C. Clifton Young Papers

The C. Clifton Young Papers are primarily composed of personal correspondence from Young’s office at the Nevada Supreme Court and papers having to do with his political campaigns for the U. S. Congress and the Nevada Supreme Court. Also included are research materials for his book about the Nevada justice courts, and various biographical materials.

There are seven series in the collection. Series 1 contains materials relating to the writing and publication of Young’s book From Kings’ Court to Justice Courts. It comprises general research materials on the justice court system and onsite research of the justice courts in Nevada. Drafts of the manuscript and a copy of the book are included.

Series 2 is devoted to correspondence from Justice Young’s office. The series is composed of letters of a personal nature filed by date and the correspondents’ last names and more general correspondence concerning legal topics and, finally letters of recommendation. Due to privacy concerns some of the letters of recommendation have been redacted and replaced with photocopies.

Series 3 covers materials about Young’s election to and career in the United States Congress from 1952 to 1957. One folder of newsletters to constituents and seven scrapbooks of newspaper clippings, campaign materials, certificates, and other mementos make up the series.

Series 4 is a large scrapbook covering Young’s unsuccessful campaign of the United States Congress in 1956 in which he lost to Alan Bible. The scrapbook contains newspaper clippings covering Young’s campaign and other electoral races in Nevada.

Series 5 is devoted to Young’s electoral campaigns for Nevada Supreme Court justice in 1990 and 1996. One folder of correspondence, bank records and a campaign finance report comprise the 1990 campaign materials. The 1996 campaign materials are the majority of the series with correspondence, campaign finance reports, letters thanking supporters for donations, public relations firms’ reports, newspaper articles, and recorded interviews and campaign ads.

Series 6 covers Young’s involvement with the National Wildlife Federation and the Nevada Wildlife Federation from 1985-2001 and consists of three folders of correspondence and newsletters.

Series 7, covering 1954-2002, contains miscellaneous career and biographical materials including newspaper clippings of family activities, a transcript from the University of Nevada, Reno’s Oral History Project interview with Young, and newspaper clippings and photocopies of newspaper articles about Young’s retirement as Nevada Supreme Court Justice in 2002. Also included are six scrapbooks covering a wide range of career and family subjects, including a scrapbook from a dinner honoring Young in Hawaii in 2002. Of note are two letters from President Richard M. Nixon thanking Young for his help with the Nixon election campaign in 1968.