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Carson City Historical Society

The Carson City Historical Society (EIN 94-2565777) is located at the Foreman-Roberts House Museum, 1207 North Carson
Street, Carson City, Nevada. Our mailing address is 112 North Curry St., Carson City, NV 89703. The
Carson City Historical Society is a nonprofit organization
that operates and maintains the Foreman-Roberts House Museum.
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Carson City Historical Society - Home Page
Carson City Historical Society Hosts
"The Comstock Chinese & Other Chinese
Immigrant Communities in Northern Nevada,"
a Lecture with Erica Hill
New date: Thursday, June 2, 2022
Unfortunately, due to illness, we have to postpone her presentation from
Thursday, May 19, to Thursday, June 2, at 7:30 p.m.
Carson City Historical Society (CCHS) is proud to host a lecture on "The Comstock Chinese & Other Chinese
Immigrant Communities in Northern Nevada," on a new date: Thursday, June 2, 2022, at 7:30 p.m. on Zoom.
(Previously the lecture was scheduled for Thursday, May 19, 2022, at 7:30 p.m.)
The guest speaker is Erica Hill.
Around 1850, Chinese immigrants began arriving in the U.S. in record breaking numbers because
of the California Gold Rush. Throughout the mid-19th century, Chinese people quickly
formed Chinese settlements across the American West in places they could find work while
protecting their traditions and being insulated from racial violence. In Nevada, Chinese
people lived and worked in mining communities, railroad camps, and other boomtowns across
the Comstock Lode and surrounding area. This project discusses the Chinese who lived in
Northern Nevada, how they were instrumental to the rapid expansion of the American West,
and how they faced extreme racial violence which forced them to form Chinatowns and then
abandon them.
Erica Hill is the Community Arts Development Specialist at the Nevada Arts Council in
Carson City. She earned her MA in Anthropology from San Francisco State University in 2021
and wrote the thesis Chinese Childhood Play: Deconstructing Hegemonic Narratives in Northern
California Chinatowns. Hill holds a BA in Anthropology (CSUC) and two AA degrees in
Anthropology and Humanities (MJC). Highlights of her professional experience include
Archaeological Technician at the Bureau of Land Management Carson City District Office,
Cultural Landscapes Intern at the National Park Service Pacific West Regional Office in
San Francisco, and Student Curator at the Valene L. Smith Museum of Anthropology at CSUC.
The lecture is free and open to the public. To sign up for Erica Hill's Zoom Lecture on
June 2, 2022, at 7:30 p.m., go to
http://cchistorical.org/signup.htm,
where there is a link to use to sign up. You will be asked to fill out a Google Form with name,
email address, phone number, and other questions. [Note: If the appropriate lecture is not listed
on the sign-up page, you may need to refresh that page in your browser.] If your request
is accepted, we will send you a
link to the Zoom session within about 3 days. If you need to make special arrangements, send an
email to DCBugli@aol.com with "Erica Hill Lecture" in the subject line or call David Bugli
at 775-883-4154. If you already signed up for this lecture prior to May 18, there is no
need to sign up again.
After a hiatus of several years, the CCHS resumed a monthly lecture series in January 2021.
Most lectures are presented on Zoom on the third Thursday of each month at 7:30 p.m. Some past
lectures are also available on the Carson City Historical Society's YouTube.com page. Additional
information about the CCHS is available on its webpage, CCHistorical.org.
Photos: Chinese Mary, wife of a Virginia City Chinese doctor and her child, 1866.
Erica Hill, lecturer for June 2, 2022
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Downton Abbey Tea
Sunday, June 12, 2022
The Carson City Historical Society will be hosting a by-reservation-only "Downton Abbey Tea"
on Sunday, June 12, 2022, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at the Foreman-Roberts Carriage House, 1207 North Carson
Street, Carson City, Nevada 89703. There is no special costume required. However, if you
have an old-fashioned broach, hat, boa or other item to show off and tell the history about,
that would be delightful.
Our special guest for the tea will be Rebecca Van Sickle who will be doing a dressing
presentation, focused on the 1860s with a crinoline-style day dress. She will talk about
each of the layers of clothing and provide some interesting history along the way.
