this award. Entertainer Lou Rawls and guest speaker, Ann Richards, former Governor of Texas, were part of the Women of Achievement awards luncheon held in Reno, May...
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In Memory of Sarah Sweetwater

Posted on February 11, 2016November 8, 2018 by NWHP

In 2014, NWHP collaborated on a project with Women of Diversity, Inc., a southern Nevada nonprofit women’s organization. They had received a substantial grant to conduct oral histories of approximately 75 Nevada women as part of Nevada’s Sesquicentennial anniversary activities. Since our statewide organization is based in Reno, NWHP volunteered to conduct oral histories in the northern counties. T...
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Marcia Cuccaro

Posted on February 11, 2016November 8, 2018 by NWHP

Marcia Bernard Cuccaro has been a member of the Nevada Women’s History Project since March of 2005 when her sister, Patti Bernard, encouraged her to join the contingent of Nevada women who were traveling to Washington, D.C. for the dedication of the Sarah Winnemucca statue. Marcia has served as Vice-President of NWHP and most recently as Recording Secretary. She also has been active in writing bio...
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Mary S. Doten Luncheon

Posted on February 11, 2016May 3, 2019 by NWHP

Presenter Lynn Bremer On a beautiful fall day, we met at historic Rancho San Rafael to learn about Reno educator, poet and author, Mary S. Doten. The program was preceded by a delicious luncheon of a variety of homemade soups, salads, antipasti and desserts provided by NWHP members. Lynn BremerLynn Bremer, who recently published a two volume anthology of Mary’s known writings, presented an i...
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New Biographies Posted on NWHP Website

Posted on February 11, 2016November 8, 2018 by NWHP

Several new biographies have been added to our website since January 2015, making us closer to achieving our goal, which is to add 22 new biographies by the end of January 2016. Happily a few of our members have volunteered to step up their research and writing to help us reach this number. To date the following historical Nevada women have been posted on our website since the first of the year: ...
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The Genesis of NWHP

Posted on January 20, 2016November 8, 2018 by NWHP

The Genesis of NWHP By Janet White (This is a reprint from the NWHP News Vol. 1, No.1, January 1996 page 2) It began quite simply, a phone call or two, then a few more. Many, many questions, some with no answers. Some suggestions on where the required information might be found. Always more questions than solutions. Who was she? Where was she born and where did she live? When did she come t...
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NWHP Receives $10,000 Grant From The John Ben Snow Memorial Trust

Posted on December 8, 2015November 8, 2018 by NWHP

The NWHP received a grant titled “The History of Two Women’s Organizations and Interviewing Nevada Women” from the John Ben Snow Memorial Trust. The grant total costs are $24,059 of which NWHP received $10,000 from the John Ben Snow Memorial Trust. The grant request was for $13,969 with a $10,090 match from the NWHP, so the project will need to be scaled down to match the actual funds received. T...
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NWHP Women in Nevada History Second Edition

Posted on December 8, 2015November 8, 2018 by NWHP

We need NWHP members, their friends, their book clubs and their civic organizations to visit regional museums throughout the state to see if new publications about Nevada women are available for consideration for the new edition. The same goes for community organizations, including school fund‐raising projects that might have resulted in publications. Visits to local bookstores, churches, and libr...
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First Ladies Website Report

Posted on December 8, 2015November 8, 2018 by NWHP

NWHP members have been busy adding biographies of former Nevada Governor’s wives to our First Lady Biographies Collection. Since the first of the year, Marcia Cuccaro completed the biography of Una Reilly Dickerson and Janice Hoke added Elizabeth ‘Lizzie” Kinkead and Marianne Williamson Griswold to our ever growing list of completed biographies. Check them out on our website. The biographies provi...
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Progress Report on Estelle J. Kelsey Website Grant

Posted on December 8, 2015November 8, 2018 by NWHP

The NWHP website committee and the NWHP Board of Directors will be meeting with Shannon Hataway, Tangerine Design for Print & Web, at the end of August. Tangerine is a full‐service design and development shop whose owner works closely with her clients to grow a website for specific needs. Tangerine made the NWHP Suffrage Centennial website www.suffrage100nv.org in 2014. Shannon will present t...
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Patty Cafferata Reviews Bremer’s Mary S. Doten Books

Posted on November 14, 2015November 8, 2018 by NWHP

November Patty Cafferata reviews Bremer’s Mary S. Doten books in the Summer, 2015 Nevada in the West magazine, pgs. 37‐38. WHERE: Rancho San Rafael Ranch House 1595 N. Sierra, Reno, NV WHEN: Saturday, November 14, 2015 TIME: 11:30 am to 2:30 pm COST: $35.00 (NWHP member discount $5) For further information contact Patti Bernard 826-3612 Registration flyer
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