Joseph F. McDonald has had an unusually rich and varied life, stretching over almost seventy years of Nevada's history. A native of Colorado, he was born in 1891, and his life initially revolved around lumber and mining camps. He came to Nevada in 1906, arriving in Goldfield—then at the height of its prosperity. He soon moved to Rawhide, which was also at raucous high tide. McDonald's oral interview contains memories of labor strife in Goldfield, the Rawhide fire, and the famous eulogy for Riley Grannan. There are also memories of such important people in Nevada's history as George Wingfield and Tex Rickard.

McDonald gives the reader reminiscences of his years at the University of Nevada, where he was a student. Coming to Reno in 1908, he made a success of his student years, eventually becoming manager of the Sagebrush. He speaks of such prominent university teachers and officials at that time as President Joseph Stubbs, Silas Ross, Jay Carpenter, James E. Church, and many others.

But McDonald's chief calling, and main contribution to Reno's history, was in the field of journalism. He began delivering newspapers at the age of twelve. In 1915, McDonald began work at the Nevada State Journal, being employed by that newspaper and by the Reno Evening Gazette for the next forty-two years, and filling all slots up to that of publisher.

Being at the nerve center of political life, McDonald shares rich memories of Nevadans such as Tasker Oddie, Key Pittman, and particularly of Patrick A. McCarran. McCarran was the official with whom he had the closest ties, and is described by McDonald as the most effective Senator Nevada ever had, and a "fighting Irishman." In addition, McDonald remembers many important local events such as the Cole-Malley case, the McKay-Graham case, the establishment and naming of Idlewild Park, and the story of highway construction in Nevada, plus recounting his impression of many other local happenings.

This oral history holds a fascination for those in the field of journalism. McDonald describes reporting techniques when he began his career with the Nevada State Journal, and there are memories of Graham Sanford, A. L. Higginbotham, and others important to the history of journalism in this state.

After his retirement in 1957, McDonald has traveled widely, and most importantly has been busy on the Lake Tahoe Area Council, being interested in the orderly development of the Lake Tahoe area.