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Women of Clark County
Florence Lee Jones Cahlan
1910 - 1985
Florence Lee Jones Cahlan made many contributions to Las Vegas as a journalist, historian, and leader in the community. She recorded the history of Las Vegas, tracing its development from a small desert town to a renowned city, and promoted southern Nevada through her writing and publications.
Cahlan graduated from the University of Missouri in 1933 with a degree in journalism and relocated to Las Vegas soon after. Cahlan took a staff journalism position at the Las Vegas Review-Journal, becoming the first woman to do so. In 1940, she married John Cahlan, the editor of the paper. They shared a love of southern Nevada and its history. They later co-wrote Water: A History of Las Vegas, commissioned by the Las Vegas Valley Water District.
Cahlan’s influence extended beyond journalism. She was deeply involved in civic life, advocating for education, historical preservation, and women’s rights. She played an important role in the establishment of the Service League for women, which eventually became the Junior League. Despite a rule that prohibited women from becoming members, she joined the Junior Chamber of Commerce (Jaycees).
Because of her dedication to Las Vegas and to preserving and sharing the history of the region, the Nevada State Museum appointed Cahlan to the Board of Trustees, making her the first woman to serve on the Board. She worked to establish a branch of the Nevada State Museum and Historical Society in southern Nevada.
Pictured: Florence Lee Jones Cahlan, circa 1920s. Florence Lee Jones Cahlan Photographs. UNLV University Libraries Special Collections & Archives.
Sources
- “Florence Lee Jones and John Cahlan Papers (MS-00200),” UNLV Special Collections Portal, accessed April 9, 2025, https://special.library.unlv.edu/ark%3A/62930/f1rw2n.
- “Florence Lee Jones Cahlan.” In Online Nevada Encyclopedia. Accessed May 4, 2025. https://www.onlinenevada.org/articles/florence-lee-jones-cahlan.
- Duvall, M. A., ed. Skirts That Swept the Desert Floor: One Hundred Biographical Profiles of Nevada Women in History. Vol. 1. Las Vegas: Stephens Press, LLC, 2006.
- Makers Teaching Modules. “Florence Lee Jones Cahlan.” Accessed April 9, 2025. https://makersteachingmodules.sites.unlv.edu/items/show/21.
For questions or comments, please reach out to the Clark County Museum at ccmuseum@clarkcountynv.gov.