Dorothy Richardson Varnum MacAdam Dorothy was the seventh of eight children born to James "Buck" Buchanan Richardson and Lulu Cooley. She was born on the family's ranch with a midwife in attendance on February 17, "in the early 1900s". The nearest sizable town was the goldmining town of Yreka, California. While growing up on the ranch, Dorothy learned to ride. She had a variety of pets, including dogs, a magpie, and a porcupine.
Her mother, a school teacher, was the great granddaughter of the Earl of Bedford's eldest son. Lulu Cooley was born November 29, 1862, and married James Richardson on November 25, 1881. Richardson, a United States Marshall, was born November 8, 1856. He died February 4, 1919, of an accidental gunshot wound to the leg, incurred while rounding up stray cattle. Lulu died March 10, 1953.
Dorothy wrote poetry throughout her school years. She and her sister Beth were a popular singing duo in northern California until three throat surgeries forced Dorothy to give up singing. She then wrote song lyrics under the name Dorothy Varnum.
Dorothy attended San Francisco College. After college, she opened her own brokerage firm. She also continued taking a variety of courses in areas of interest to her. She learned crafts, and took up golf and flying. Dorothy took flying lessons at Mills Field in San Francisco. She was acquainted with Amelia Earhart, who organized an association of women flyers. Dorothy was a member of this group, known as the "Flying 99's".
Dorothy worked as a comptometer operator in the statistical department of Shell Oil Company. After an injury to her back, she went to Idyllwild/Palm Springs where her sister, Beth Chase, lived. During her recuperation she wrote a "chatter" column for the local newspapers and resort publicity. After Pearl Harbor, she returned to work as a comptometer operator for Northrup in their payroll department.
She married John Moore MacAdam in 1943, and met and married Dale B. Dorothy after she was widowed in 1945. Dale Dorothy served in Lima, Peru during World War II and was flying for Pan Am when they met. The couple intended a brief stop over in Las Vegas en route to Mexico, but stayed.
Dorothy Dorothy's civic involvement touched many parts of the community. She organized and was the first president of the Women's Democratic Club of Whitney. They held meetings, raised funds, and campaigned for candidates. In spite of the club's name, male members were permitted to join. She worked with Virginia Catt and Gladys Dula to organize the Boulder City Democratic Club, and with Sara Denton to organize the Blue Diamond Democratic Club. Later Dorothy would establish a chapter in Pahrump.
Dorothy put her art and craft knowledge to work in Whitney teaching these skills to groups of children. The children were also taught "rock hound technique" and taken on supervised camping trips. This was the inception of the local YMCA.
In 1949 the Dorothys bought a 1400 acre alfalfa and cotton ranch in Pahrump. She actively promoted the potential of Pahrump, although at the time the lifestyle was "primitive". There were no paved roads, telephones, or electricity. Dorothy worked to make a paved road to Pahrump a reality. The road opened in 1954.
While in Whitney, Dorothy wrote a daily column for the Review Journal. From 1949 to 1958 she wrote a weekly column for the Las Vegas Sun. She also wrote for the Tonopah Times for and about ten years, and the Henderson News for nearly two years. She wrote agricultural articles for California Farmer in the 1950s.
The Dorothys returned to Las Vegas in 1958. Dorothy Dorothy helped organize and served in the "Silver Gavels," a national parliamentarian club. She handled publicity for the national American Legion Convention. From 1958 to about 1967 she promoted the United Nations Grove at Lorenzi Park. Each United Nations member was to plant a tree native to their homeland in the grove. The planning commission, however, opted for playground equipment instead of the grove and fountain.
In the 1930s Dorothy began a Christmas toy drive in San Francisco. She continued this activity in both Palm Springs and southern Nevada. In Nevada she delivered toys to children in isolated areas as well as to needy children. She traveled as far as Goldfield, Nevada, to deliver toys.
Other organizations that Dorothy Dorothy actively belonged to included the Las Vegas Press Club; the Vegas Club for the Deaf; Nevada State Parole Board Commission; Western Probation, Parole and Correction Association; and she was chairman of "Operation Support" in southern Nevada. She was also active in the Humane Society, Soroptomists and the Mesquite Club. She was a member of the Business and Professional Women's Club since 1946.