Reservations can be made by check. Cost of the tea is $42.00 per person for Carson City
Historical Society non-member; cost for a Carson City Historical Society member is $37;
and if you have been to Downton Abbey, and are willing to tell us about your experience,
the cost is $27 per person. Please indicate on your check whether you are a member, nonmember,
or have been to Downton Abbey. Space is limited to 25 people. Checks can be made out to the
Carson City Historical Society and sent to 112 North Curry, Carson City, NV 89703. Early
reservations are encouraged and must be sent in by June 3, 2022. Our website address is:
cchistorical.com, or you can email us at carsoncityhistoricalsociety@gmail.com if you have questions.
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Historical Society Open Sundays Until Further Notice
Update: May 18, 2022
The Carson City Historical Society will continue being open from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. on Sundays
starting May 15. If you show up, first report to the Carriage House, the yellow building with the double
doors just east of
the Foreman-Roberts House Museum. You may start your visit there, where you can see
our "If These Gowns Could Talk" Exhibit and parts of our collection. From there, the docent can escort guests to the
Foreman-Roberts House itself, where you can experience a bit of early Carson City
life and ambiance.
Guest, please comply with COVID guidelines. We reserve the right to limit the
number of visitors at any one time.
If you wish to contact us in advance, send an email to carsoncityhistoricalsociety@gmail.com.
The two buildings are located at 1207 North Carson St., Carson City, NV. Click
HERE for a map link. Parking is available on Corbett and Rice Streets.
Picture: Four of the dresses from our "If These Gowns Could Talk" Exhibit.
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"If These Gowns Could Talk" Exhibit
Exhibit opens Sunday, April 24, 2022
The Carson City Historical Society presents a new exhibit, "If These Gowns Could Talk" that
will cover Edwardian and Victorian fashions--the how and why of fashion along with a
photographic exhibit of early Carson City around 1900. The exhibit will open on Sunday,
April 24, 2022, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Foreman-Roberts House, 1207 North Carson Street,
Carson City, NV. 89703 (the little yellow house on Main Street). Donations are accepted.
We are currently in need of volunteers to help with the exhibit. A tour training is
available on Sunday, April 3, 2022, at 1:00 p.m. Our phone number is (775) 882-2174, please leave
a message, or call Sue at 775-220-6278.
The Carson City Historical Society is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that was formed
in 1969 as The Nevada Landmarks Society to help save the Roberts House and other Landmarks
from being demolished. Through volunteer efforts, the Foreman-Roberts House was saved. We changed
our name in 2000 to become the Carson City Historical Society to better serve the public.
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April 2022 Newsletter is Available Online
The April CCHS Newsletter is available online. Perhaps you have already received
it in your email inbox on April 19. This issue includes an announcement on the opening of our
"If These Gowns Could Talk" exhibit on April 24, a request for volunteers, and
a preview of events in May and later.
If you are not on our email list, please email your request to be
added to carsoncityhistoricalsociety@gmail.com.
To download the April Newsletter, please
CLICK HERE.
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Dues for 2022 are due January 1, 2022
CCHS works on a fiscal year beginning January 1 and ending December
31. Dues for 2021 are $25 for single membership (1 vote) and $35
for a household (2 votes). Dues are due in January of each year.
You may support us at additional levels of giving.
Levels of membership:
- Individual member -- $25
- Household membership -- $35
- Patron -- $50
- Historian -- $100
- Curator -- $250
- Preservationist -- Above $250
Annual dues can be mailed to CC Historical Society, 112 N. Curry St., Carson City, NV
89703. A membership form is available at http://cchistorical.org/CCHS_Membership_form.pdf.
The Carson City Historical Society is a Nevada nonprofit organizations.
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Robin Holabird's Lecture on "The Silver State on the Silver Screen"
(Video of the event is in production and will be posted on YouTube)
Original Presentation - Thursday, June 17, 2021
Robin Holabird will present a lecture on "The Silver State on the Silver Screen" on
Thursday, June 17, 2021, at 7:30 p.m. on Zoom. Ms. Holabird is a well-known Nevada film
critic.
