UNLV University Libraries Special Collections and Archives has partnered with the Nevada State Museum Las Vegas, the Clark County Museum, the News Bureau of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA), and the Mob Museum on an collecting initiative to document the tragic events of Oct. 1, 2017, the aftermath, and #VegasStrong.
That day a gunman opened fire on a crowd of 22,000 people attending the Route 91 Harvest Festival. Fifty-eight victims were killed and nearly 500 people were injured in the deadliest mass shootings in modern American history.
“Remembering 1 October” was created to preserve the stories of the fallen and injured, the heroes and heroines, and the first responders. It also will honor the strength and resiliency of the Las Vegas community and document the outpouring of national support.
Special Collections and Archives is collecting primary and secondary source evidence from the Internet. With the help of Archive-It, a service of the Internet Archive, first-hand testimonies from attendees and first responders, photographs, and videos of the event and the subsequent outpouring of community support, and related news coverage have been preserved. Using a tool called twarc developed by the Documenting the Now project, Special Collections and Archives has captured millions of tweets from and about the event.
Individuals may contribute their digital photographs, videos, or memories to the UNLV University Libraries collections. Contributions should document the event and its aftermath, the victims and survivors, the community response, the vigils and commemorations, or other related content. Contributions may be uploaded using this submission page.
The UNLV University Libraries Oral History Research Center is launching a project to collect and preserve first-hand testimonies from first responders, witnesses, and survivors. To nominate a person to be interviewed for the project, contact the center at 702-895-2222 or oral.history@unlv.edu.
The Nevada State Museum Las Vegas is collecting artifacts, memorabilia, and other documentation about the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival. It is also collecting physical documents related to the event and its aftermath. To donate materials, contact Crystal Van Dee at 702-822-8751 or cvandee@nevadaculture.org.
The Clark County Museum is collecting artifacts, memorabilia, and other documentation from memorials and vigils. To donate materials, contact cynthia.sanford@clarkcountynv.gov.
In its role as part of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, the Las Vegas News Bureau has captured images of the Vegas Strong messaging from the marquee tributes, vigils and memorials, and commemorative ceremonies at events such as the UNLV football game and the Golden Knights hockey game. Related photographs and videos may be found on the LVCVA Newsroom webpage.
The Mob Museum will focus on collecting objects, images, official documents, and stories that illustrate the activities of law enforcement agencies during and after this tragic event. To donate materials, please contact gschumacher@themobmuseum.org.
In coming months, the University Libraries, the Nevada State Museum, the Clark County Museum, the LVCVA News Bureau, and the Mob Museum plan to collaborate to provide public access to the gathered materials and help ensure our community remembers 1 October.
