The Howard Hughes Collections

Just can’t get enough of Howard Hughes? Seems you’re not alone. Although director Martin Scorsese didn’t come knocking at the door of the Lied Library’s special collections section when making The Aviator, many others have. The Aviator stirred up interest in Hughes and sent documentary filmmakers, journalists, and history buffs to the archives at UNLV.

What’s there: About 100 cubic feet of boxes containing thousands of press clippings and photos related to Hughes. The files of the late Dick Hannah, who handled Hughes’ public relations, give insight into how the Hughes operation attempted to control coverage of its eccentric leader. The archives of Hughes Electronics Corp. include a great deal of corporate information about Hughes’ aviation ventures. Particularly prominent among photos here are those of the controversial Spruce Goose, “which must have been photographed about every five minutes while it was under construction,” says Peter Michel, director of special collections.

What’s not: Sorry, no handwritten wills leaving a portion of Hughes’ vast estate to you or anyone else. In fact, the collections contain no personal Hughes items at all.

What the collections reveal: “They provide fascinating insight into how determined Hughes and his people were to control his public image,” Michel says. “Hughes obviously was particularly concerned with protecting his image as a great aviator.”

How you can see the collections: Visit an online digital version of many of the items. It’s being launched this month. Go to www.library.unlv.edu, click on “collections,” and look under “digital collections/exhibits.” For in-depth research, visit the special collections section on the fourth floor of Lied Library. It’s open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday. Special collections items can’t be checked out; they must be used on site.

More info: Call 702-895-2243.