High Noon – Special Collections & University Archives: Who We Are, What We Do, and Why You Should Care (Virtual)

High Noon
November 20, 2025
Noon

Register for this Lecture:  https://events.washoecountylibrary.us/event/14260627

UNR Women’s Basketball team 1899

Title: Special Collections & University Archives: Who We Are, What We Do, and Why You Should Care

Speaker: Laura Rocke, Community and University Archivist, UNR

Talk Summary: Laura Rocke will talk about UNR’s Special Collections and University Archives — what it is, why it exists, and why it’s of interest and value to the community.

UNR Special Collections & University Archives: The University Archives was established as part of the library system to systematically collect and maintain records, documents, and publications that reflect the historical and operational aspects of UNR and its colleges. The archives are dedicated to ensuring the preservation of significant materials related to the university’s diverse history and its role in the regional and cultural landscape of Nevada

Laura Rocke, archivist

Speaker Bio: Rocke is a native Nevadan, born, raised, and educated in Reno. She attended Wooster High School and received her MA in History from UNR. As the community and university archivist for UNR Special Collections and University Archives, she has the privilege of developing the repositories’ collections and choosing which rare and unique materials get added to them for use by students, faculty, other researchers, and the public.

She works to identify materials that fit the collecting scope and policy, spark interest, and will be useful to our patrons, while keeping in mind the personnel strengths and operational circumstances for the archives. Rocke works on developing and fostering relationships with their donors. When not on campus and in the archives, she sings/performs in a popular local band: New Wave Crave.