unlv.1995.48 Guide to the Celesta Lowe Papers Finding aid written by Joyce Marshall Special Collections, UNLV Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas.January 1996. Finding aid encoded by Dana MillerJune 2007. Descriptive Summary Celesta Lowe Papers1943-1995 (inclusive),1967-1981 (bulk) MS 95-48 Lowe, Celesta Lisle, 1917- 1 slim document box, 1 flat box on roller shelf (approx. 1.5 linear ft.) University of Nevada, Las Vegas. UNLV Libraries. Special Collections. Las Vegas, Nevada 89154-7010.Collection consists of Nevada pioneer and writer Celesta Lowe's clippings, published writings ("Echoes from the Archives" and "Southwestern Bookshelf" columns), correspondence, and photographs related to local history. Also contains National League of American Pen Women and Pen-Hens material. Celesta Lowe grew up in Goodsprings and worked for James R. Dickinson, who was the first head of Nevada Southern University (later UNLV). Lowe played a large part in developing the Special Collections Division of the library.English Preferred Citation:

Celesta Lowe Papers. MS 95-48. Special Collections, UNLV Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

 Acquisition Information:

Donated by Celesta Lowe, 1995.

 Processed by:

Joyce Marshall, January 1996.

 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

Celesta Lowe was a long time resident of Clark County. She completed her early schooling in Moapa Valley before the family moved to El Monte, California, where she attended high school and business college before returning to Las Vegas. The first Helldorado celebration in 1935 was the site of her marriage to Deke Lowe. As a mother of four children, she returned to school in 1955 to take home economic classes at Nevada Southern University (NSU). She eventually became the first secretary to James Dickinson in the NSU library and took charge of the Special Collections Department in 1967. A prolific writer, she wrote the column "Echoes from the Archives" in the Nevadan section of the Las Vegas Review Journal, and followed that with a column entitled "Southwestern Bookshelf." She was been an active member of the National League of Pen Women since 1958 and also served as book review editor for Maverick Publications. Celesta Lowe died at age 87 on December 9, 2004 in Las Vegas.

Scope and Content

The collection includes copies of Celesta Lowe's column "Echoes from the Archives" from 1967 to 1974. The years 1967, 1968 and 1969 are complete while the subsequent years are incomplete. Copies of "Southwestern Bookshelf" in 1980 and 1981 are included and complete. There is correspondence and newsletters from the Pen-Hens from 1958 to 1976, and from the National League of Pen Women from 1976 through 1995, including a copy of the bylaws. One folder contains copies of newspaper articles pertaining to various family members and civic events.

Arrangement of the Records

The collection was retained in a single series.

Three photographs were removed to the UNLV Special Collections Photograph Collection 0059.

Related Collections:

For related topics and further information see the following collections:

John and Florence Lee (Jones) Cahlan Collection, T-128.

Ruthe Deskin Collection, MS 95-37.

National League of American Pen Women (Las Vegas Chapter) Collection, MS 2000-06.

 Subject Headings Individuals:Lowe, Celesta Lisle, 1917- Lowe family Organizations:Nevada Southern University -- History University of Nevada. Southern Regional Division -- History National League of Pen Women -- Records and correspondence Subjects:Library employees -- Nevada -- Las Vegas -- Biography Journalists -- Nevada -- Las Vegas -- Biography Las Vegas Review-Journal Lowe, Celesta Lisle, 1917- Echoes from the archives Lowe, Celesta Lisle, 1917- Southwestern bookshelf Inventory: BoxFolderContents 11Newspaper clippings-family, 1943-1995(copies)2Newspaper clippings, 1955-1968 3"Pen-Hens" - Correspondence and newsletters, 1958-19684Bylaws; UNLV Commencements; miscellaneous forms,n.d.5National League of American Pen Women,1985-1995(papers)BoxFolderContents21 "Echoes from the Archives" newspaper column,1967-1974(complete)2"Echoes from the Archives" newspaper column,1975-1979 (incomplete) 3Las Vegas Review Journal, Nevadan section: "Southwestern Bookshelf" column, 1980 4Las Vegas Review Journal, Nevadan section: "Southwestern Bookshelf" column,1981 END OF INVENTORY