Oral history interview with Virginia Valentine conducted by Stefani Evans and Claytee D. White on July 25, 2016 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Valentine discusses her early life in Florida. She recalls her move to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1981, working in a wastewater treatment plant, and becoming Chief Engineer and General Manager of the Clark County Regional Flood Control District. Valentine then talks about attending the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), obtaining a master's degree in public administration, and her involvement with flash flood management in southern Nevada. Lastly, Valentine describes becoming a registered professional engineer (PE) and her work with the Nevada Resort Association (NRA).
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Qiong X. Liu conducted by Claytee D. White on June 08, 2016 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Liu discusses her upbringing in Beijing, China and later Shanghai, China. She recalls receiving a full scholarship to attend the University of Arizona, her initial reactions to arriving to the United States, and moving to North Las Vegas, Nevada in 1999. Liu talks about the Apex Industrial Park in North Las Vegas, population growth, and the increase of homes being built in the area. She explains the importance in diversifying the North Las Vegas economy and supporting local businesses. Lastly, Liu lists financial challenges that North Las Vegas has faced and her work as City Manager for North Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Frank Martin conducted by Stefani Evans and Claytee D. White on September 13, 2016 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Martin discusses his early life in Montana and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1961. He recalls his initial interests in carpentry, his employment at the Nevada Test Site, and co-founding his business, Martin-Harris Construction. Martin describes building custom homes, cooperating with architectural firms on a project, and the relationship built between building owners and the construction company. Later, Martin discusses the innovation of technology and its use on the construction site. Lastly, Martin talks about the differences in working for corporations and private owners.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Monica Gresser conducted by Stefani Evans and Claytee D. White on September 20, 2016 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Gresser discusses her upbringing in El Campo, Texas and her initial interests in architecture. She recalls attending Texas Tech University and the University of Houston, designing sustainable buildings, and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 2001. Gresser talks about gentrification in the Las Vegas downtown area, low-income communities, and the environmental conditions in disadvantaged areas. Later, Gresser describes her focus on developing transitional housing for military veterans and unhoused individuals, hostile architecture, and the issue of poverty across the United States.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Melvin Green conducted by Stefani Evans and Claytee D. White on September 23, 2016 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Green discusses his upbringing in Louisiana and growing up in a family of farmers. He recalls moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1983, working for Nevada Partners, and his involvement in the redevelopment of the Westside School. Green talks about his architect firm, KME Architects, and lists projects his company has worked on in Las Vegas. Lastly, Green describes presenting new designs to community members and partnering with church leaders to build community housing.
Archival Collection
The UNLV Libraries Collection on Tribal Gaming (approximately 1980-2005) contains newspaper clippings, website printouts, government reports, and brochures about tribal gaming policies and regulations across the United States, particularly in Nevada, New York, and Minnesota.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jan Jones Blackhurst conducted by Claytee D. White on December 09, 2016 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Blackhurst discusses her early life in Santa Monica, California. She recalls moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1982, her initial interests in politics, and being elected Mayor of Las Vegas. Blackhurst talks about her accomplishments as mayor, the development of Fremont Street Experience, and establishing services for homeless people in Las Vegas. Lastly, Blackhurst discusses managing government relations for Harrah’s (now Caesars Entertainment).
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Domingo Cambeiro conducted by Stefani Evans and Claytee D. White on October 18, 2016 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Cambeiro discusses his upbringing in Havana, Cuba. He talks about his initial interests in architecture, starting his own architecture drawing service, and attending the University of Havana. Cambeiro recalls submitting a request to leave Cuba, emigrating to the United States, and arriving in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1962. Cambeiro talks about working with Las Vegas architect Julius Gabriel, obtaining his architecture license, and starting an architectural firm. Lastly, Cambeiro discusses being selected to create architectural drawings for the Thomas & Mack Center.
Archival Collection
The Bob Paluzzi Panoramic Photographs (1978-2005) contain the work of photographer Robert "Bob" Paluzzi. Paluzzi began documenting local events and locations in Las Vegas, Nevada during the mid-1970s and continued photographing locations across the United States and internationally until 2005. The collection contains original photographic negatives (black-and-white and color) and photographic prints that depict sporting events and places throughout Las Vegas and the surrounding region. Additional locations include cities across the United States, and international locations including Paris, France; Brussels, Belgium; and London, England. A number of the images are from major sporting events that took place outside Las Vegas, such as Super Bowls XIV to XXXIX and Major League Baseball World Series games.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with John Klai II conducted by Stefani Evans and Claytee D. White on August 15, 2016 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Klai discusses his upbringing in North Dakota. He recalls attending the University of North Dakota and transferring to North Dakota State University to study architecture. Klai talks about moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in the late 1970s, and his employment at Marnell Corrao Associates. Klai describes founding an architecture firm, Klai Juba Wald Architects + Interiors in 1995, and talks about the firms involvement with the architecture program at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). Lastly, Klai discusses sponsoring a lecture series at UNLV, and awarding scholarships to UNLV architecture students.
Archival Collection