unlv.1995.14 Guide to the Eileen Brookman Collection Finding aid written by Joyce Marshall. Special Collections, UNLV Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas.February 1997. Finding aid encoded by Dana Miller. December 2006 Descriptive Summary Eileen Brookman Collection1964-1992 (inclusive) MS 95-14 Brookman, Eileen2 cartons, 15 document boxes and 1 oversized box (approx. 10 linear feet) University of Nevada, Las Vegas. UNLV Libraries. Special Collections. Las Vegas, Nevada 89154-7010.The materials in this collection document the political career of Nevada Democratic legislator, Assemblywoman Eileen Brookman. Materials span just over three decades between the 1960s and 1990s. Included are Brookman's speeches, research material, constituent correspondence, bumper stickers, election returns, and other campaign material, as well as clippings and programs from faith organization B’nai B’rith, documents reflecting her legislative committee and conference work, correspondence, clippings, pamphlets, invitations and photographs. Additionally, scrapbooks play a large role in the collection.English Preferred Citation:

Eileen Brookman Collection, MS 95-14. Special Collections, UNLV Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

 Acquisition Information:

Donated by Eileen Brookman and the Brookman Estate.

 Processed by:

Joyce Marshall, February, 1997; 2005 Accretion processed by Su kim Chung, 2005.

 Access:

This collection is open for research.

Publication Rights:

For permission to reproduce or publish from this collection, please contact the Director of Special Collections.

 Biographical Sketch

Eileen (Milstein) Brookman was born on October 25, 1921, in Denver, Colorado. The Milstein family relocated to Southern California and Eileen attended Eagle Rock High School in Los Angeles, California, and Los Angeles City College. She later married George Brookman in1941, while he was in the Army, and after the birth of their two children the family moved to Las Vegas, where George became a general contractor and Eileen entered the political arena.

Brookman was elected to her first of six consecutive terms in the Nevada Assembly in 1965, and served in each legislative session until 1977. After 1977 she voluntarily retired, but later returned to be elected to her seventh term in 1986. She was reelected for an eighth term in 1988.

During her 16 years in the legislature Brookman served on some of the most important Assembly committees, including the Government Affairs Committee, Health and Welfare Committee, Education Committee and the Legislative Functions Committee where she was vice-chairperson. She also co-chaired the Clark County Assembly Delegation. In her last term, she served on the interim committee studying the Youth Services Division and the Juvenile Justice System and was the Assembly Representative to the State Commission of Aging. Small in stature but nicknamed “Queenie” by her admirers, she advocated passionately for the rights of persons with disabilities, minorities, people with low incomes, women, and especially the elderly. She also sponsored such legislative milestones as the reorganization of the Nevada National Guard and adoption of the Nevada Code of Military Justice, creation of the Aging Services Division of the Department of Human Resources, prohibition of discrimination in private employment on the basis of age, entitlement of senior citizens to vote by absentee ballot, passage of the "hate crimes" bill for Nevada and creation of the Governor's Advisory Council on Education Relating to the Holocaust.

Brookman was a consistent supporter of legislation to establish and improve senior citizen programs and backed legislation in 1989 for Nevadans with disabilities. During her legislative career, Brookman sponsored the Older Americans Act which brought to Nevada the funding necessary for senior citizen benefits, including reduced transportation fares and created the State Division of Aging Services, including the “Meals on Wheels” program. She was named an “Outstanding Woman of the West” and was recognized as one of the 2000 women of achievement in the United States. In addition, she received the Clark County Achievement Award on behalf of senior citizens.

Among her many honors, Brookman was also named Humanitarian Mother of the Year for Clark County, Woman of the Year by the City of Hope and was chairman of the Nevada delegation to the White House Conference on Aging. She also served on the Nevada State Taxi Authority and was appointed to the Nevada Commission on Aging.

In 1990, Brookman learned that her son would be undergoing heart surgery and ended her political career at that time to be by his side. Eileen Brookman passed away some years later in her Las Vegas home on July 1, 2004, after a battle with cancer; her husband died only a few weeks later. Both were survived by their daughter Deborah.

Scope and Content

The collection is divided into three series. The Personal Series, although it does have some folders on her family life, is devoted mainly to her personal political endeavors. It includes speeches she wrote and written materials she used to create them, letters of support and thank you letters for same, plus bumper stickers, endorsements and other campaign miscellaneous. The election returns from each of her campaigns are also included. There is extensive information on B’nai B’rith, including a scrapbook, clippings, programs and correspondence.