Author, film expert and world traveler Robin Holabird writes regularly about
films and their locations, with her weekly program airing on Reno's NPR affiliate
KUNR at 88.7 FM every Friday. She also provides film commentary for KOH. Her newest
book Around the World in 80 Movies, published by Ice Cube Press, shows the link between
films and travel destinations. Her first book, Elvis, Marilyn and the Space Aliens, explores
how movies and television programs affect Nevada's public image. Both books reflect
Holabird's longtime experience as a film commissioner for the state of Nevada, where she
worked with Clint Eastwood, Taylor Hackford, PT Anderson, and other directors on such projects
as Love Ranch, Sister Act, and CSI. She honed writing skills with a degree in Journalism
from Humboldt State University and reporting stints at KOLO, the Sparks Tribune and other
media outlets. She earned certification and a Master's in Public Administration (MPA) from the
University of Nevada-Reno. An outdoor enthusiast who loves photographing locations throughout
the world, Robin is a regular hiker and runner who finished the Boston Marathon six times.
The lecture is free and open to the public.
For information about attending, send an email to Dcbugli@aol.com or contact David Bugli at
775-883-4154 and he will provide you with a meeting link (or a meeting ID with passcode).
Photo: Robin Holabird, Nevada film critic and author
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Bruce Roter to present lecture on "The Museum of Political Corruption"
(Video of the event is in production and will be posted on YouTube)
Original presentation - Thursday, May 20, 2021
The Carson City Historical Society (CCHS) presents its fifth free lecture of 2021. It's on
"The Museum of Political
Corruption" by Bruce Roter, Executive Director of The Museum of Political Corruption (MCP), on
Thursday, May 20, 2021, at 7:30 p.m. via Zoom. The lecture is free and open to the public.
For information about attending, send an email to Dcbugli@aol.com or contact David Bugli at
775-883-4154 and he will provide you with a meeting link (or a meeting ID with passcode).
Corruption has a long and colorful history, both nationally and in our own backyards. Bruce
Roter's presentation will be somewhat like a tour describing how the subject will be presented at
The Museum of Political Corruption in Albany, NY. The history of corruption will be discussed,
both the villains and heroes (mostly the villains), but he will first explore the very notion
of what corruption is. Is corruption always illegal, and what is the impact of corruption on
society? At the conclusion of the evening's discussion, participants can look at ways we can
all be involved in combating corruption.
Bruce Roter is an Albany, NY-based music professor and composer whose works have been
performed by orchestras throughout the United States (including the Carson City Symphony).
Roter's music is often inspired by themes of American history or social justice. In 2013,
after a series of high-profile indictments of New York State political leaders, Roter found
another creative outlet for civic engagement. He founded the Museum of Political Corruption,
a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization. The Museum has received national and international attention.
It is the host of the annual Nellie Bly Award for Investigative Reporting, and in the summer of
2021, the MPC along with its Center for Ethical Governance is set to open a virtual museum
covering a wide range of topics addressing corruption and government reform. The website for the
museum is at http://www.museumofpoliticalcorruption.org.
After a hiatus of several years, the CCHS resumed a monthly lecture series in January 2021.
Most lectures are presented on Zoom on the third Thursday of each month at 7:30 p.m. In addition
to Mr. Roter's lecture, future lectures are scheduled, including those by historian and entertainer Chris Bayer
on July 15 on "The Strychnine Banjo" and by Samantha Szesciorka on "Long Riding" on September
16 (see https://www.nevadadiscoveryride.com). Some past lectures are also available on the Carson City
Historical Society's YouTube.com page. Additional information about the CCHS is available on its
webpage, CCHistorical.org.
Photo: Bruce Roter to present Museum of Political Corruption lecture on May 20.
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Steven Saylor Presents Lecture: "The Donovan Mill and the Comstock Foundation"
(Video of the event is in production and will be posted on YouTube)
Original presentation - Thursday, April 15, 2021
The Carson City Historical Society presents its fourth free lecture of 2021. It's on "The Donovan Mill and the
Comstock Foundation" by Steven Saylor, Executive Director of the Comstock Foundation, on
Thursday, April 15, 2021, at 7:30 p.m. via Zoom. The lecture is free and open to the public.
