Mrs. Amy Thompson Gulling is a member of Reno's oldest family. Her grandmother, then a widow with three children, married the town's founder, Myron Lake. Mrs. Gulling's mother had vivid childhood memories of crossing half the continent from Wisconsin in a wagon train, of arriving in Honey Lake Valley in California, and finally of making a home at Lake's Crossing (later Reno) before Nevada became a state. In 1874, the young pioneer married William Thompson, a rancher of Washoe Valley. The couple lived on a ranch near Franktown, and raised a family of six children—Alice, Maud, Will, Roy, Ethel, and Amy. Thompson was a member of the Nevada state legislature as senator from Washoe County in the 1873 and 1875 sessions, and as Washoe County assemblyman in 1889 and 1891. Later, he became active in Silver Party politics as a supporter of William M. Stewart. The Thompson family moved from the ranch at Franktown to Reno, where they became prominent members of the community.

Amy Thompson was an observer of her environment. Born in 1889, she clearly remembered her school days at Franktown and Reno. She also recalled details of Reno society and economy before the turn of the present century. In 1911 she married Lawrence Gulling and busied herself with family life. However, she always remembered her father's stories of the excitement and drama of politics. When her daughters were grown and time permitted, Mrs. Gulling turned to politics herself, working for the Republican Party. Although she never held an elective office, she engaged in party work at every level from the precinct to the National Committee. She retired as Republican National Committeewoman in 1964.

Mrs. Gulling's oral history includes memories of her pioneer grandmother and her mother; accounts of school days in Franktown and Reno; descriptions of Reno buildings and streets at the turn of the century; biographical material on her sister, Dr. Alice Thompson; discussions of Reno social and cultural activities; observations on Reno politics; narratives of participation in national Republican politics; the excitement of being named Nevada's "Mother of the Year"; and a philosophical conclusion.