The Political Series contains more general information about state government and outlines the committees and functions that she was involved with. There is extensive coverage on The White House Conference of Aging of 1982 and the work she did in the state as a result of the conference. Her other involvements are outlined in folders on the N.A.A.C.P., the Women’s Democratic Club, Nike House, Campus Security, American Business Women and E.R.A. Also included are correspondence, clippings, pamphlets, invitations and photographs.

Although there are scrapbooks contained throughout the collection as they pertain specifically to larger topics, the third series is composed entirely of scrapbooks on a variety of subjects. Some contain a combination of her personal and political life while others are more specific. There are two scrapbooks entitled “Gemco Student Scholarship Awards” and one about her husband George. An oversized box contains many of her awards and certificates.

In addition, a series of 2005 Accretion materials were added to the collection from the Brookman Estate after her death. The majority of photographs included in this addition were added to the Eileen Brookman Photo Collection, 0303, located in UNLV Special Collections.

Arrangement of the Records

The collection is divided into 3 series and 1 accretion:

Series 1. Personal Subseries 1.1 FamilySubseries 1.2 Political LifeSubseries 1.3 ArtifactsSeries 2. PoliticalSubseries 2.1 GeneralSubseries 2.2 White House Conference on Aging Series 3. Scrapbooks2005 Accretion

Several photographs from both the 1995 and 2005 accessions, including photographs of Brookman with Nevada dignitaries, were relocated to the UNLV Special Collections Photo Collection, where they can be found under Eileen Brookman 0303.

In addition, books on Senate and Assembly history and some legislative manuals have been removed from the collection when there were no personal notes or information from Brookman in them. These books are available in the government section of the library.

Related Collections:

For related topics and further information on legislators and the Jewish community of Las Vegas, see the following collections:

Edythe Katz-Yarchever Collection, MS 96-17

Jewish Immigration Archives, MS 2001-06

Bea Levinson Collection, MS 97-02

Lori Lipman Brown Collection, MS 95-10

Thalia M. Dondero Collection, MS 94-48

Jean Ford Collection, MS 25

Jane Ham Collection, T-168

Aaron Williams Collection, MS 87-36

Subject Headings Individuals:Brookman, Eileen, 1921-2004. Organizations:Nevada. Legislature. Assembly. Subjects:Businesswomen—Nevada -- Las Vegas--Biography. Women in politics -- Nevada. Women – Nevada – Las Vegas – Biography.Las Vegas – Nevada -- Politics and government.White House Conference on Aging. Inventory: Series I. Personal, 1964-1992 (5 total boxes) Subseries 1.1 Family, n.d. (2 boxes)BoxFolderContents11Preliminary inventories2Arvey, Lawrence-criminal case clippingsn.d.3Biographical information4B’nai B’rith- scrapbook5B’nai B’rith- clippings6B’nai B’rith- correspondence, file 17B’nai B’rith- correspondence, file 28Brookman, Michael9Brookman Motel10Correspondence- personal11High School diplomas12Jewelry appraisal13Oriental design post cards21Photographs2Photographs3Programs – miscellaneous4Temple Beth Shalom- Family Album5 UNLV football programs,1973Subseries 1.2 Political Life,1964-1992(2 boxes)BoxFolderContents31Campaign-bumper stickers2Campaign-endorsements3Campaign-endorsement thank yous4Campaign-miscellaneous5Correspondence-thank you letters6Holiday cards and letters7Newspaper clippings8Speech helpers9Speeches, file entitled10Speeches11Stationary41Election candidates, 19922Election returns, 19643Election returns19664Election returns19685Election returns, 19706Election returns, 19727Election returns, 19748Election return information,19749Election returns, 197610 Election information ballots, 198811Election returns, 1988Subseries 1.3 Artifacts, n.d.(1 box)5Several items not foldered, i.e., carry-all, clock, film, flagSeries 2. Political Materials, 1967-1990(7 total boxes)Subseries 2.1 General Political, 1969-1990(4 boxes)BoxFolderContents61Biennial message of Gov. Richard Bryan, 19872Booklets and pamphlets3Brothels in Nevada4Business and Professional Women Roster, 1987-19885Campus Security Bill, 19886Campus Security, University of Nevada System7Certificates and awards8Correspondence, 1970-19899Date book, 19881010 Directory-Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, 196911E.R.A. pamphlets and clippings1218th Annual N.A.A.C.P. Freedom Fund Banquet71Governor’s Conference, 19732Governor’s Conference, Houston, Tx., 19723Governor’s Conference, 1977

(Dinner hosted by Alaska.)

