Abstract
Julia Lynn Morris and James Stanford Papers (approximately 1990-2024) contain materials from Lynn and James's varied careers in Las Vegas, Nevada. The collection includes correspondence, newspaper clippings, videos, photographs, and ephemera from the Las Vegas arts scene, the Contemporary Arts Collective, Arts Factory, and other projects related to the couple.
Finding Aid PDF
Date
Extent
Related People/Corporations
Scope and Contents Note
Julia Lynn Morris and James Stanford Papers (approximately 1990-2024) contain materials from Lynn and James's varied careers in Las Vegas, Nevada. The collection includes correspondence, newspaper clippings, videos, photographs, and ephemera from the Las Vegas arts scene, the Contemporary Arts Collective, Arts Factory, and other projects related to the couple.
Access Note
Collection is open for research. Where use copies do not exist, production of use copies is required before access will be granted; this may delay research requests. Advanced notice is required.
Publication Rights
This material is made available to facilitate private study, scholarship, or research. James Stanford transferred all right, title and interest he had in the Julia Lynn Morris and James Stanford Papers (MS-01043) to UNLV. However, the material may be protected by copyright, trademark, privacy, publicity rights, or other interests not owned by UNLV. Users are responsible for determining whether permissions are necessary from rights owners for any intended use and for obtaining all required permissions. Acknowledgement of the UNLV University Libraries is requested. For more information, please see the UNLV Special Collections policies on reproduction and use (https://www.library.unlv.edu/speccol/research_and_services/reproductions) or contact us at special.collections@unlv.edu.
Arrangement
Materials remain as they were received.
Biographical / Historical Note
Julia Lynn Morris was born in Pocatello, Idaho, to Bruce and Nickie Morris, but moved to Las Vegas, Nevada when she was just six months old in 1952. She graduated from Western High School in 1969 and received a BFA in Art History from UNLV in 1973. It was there that she met her future husband, James Stanford. The couple married in 1984 and spent forty years together.
Morris owned and managed Bonanza Gifts, The World's Largest Gift Shop on the corner of the Las Vegas Boulevard and Sahara, for forty years. Morris and Stanford became an influential duo as they collaborated in the development of the downtown Arts District. As trailblazers of the Las Vegas Arts District, they relocated the Contemporary Arts Center, the first art gallery, to downtown Las Vegas. They went on to create Smallworks Gallery and Lost Vegas, where they launched many local artists' art careers while exhibiting world-renowned
artists inside the Arts Factory. They financially supported the CAC, the Stanford Elementary School, and other philanthropic organizations. Lynn Morris passed away after a decades-long battle with cancer on December 1, 2023.
James Stanford is a contemporary artist, photographer, and book publisher. He is known for his work inspired by vintage and historical Las Vegas marquees and neon signage. Stanford graduated from Las Vegas High School in 1966, and received a BFA in Painting from UNLV in 1971. He later returned to UNLV as an instructor in the Fine Arts Department.
Sources:
"Julia Lynn Morris, August 2, 1952-December 1, 2023: obituary," 2023 December, Las Vegas Review-Journal.
"James Stanford," Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Stanford
Preferred Citation
Julia Lynn Morris and James Stanford Papers, approximately 1990-2024. MS-01043. Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada. http://n2t.net/ark:/62930/f1df6k
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Acquisition Note
Materials were donated in 2024 by James Stanford; accession number 2024-044.
Processing Note
In 2024, Sarah Jones accessioned the collection, rehoused the material, and transcribed the folder titles into a box-level ArchivesSpace inventory. No further work has been done on the collection.
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Appraisal Note
Acquired by Visual Materials Curator, Aaron Mayes, as part of UNLV Special Collections and Archives holdings in art and visual history of Las Vegas. All material that formed the original gift has been retained.
Additions
Further additions to this collection are anticipated.