Her husband, Dale Dorothy, died from cancer on August 26, 1982. Dorothy died on October 31, 1986. In her will she left $2,000 to the UNLV Special Collections Department in memory of her friend, Anna Dean Kepper, manuscript curator.
The Dorothy Dorothy collection consists of two series: The Personal Series and the Interests and Activities Series. The Personal Series covers the period 1783-1985 and consists of three sub-series. The first sub-series is biographical and family material. It contains autobiographical and biographical material, lengthy family genealogies and a file on her sister, Beth Chase Hillman. The second sub-series contains material on her friend Lionel "Rusty" Horgan. The third sub-series is miscellaneous cards and correspondence.
The Interests and Activities Series contains a wide variety of materials from the 1930s to 1986. This series is broken down into several sub-series. These sub-series include animal issues, business records, local history, miscellaneous activities, music, United Nations, and the Women's Democratic Club. There is also an oversize and artifacts box and 3 boxes of photographs in the collection.
The strength of the Dorothy Dorothy collection is the wide variety of activities and interests it encompasses and the large number of photographs. Several hundred photographs were removed to the photo collection at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Library when the collection was accessioned. Many hundreds more remain with the collection.
The collection was received in two accessions. The first accession, T-161, came from Dorothy Dorothy after lengthy correspondence with Special Collections staff member Anna Dean Kepper. The second accession, 95-20, was donated by George Morrissey III and Tamara Lohrenz who found the materials in a rental property.
Physical Description: 16 boxes (10 1/2 linear ft.)
Restrictions: None
Location of Collection: Lied Library Special Collections Department, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV
Processed by: Marie Imus
Date Completed: December 28, 1995
Inventory and Container List
Dorothy Dorothy
95-20
| BOX # | FLDR# | CONTENTS |
| PERSONAL SERIES | ||
| Biographical and Family Sub-Series | ||
| 1 | 1 | A Little Geneaology and History by Cy and Sally Ripon, 1975 |
| 2 | Autobiographical sketches and related data, 1982 | |
| 3 | Biographical material, n.d. and 1945 | |
| 4 | Dale Dorothy certificates, 1962-1966 | |
| 5 | Dorothy Dorothy certificates, 1948-1969 | |
| 6 | Dorothy Dorothy's articles [written by], 1945-1961 | |
| 7 | Dorothy Dorothy's news clippings [written about], 1934-1977 | |
| 8 | Family biographical material, 1913-1920 and n.d. | |
| 9 | Genealogy with index, 1793-1963 | |
| 10 | Hillman, Beth Chase (sister) correspondence & appears, 1985 | |
| 11 | Medford-Klamath Falls, Oregon local history news clippings, 1963-1969 | |
| 12 | Nevada Historical Quarterly, Summer, 1982 | |
| Friend Sub-series | ||
| 2 | 1 | "Rusty final file January 13, 1973" |
| 2 | Horgan, Lionel "Rusty" - memorial book, 1973 | |
| 3 | Nevada's Golden Star by Maurice J. Sullivan | |
| Miscellaneous Cards and Correspondence Sub-series | ||
| 3 | 1 | Christmas cards, n.d. and 1953 |
| 2 | Cobb, Irwin S. - correspondence, 1943-1944 | |
| 3 | Cobb, Irwin S. - obituaries, 1944 | |
| 4 | Correspondence, miscellaneous, 1948-1970 | |
| 5 | Invitations and cards, n.d. | |
| 6 | Merrill, Grace V., 1948 | |
| 7 | Perkins, George E., correspondence and obituaries, 1948-1953 | |
| 8 | V.I.P. messages, 1948-1980 | |
