Nevada Women's Legacy Book
Women Sharing Their ExperiencesThis book ties together all the projects that were organized and carried out by the Women of Diversity Productions, Inc. as part of the Nevada Women’s Legacy Projects. You can find copies of these books in libraries, school and other public building across Nevada. In 2017, we will be putting together a digital copy for those visiting our website who would like to learn about the history of women in Nevada.
Co-Editors’ Preface
My intent to publish a book highlighting the roles and contributions of Nevada’s women is linked to a lifetime of participating in the women’s sphere. I was part of
the pre Title IX and post Title IX eras, the competitive sports world, the educational and research arenas and organizational structures of mainstream society. In all cases there could be found a blatant or subtle two layer environment, with men being given more prestige, more money for the same jobs as women and more opportunities than women.
Women have been, and continue to be, under-recognized, and often invisible. We are discounted, demeaned, exploited and not valued equally to males. The result of these experiences and learned knowledge initiated a drive to educate and change attitudes of the public about women and to encourage appreciation of their value through publication of this book.
In 1992, one of my life’s major actions was to co-found Women of Diversity Productions, Inc. as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Our mission is to provide visibility to women and to create a woman-appreciated future. With that in mind, I applied for and was awarded a grant from the Las Vegas Centennial Commission to produce
the exhibit in 2005 entitled 100 Years of Influence – The Role of Women in Shaping the First Hundred Years of Las Vegas.
In 2014, Women of Diversity Productions, Inc. and I, as President, initiated the Nevada Women’s Legacy – 150 Years of Excellence, to educate and promote the value of women throughout our first 150 years of statehood. We have done this through diverse media, the Internet of audio and video and this book. We anticipate that the book will enlighten the readers to the perspectives of women from Nevada’s counties, recognize and respect women of different ethnicities, religions and more.
Many women have come together to work on this project, further signifying the need to recognize women and to provide girls with role models. It is my pleasure and honor that so many women have helped to produce this book —– A Nevada Women’s Legacy for the public, the libraries, the museums and historical societies, to archive and make available to all.
Dr. Marlene Adrian
It has been my privilege and pleasure to participate in the Nevada Women’s Legacy – 150 Years of Excellence Sesquicentennial interviews and events during the
past year. I have enjoyed documenting and organizing women’s biographies for this book, and as a retired career librarian, to ensure archival records of women’s
contributions for future generations. Although some of these tasks were routine in my former profession, it has been a learning experience working with book designers and book publishers. Also, as I am not trained in videography, I had the opportunity to grow, since I helped facilitate many interviews of notable Nevada women.
What fun!! I have met women from all around Nevada, from all different walks of life, from cattle ranching to politics to education to homemakers. It was such an enjoyable experience to meet and hear about the interesting life stories of these women. I appreciate their varied contributions to Nevada and marvel at their
diversification. Their stories are rich in the fabric of Nevada, and an inspiration to those following in their footsteps.
Denise M. Gerdes