For information about attending, contact David Bugli at 775-883-4154 or send an email to
Dcbugli@aol.com and he will provide you with a meeting link (or a meeting ID with passcode).
The Donovan Mill in Silver City is a gold and silver stamp mill that was critical in the
development of the cyanide method for processing ore. The Comstock Foundation acquired the
mill in 2014 to save it from being sold, dismantled, and leveled. The mill is a significant
landmark of Comstock history and is the largest historic stamp mill in the United States still
standing. It represents an example of historical innovation and technology. Ultimately, the
complex will serve as an interpretive center, with a fully operational blacksmith shop, operating
stamp mill, and the restoration of two historic Merrill Crowe presses; only three Merrill
Crowe milling machines are known to still exist in the nation. The interpretive center will
provide the public access to these significant environs, and the demonstration of historic
methods and practices, through visitation and educational programming, and through collaborations
to maintain the informational link to past knowledge and practices. The restoration of the Donovan
Mill will provide the Comstock Foundation with the first significant living historic environ and
complete the preservation of one of the links in our historic landscape. The foundation has also
engaged in restoration of the Upper Yellow Jacket Hoist, St. Mary's Art Center, Gold Hill Depot,
the Fourth Ward School, the Dayton Consolidated Mine and Mill, Piper's Opera House, Comstock Fireman's
Museum, the Crown Point Mill, and Sutro Tunnel Town site.
Mr. Saylor's lecture will include visuals of the Donovan Mill - both historical and before-and-after
restoration work - and a nine-minute video tour of the Donovan Mill covering the process of ore
processing from beginning to end. Information about the mill can be found at
https://comstockfoundation.org/projects/donovan-mill.
Steven Saylor holds a B.F.A. & M.A. from Kent State University. He worked for advertising
agencies in Akron, New York, and Reno, holding positions as Art Director and Television Director
from 1968 to 1974. He has instructed illustration, design, oil painting, watercolor, and photography
at Kent State University and for UNR at Western Nevada College (WNC). His work in academia
includes the development of art and photography classes at WNC in 1974. In 1986, Steven was
awarded instructor of the year at WNC (then called Western Nevada Community College). In 2017,
Steven was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from Kent State University. Currently he is
an adjunct Professor teaching art at WNC.
Mr. Saylor has been Executive Director of the Comstock Foundation since January 2018, and
has been successful in improving community outreach, membership, lecture series, special event
production, volunteer engagement, donations, supporters, and more. Under his guidance the
Comstock Foundation won the Northern Nevada Development Authority's Pioneer/Boundary Peak Award
as best nonprofit in 2018. He is Second Vice President of the Nevada Museums Association, and
was awarded Virginia City Businessperson of the Year 2020-2021 by national organization Alignable.
Upper photo: Historic photo of the Donovan Mill.
Lower photo: Steven Saylor to present Donovan Mill lecture April 15
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Karen Dustman presents "Lessons From The Cemetery" Lecture
(Video of the event is in production and will be posted on YouTube)
Original Zoom Presentation - Thursday, March 18, 2021
There's something fascinating about old cemeteries. Who WERE these long-forgotten people?
What were their lives like? What were their stories? And what clues can we find on these
historic headstones? Author Karen Dustman shares tales and discoveries from her books
on Genoa and Fredericksburg Cemeteries, for a fascinating look at the past! The lecture will be
presented on Zoom on Thursday, March 18, 2021, at 7:30 p.m.
The lecture is free
and open to the public. For information about attending, contact David Bugli at 775-883-4154 or send
an email to Dcbugli@aol.com and he will provide you with a meeting link (or a meeting ID with passcode).
Karen Dustman is a multi-book author, and has penned hundreds of magazine articles on topics ranging
from pet care to natural health. But her very favorite topic is local history. Karen's books
include a history of Silver Mountain City, a 3-volume set on Genoa Cemetery, and a walking
tour guide to Fredericksburg Cemetery. She also publishes a free monthly e-newsletter featuring
Sierra history and other fascinating tales. For more information about Karen's publications, go
to https://www.clairitage.com/about-clairitage-press.