| ACTIVITIES AND INTERESTS SERIES | ||
| Animal Issues Sub-series | ||
| 4 | 1 | Arizona Highways, "Sister Seraphim", September, 1971 |
| 2 | Articles of incorporation, Clark County Humane Society, 1944 | |
| 3 | ASPCA and Humane Society publications, 1958-1961 | |
| 4 | Clark County Humane Society correspondence, 1957-1980 | |
| 5 | Humane Society - Henderson, 1961 | |
| 6 | Humane Society - animal cruelty news clippings, 1958-1980 | |
| 7 | Humane Society - news clippings, 1954-1964 | |
| 8 | International Society for the Protection of Mustangs and Burros, v 18 & 19, n.d. | |
| 9 | Johnston, Velma, "Wild Horse Annie" B. 1957-1977 | |
| 10 | National Mustang Association, n.d. | |
| 11 | Pet Cemetery, 1979 | |
| 12 | Special Dogs, 1965 and n.d. | |
| 13 | Special Dogs, news clippings | |
| 14 | Wild horse legislation - correspondence, 1959-1971 | |
| 15 | Wild horse news clippings, 1959-1977 | |
| 16 | Wild Horse Organized Assistance (WHOA) - correspondence, 1976-1979 | |
| 17 | WHOA - newsletters, 1977-1978 | |
| Business Records Sub-series | ||
| 5 | 1 | Bickell-Dorothy Co., Inc. - ledger, 1950-1973 |
| 2 | Bickell-Dorothy Co., Inc. - stock certificate book, 1950 | |
| Local History Sub-series | ||
| 6 | 1 | Arizona Highways, 1965 |
| 2 | Boulder City - news clippings, 1948-1981 | |
| 3 | Boulder Dam - letters and columns on, 1959-1962 | |
| 4 | Boulder Dam - news clippings, 1958-1963 | |
| 5 | Centennial Celebration, 1964 | |
| 6 | Centennial map, 1964 | |
| 7 | Community news clippings, 1960-1961 | |
| 8 | Death Valley - news clippings, 1948 | |
| 9 | Las Vegas - news clippings, 1951-1979 | |
| 10 | Indian Springs - news clippings, 1962 | |
| 11 | Nevada Highways and Parks, January - April, 1955 | |
| 12 | Nevada history -, news clippings, 1947-1980 | |
| 13 | "Nevada 100 Years Ago" - news clippings, c. 1964 | |
| 14 | Nevada tourist brochures, 1958-1982 | |
| 15 | Obituary 7 wedding news clippings, 1971-1980 | |
| 16 | Palm Springs, California, 1954-1963 | |
| 17 | Pioneers of the Western Desert by George Perkins, 1947 | |
| 18 | Pioneer news clippings, 1948 - ?????? MARIE? | |
| 19 | Pioneer news clippings, 1948 | |
| 20 | Railroads and railroad men - news clippings, 1948 | |
| 21 | Rawhide Nevada by Hugh Schamburger, 1970 | |
| 22 | True "The Hood Who Invented Las Vegas", August, 1967 | |
| Miscellaneous Activities Sub-series | ||
| 7 | 1 | American Legion Auxiliary, 1962 |
| 2 | Atomic tests, 1951-1961 | |
| 3 | Atomic tests - news clippings, 1951-1955 | |
| 4 | Democratic campaign - news clippings, 1960-1964 | |
| 5 | General Election, 1964 | |
| 6 | Inaugural Committee, 1961 | |
| 7 | Inaugural invitations, reception invitations, 1960-1965 | |
| 8 | Kachina - news clippings, 1974 | |
| 9 | Kennedy assassination - news clippings, 1963 | |
| 10 | Kennedy assassination probe, 1964-1965 | |
| 11 | Krupp and Dorothy's annual toy drive, 1952-1978 | |
| 12 | Krupp and Dorothy's toy drive scrapbook material, n.d. | |
| 13 | Manuscripts "Pioneering in Nevada" and "How Do You Do Dude" | |
| 14 | Membership and business cards, n.d. | |
| 15 | Miscellaneous material, 1956-1966 | |
| 16 | Miscellaneous news clippings, 1936-1977 | |
| 17 | Miscellaneous news clippings, 1961-1981 | |
| 18 | Motorola instruction book, 1974 | |
| Miscellaneous Activities Sub-series | ||
| 8 | 1 | National security pamphlets, 1961 |
| 2 | Newsweek, Time, Washington Scandals, 1976 | |
| 3 | "Operation Survival" manuscript, n.d. | |
| 4 | "Outdoor Cooking Indoors" press release, n.d. | |
