Marye Family Papers

A major part of the Marye Family Papers documents Helen Thomas' acquisition and management of the S Bar S Ranch (S-S), and the activities of the Nevada Silver Centennial Committee and the Virginia City Trust Foundation. Additionally, there is material which documents Helen's father's business and diplomatic careers, and her mother's social prominence.

The S-S papers detail the negotiations leading to the purchase of the ranch and provide extensive specifications and drawings of the reconstruction of the main house in 1948. The many newspaper clippings document the ranch as a focal point for Helen's entertainment. There is also a court deposition made by Thomas in which she testifies about her ranching operations. Thomas deeded the ranch to the University of Nevada-Reno in 1970, at which time a title report was prepared. The report is part of this collection and provides a factual evaluation of the ranch's use and value, as well as excellent photographs of the land and buildings.

The Nevada Silver Centennial celebration commemorated the 100th anniversary of the discovery of silver in Virginia City. Helen Thomas and her friend Phyllis Walsh were founding members of the committee which organized and founded this event. The event is represented in this collection by minutes of the committee, bylaws, an outline of activities, a program for the cornerstone ceremony, and news releases. Thomas and Walsh were also members of the Virginia City Foundation Trust which was established to restore and preserve Virginia City. Trust records present here include minutes, a proposed restoration plan submitted by Thomas C. Watson Advertising Agency of Reno, receipts and disbursements, correspondence, and news clippings.

Helen Thomas was very proud of her Marye heritage and in particular of her grandfather George Thomas Marye, Sr., and George Thomas Marye, Jr. It was Miss Walsh's desire to have a Marye room dedicated to their memory on Helen's behalf in the College of Agriculture at the University of Nevada, Reno. To that end, one folder of biographical material was gathered by Walsh and is part of this collection. Newspaper articles, a letter appointing George Jr. as U. S. Ambassador to Russia, sections of published personal histories and other material are present. Of interest are copies of the documents for George Jr. receiving the Order of Alexander Nevsky, dated Petrograd, February 29, 1916, one in Russian and one in French. Also included is a scrapbook of clippings about the Marye financial interests in San Francisco and about social activities of the Marye and Thomas families.