4Governor Mike O’Callahan-file entitled5Inaugural invitations6Indian Affairs7Key to the Constitution, booklet8Lobbyist listing, 198981N.A.A.C.P.2National Conference of Christians and Jews-dinner, 19883Nevada P.T.A., member plaque4Nevada Public Affairs Bureau, 19875Nevada State Educational Association Handbook6Nevada State Health Plan, 1988-19927Nevada Wage Survey, 19888Newspaper clippings, miscellaneous9Nike House10Northern Nevada Information11Orientation to Older Americans91Political History of Nevada, 19652Political History of Nevada, 19793Presidential Inauguration, 19774Pyramid Lake Task Force5Questions and Answers on Government, 19796Technical Report, 19887 U.S. Governors, 19758Vintage News and Views,1974-19779Voting district plat map10Women in politics11Women’s Democratic Club rosterSubseries 2.2 Political- White House Conference on Aging,1967-1990(3 boxes)BoxFolderContents101Clippings and Correspondence2Correspondence-seniors3Engineering work tape 4Final Reports5 Folder6General Conference information, 11981-1982111Handbook2Information booklet3Mini-seminars4Photographs5Recommendations6Scrapbook, 19817Scrapbook, 19818Scrapbook Reno, 19819Scrapbook, Senior Citizen Center, 1981121Assembly history, 19772Biographies of members of the Nevada Legislature, 19793National Directory of Elected Women Officials, 19874Nevada Legislative Handbook, 19675Nevada Legislature, 19736Nevada Legislature Handbook, 1987-19897Nevada Legislature, 1989-19908State Legislative Council, letter, 19889The Sometime Governments10Senate History, 196711Women in Congress, 1917-1976(pamphlet)Series 3. Scrapbook Series, [1970s -1980s](3 boxes) BoxAlbumContents131Scrapbook, untitled2Scrapbook, untitled3Scrapbook, 19724Scrapbook, Gemco Scholarship Fund5Scrapbook, Gemco Scholarship Fund, 1980-19816Scrapbook, George Brookman7Scrapbook, National Brotherhood of Christian and Jews141Scrapbook, untitled2Scrapbook, untitled3Scrapbook, untitled4Scrapbook, untitled15n/aOversized box containing awards and certificates2005 Accretion,1967-1989(3 boxes)Eileen Brookman died on July 1, 2004. These materials were added to the collection from the Brookman Estate after her death and processed by Su Kim Chung. The majority of photographs included in this addition were added to the Eileen Brookman Photo Collection: 0303 161Appointment book19822Brookman sponsored bills, 1967, 1968, 19693Brookman sponsored bills,19714Brookman sponsored bills,19735Brookman sponsored bills,19776Brookman sponsored bills,19877Brookman sponsored bills,19898Brookman bills – drafts and miscellaneous, (various dates).9Brookman bills pending – drafts and related documents, 197310Brookman school naming11 Candidate declarations of expenditures and campaign donations. 198712Correspondence. 1970s13Ethics Review Board – City of Las Vegas14Fiftieth Wedding Anniversary Congratulations for Eileen & George Brookman (Various correspondence including government officials)15 Miscellaneous memos and correspondence.16Nevada Legislature197517Nevada Legislature198918Newspaper clippings1970-197119Newspaper clippings,1974-1987.20Photographs21Second Wind (transplant organization)22Women’s Democratic Club of Clark County– rosters, constitution and bylaws23Plaque: Life Member of Hadassah 198624Plaques: Vice Chairman, Committee on Legislative Functions; Las Vegas B’Nai B’rith Women1989; 196525Plaque: Nevada Outstanding Citizen Award for Meritorious Service26Plaques: Worse tie and Delegate to White House Conference on Aging171Assembly Bills1969 (bound volumes annotated by Brookman)2Assembly Bills19733Assembly Bills19754Assembly Bills1977(Assembly bills, senate bills concurrent resolutions)5Assembly Bills19876Assembly Bills1987(Assembly bills, senate bills concurrent resolutions)7Assembly Bills19898Nevada Legislative Manual 197718n/aNevada license plates for Nevada Assemblywoman BrookmanEND OF INVENTORY