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CCHS Presents Lecture: "The Cocktail and Alcohol Culture of Virginia City,"
Lecture by Garrett Barmore
Now available on YouTube
Posted: March 5, 2021
Garrett Barmore, curator of the W. M. Keck Earth Science and Mineral Engineering Museum at the University
of Nevada, Reno, presented an entertaining lecture, "The Cocktail and
Alcohol Culture of Virginia City," on Thursday, February 18, 2021, at 7:30 p.m. via Zoom. He
discussed the history of several
alcoholic beverages and how they relate to daily life in Virginia City during the mining boom.
Barmore, who demonstrated the making of these drinks, is an entertaining lecturer.
The lecture included include 3 cocktail recipes and a bonus punch recipe, which can be
downloaded by clicking HERE.
The video of this lecture is now available on the Carson City Historical Society's YouTube channel: Click
HERE for the
channel and click on
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewPEwcNVr5E to go directly to the video.
Photo: Garrett Barmore in the Keck Museum
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More than a Ghost Town: Cultural Resource Management
in the Phantom City of Rhyolite, Nevada
Jonah Blustain Lecture on Rhyolite
Now available on YouTube
Posted: Feb. 4, 2021
On January 21, 2021, Jonah S. Blustain, BLM Assistant Field Manager, presented a lecture,
"More than a Ghost Town: Cultural Resource Management
in the Phantom City of Rhyolite, Nevada" on Thursday, January 21, 2021, via Zoom.
The ghost town of Rhyolite, Nevada, is one of the more challenging public resources to manage. The
town was originally the site of a large gold strike in 1904. By 1907, the early tent city had
become a veritable metropolis.
Jonah Blustain currently serves in the U. S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Land Management, as the
Assistant Field Manager for Non-Renewable Resources, Tonopah Field Office, in Tonopah, Nevada.
The video of this lecture is now available on the Carson City Historical Society's YouTube channel: Click
HERE for the
channel and click on
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dc-P1L41ep4 to go directly to the video.
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Mailing Address for CCHS
The mailing address for the Carson City Historical Society
(CCHS) is:
112 North Curry Street
Carson City, NV 89703
The physical address for the Foreman-Roberts House Museum is 1207 North Carson
St., but that address is not our official mailing address.
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Notice:
The Carson City Historical Society is a Nevada nonprofit organizations. It is
a nonprofit, tax-exempt corporations
under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations are
tax deductible pursuant to section 170(c) of the Internal Revenue Code.
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CCHS board meetings are generally held the second Monday of each
month at 3:45 p.m. in the Carriage House of the Foreman-Roberts House Museum.
If you are interested in being put on the CCHS e-mail list, please send an e-mail
to carsoncityhistoricalsociety@gmail.com and put "CCHS Membership Addition" in the subject line.
We will inform you about upcoming events of the Society via e-mail.
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The Carson City Historical Society (formerly the Nevada Landmarks Society) is
located at the Roberts House Museum, 1207 North Carson Street, Carson City, Nevada 89702.
E-mail carsoncityhistoricalsociety@gmail.com
Foreman-Roberts House - The Foreman-Roberts House Museum is open by appointment
only and for special events sponsored by the
Carson City Historical Society. To tour the Foreman-Roberts House Museum, please call
or leave a message at 775-887-2174 for an appointment. Messages are checked daily. Cost is $5 per person.
View
Map for the Foreman-Roberts House
If you would like to join the Carson City Historical Society, our application
is located on this website. Please print out and mail to:
Carson City Historical Society
112 North Curry St. Carson City, NV 89703
Membership is $25 per person
or $35 for family and includes our newsletter plus an opportunity to attend
many historical events. Click here for application form.
For the history of the Foreman-Roberts House, click on Foreman-Roberts House History (on menu, at left) or
CLICK HERE.
Better yet, come and visit us. We have quite a history to tell.
CCHS Officers for 2022
President
Sue Ballew
First Vice President CCHS:
Liz Cain
Second Vice President CCHS:
Travis Legatzke
Secretary
David Bugli
Treasurer:
Kiyoshi Nishikawa
Membership Chair
Chris Pattison
Fundraising
Donna McLaren
Exhibits/Collections
Kathleen "Kat" Long
This page last updated 5/19/2022
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