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To those concerned about history and historic preservation: SB87 was introduced in the NV Legislature this week proposing to eliminate the East Ely Depot Museum from the state museum system, transfer structures, documents, and artifacts to a private foundation. 1/
The state museum system was built around the concept that the collective history of the People of Nevada should be protected and held in public trust for the benefit of all Nevadans. The East Ely Depot Museum does just that. 2/
The artifacts housed within the museum provide a unique glimpse into frequently overlooked office work that made railroad operations possible. Their archives contain one of the most comprehensive railroad company records in the country spanning 85 years. 3/
One doc in this collection is a FBI memo dated 10 Dec 1941 warning of the danger posed by Japanese American citizens. This doc was used as proof the fed gov intentionally violated the civil liberties of these citizens which led to reparations via the 1988 Civil Liberties Act. 4/
SB87 proposes removing this history from the care of the State and entrusting it to a financially unsecure organization with a track record of choosing profitability over historic preservation. 5/
Whereas the State employees trained professionals to curate and maintain the collection, the Foundation has no trained professionals. It regularly presents information known to be false and has previously destroyed one-of-a-kind artifacts against professional advice. 6/
The continued care of the collection under the State is in the best interest of Nevadans which is why the state’s history community uniformly opposes this bill. 7/
Authorizing the transfer of a museum’s collection to a private entity sets a dangerous precedent. What would stop an individual lobbying to transfer Dat So La Lee’s baskets to their private collection, or handing over beautiful Lake Tahoe State Park to a developer at no cost? 8/
No matter where you live, I urge you to contact the following committee members and ask them to oppose SB87 and the theft of this history. 9/
Ira Hansen
[email protected]
[email protected]
Pete Goicoechea (bill’s sponsor and Ely’s Senator)
[email protected]
[email protected]
