The UNLV Libraries Collection on the UNLV Mascot and Other University Symbols (approximately 1970-2020) is comprised of eleven conceptual drawings of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas logos, proposed university official emblems, and mascots including “Hey Reb!". The collection also includes a costume for the "Hey Reb!" mascot.
The UNLV Libraries Collection on the UNLV Mascot and Other University Symbols (approximately 1970-2020) is comprised of eleven conceptual drawings of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas logos, proposed university official emblems, and mascots including “Hey Reb!". The collection also includes a costume for the "Hey Reb!" mascot.
Collection is open for research.
Materials in this collection may be protected by copyrights and other rights. See Reproductions and Use on the UNLV Special Collections and Archives website for more information about reproductions and permissions to publish.
Materials remain as they were received.
The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) is a public research university located in Las Vegas, Nevada and was officially founded in 1957. Since its creation, the UNLV mascot has undergone several changes due to public outcry and controversy regarding Confederate symbolism. Used until 1973, the original mascot for UNLV was a wolf named "Beauregard" that was adorned with a grey Confederate uniform. After several African-American student athletes protested depictions of the confederate symbols, UNLV changed its mascot to a sun with "UNLV" written about its circumference. In 1983, Las Vegas artist Mike Miller designed conceptual mascots to replace a short-lived minuteman mascot, thereby creating the first iteration of "Hey Reb!", a mountaineer who represents independence from the University of Nevada, Reno. As of 2020, "Hey Reb!" is the official mascot of UNLV.
Source:
"Hey Reb! and "Rebels" Nickname." UNLV Campus Life. Last modified 2019. https://www.unlv.edu/campuslife/mascot-nickname.
UNLV Libraries Collection on the UNLV Mascot and Other University Symbols, approximately 1970-2020. MS-01004. Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada.
Materials were transferred periodically to UNLV Special Collections and Archives; accession numbers 2019-155, 2021-096.
In 2020, Joseph Puentes processed, rehoused and arranged the materials, wrote the finding aid, and entered the data into ArchivesSpace. In 2021, Tammi Kim processed the 2021 addition and updated the finding aid.