John Marschall

Jacob Davis and the Copper-riveted Jeans

Although the Levi Strauss name is indelibly associated with copper-riveted jeans, it was Jacob W. Davis who first fabricated them at his Reno shop in 1871. After several legal battles, he and Strauss jointly won patent rights to the invention, and Davis supervised their manufacture in San Francisco until his death.

Islam in Nevada

In the mid-twentieth century, the number of identifiable Muslims in Nevada was limited to a few professionals in the north and, in Las Vegas, a small cluster of African-Americans affiliated with Elijah Muhammad's Nation of Islam. Since then, Islam in Reno organized itself as the Northern Nevada Muslim Community with its own mosque.

Herman Bien

Herman Bien arrived on the Comstock with experience in San Francisco as a musical playwright, teacher, editor, and rabbi. He played all of these roles in Nevada, as well as that of state assemblyman.

Henry Bergstein, Father of Nevada Professional Medicine

From his arrival in Pioche in 1872, Dr. Henry Bergstein played a pivotal role in the development of Nevada's medical regulations and organization of the medical profession.

Gareth Hughes: Unlikely Missionary to the Paiutes

In May 1958, Reno and San Francisco newspapers announced that Gareth Hughes, Welsh-born silent screen celebrity and Shakespearean stage actor, was leaving his mission to Pyramid Lake Paiute Indians and returning to his homeland. The widespread and richly deserved praise for nearly two decades of tireless dedication to Nevada Indians was also punctuated with mysteries, theological controversies, and issues of personal identity. When he left Nevada, he carried with him a lung disease contracted in the course of his ministry.

Carmelite Monastery, Reno

In August, 1954, eight nuns from a strictly cloistered Carmelite monastery in Indianapolis accepted an invitation from Nevada bishop, Robert J. Dwyer, to establish a foundation in Reno. It has since been embraced by people of all religious persuasions, who request the nuns' prayers and contribute to their financial support. The Carmel of Reno has a rich heritage.

Bert Goldwater

Bertram Mortimer (Bert) Goldwater lived most of his life in Reno as a criminal and civil lawyer. He was a passionate defender of civil liberties and served as first chairman of Nevada's Equal Rights Commission. For many years he was a United States bankruptcy judge–a position held until his death at the age of 91.

Anti-Semitism in Nevada

Except in a few published writings, blatant anti-Semitism was a rarity in nineteenth century Nevada. After 1900, mean-spirited references to Jews could be found in private correspondence and diaries. While anti-Semitism never became widespread or organized, isolated activities marred the otherwise friendly environment enjoyed by Nevada Jews in the twentieth century.

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