| 5 | Parole Board and National Security seminar news clippings, 1961-1965 | |
| 6 | Parole and Probation Department, 1953-1971 | |
| 7 | Pedigree certificates, 1951-1957 | |
| 8 | Politicians - miscellaneous news clippings, 1956-1980 | |
| 9 | Politics, 1953-1966 | |
| 10 | Politics, 1958-1969 | |
| 11 | Repeating names news clippings | |
| 12 | Repeating Names Club, 1960-1973 | |
| 13 | Silver Gavels - scrapbook material, 1963 | |
| 14 | Silver Gavels - news clippings, 1963-1968 | |
| 15 | Soroptomists, 1950-1961 | |
| 16 | Turquoise - manuscript, n.d.; correspondence, 1969 | |
| 17 | Turquoise - news clippings, 1967-1974 | |
| 18 | Women flyers "The 99's", n.d. | |
| 19 | Women flyers "The 99's" news clippings, 1963 | |
| Music Sub-series | ||
| 9 | 1 | "Just An Old Rocking Chair" - correspondence, 1975-1986 |
| 2 | Poems, n.d. | |
| 3 | People "Come Down to Dollywood", May, 1986 | |
| 4 | Sheet music, n.d. | |
| 5 | Song copyrights, 1983-1984 | |
| Pahrump Sub-series | ||
| 10 | 1 | A History of Pahrump by Denny Lynch - manuscript, n.d. |
| 2 | Ham radio in Pahrump, 1956-1965 | |
| 3 | Ham radio in Pahrump, 1957 | |
| 4 | His-Story of Pahrump Valley by Denny Lynch, 1979 | |
| 5 | Lazy 88 Guest Book, Pahrump, 1949-1958 | |
| 6 | Lazy 88 (Pahrump) and Las Vegas guest book, 1954-1965 | |
| 7 | Pahrump, Nevada, 1950-1955 | |
| 8 | Pahrump news clippings, 1941-1981 | |
| 9 | Pahrump road - news clippings, 1948-1955 | |
| 10 | Pahrump road, 1951-1955 | |
| 11 | Pahrump Valley - road celebration plans, n.d. | |
| United Nations Sub-series | ||
| 11 | 1 | United Nations Committee and Grove, 1960-1967 |
| 2 | United Nations Committee and Grove - news clippings, 1951-1967 | |
| 3 | United Nations Grove - Lorenzi Park, 1965-1970 | |
| 4 | United Nations - scrapbook material, 1961 | |
| 5 | United Nations - scrapbook news clippings, 1961 | |
| 6 | United Nations - miscellaneous news clippings, 1961-1964 | |
| 7 | United Nations - correspondence and printed material, 1961-1963 | |
| 8 | United Nations delegates visit, March, 1964 | |
| 9 | United Nations - miscellaneous items, 1965 | |
| Women's Democratic Club Sub-series | ||
| 12 | 1 | Women's Democratic Club, 1958 |
| 2 | Women's Democratic Club, 1960 | |
| 3 | Women's Democratic Club, 1962-1964 | |
| 4 | Women's Democratic Club, 1967 | |
| OVERSIZE AND ARTIFACTS | ||
| 13 | 1 | "Astronaut Lands", Las Vegas Review Journal, 1962 |
| 2 | Headline news, 1964-1977 | |
| 3 | Life, 1972 | |
| 4 | Miscellaneous clippings | |
| 5 | Scrapbook, n.d. | |
| 6 | Scrapbook pages, 1930-1940 | |
| 7 | United Nations picture, n.d. | |
| 8 | Johnson-Humphrey campaign poster, 1964 | |
| 9 | Four Oriental prints, n.d. | |
| 10 | Silver tray - American Legion Auxiliary, 1962 | |
| 11 | Outstanding Citizen plaque, n.d. | |
| 12 | Oil painting of Dorothy Dorothy | |
| 13 | Nevada Centennial - encased coins, 1964 | |
| 14 | Tape "The Old Rocking Chair", January 29, 1984 | |
| 15 | Tape "The Old Rocking Chair", February 11, 1984 | |
| 16 | "Sparkles of Happiness Club", 1961 | |
| 17 | Doily | |
| 18 | Black name plate | |
| 19 | Wood name plate | |
| 20 | Three vinyl mats | |
| 21 | Bag of call letters | |
| 22 | "Sawyer for Governor" balloon | |
| 23 | 1960 delegate badge | |
| 24 | Entertainment badge | |
| 25 | rench prints | |
| 26 | Calendars, 1963 | |
| 27 | Nevada State Parole Board certificates, 1953-1971 | |
| 28 | Large photo - man and woman on ranch, n.d. | |
| 29 | Scrapbook, n.d. | |
| 14 | Photographs | |
| 15 | Photographs | |
| 16 | Photographs | |
| END OF INVENTORY | ||
