University of Nevada, Center for Western North American Studies Records

The Center for Western North American Studies was established in 1963, to support a systematic study of Nevada and the Western North American region, and to develop a program to collect documentary materials and promote regional research. The Center was placed at the Desert Research Institute for administrative purposes, with an ad-hoc Executive Board of the Center to establish policy. Warren d'Azevedo served as first chairman, followed by Elmer Rusco in 1966. In 1964, Jack D. Forbes was appointed acting director of the Center, followed by Robert L. Stephenson; Don D. Fowler was appointed permanent director in 1968. About this time, the Center's title was shortened to Western Studies Center.

During this period, several programs and projects were established, including an oral history project, a Basque studies program, and projects dealing with Indian acculturation and Nevada archeology.

[Later became the Human Systems Center, the Social Sciences Center, the Quaternary Sciences Center, and in 1999, merged with the Biological Sciences into as-yet unnamed Center.]