Oral history interview with Francisco Rufino-Parra conducted by Barbara Tabach on December 06, 2018 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. In this interview, Parra discusses his family background and immigrating to the United States from Mexico in 1989. He recalls moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1994 and describes his first impressions of the city. Parra then talks about his employment at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel and Casino as a dishwasher, being promoted, and becoming a member of Culinary Workers Union Local 226. He explains his role as shop steward for the Culinary Workers Union and describes the union strikes in 2018. Later, Parra discusses raising his three children in Las Vegas, living in a bilingual household, and how he has learned many languages from working in the hospitality industry. Lastly, Parra recalls visiting his birthplace and becoming a United States citizen.
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews with Patricia Vazquez conducted by Marcela Rodriguez-Campo, Monserrath Hernandez, and Rodrigo Vazquez on November 14, 2018 and June 14, 2019 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. In these interviews, Vazquez discusses growing up in Las Vegas, Nevada before moving to Mexico. She talks about the transition of moving back to the United States from Mexico in 1970. Vazquez then describes how she was selected for special education in elementary school because she did not speak English, her education experience in the Clark County School District, and later being placed into Advanced Placement classes. She then shares coming out as a lesbian, her family dynamics after announcing her sexuality, and talks about what it is like to come out in the Latinx community. Vazquez describes her art and explains that her paintings depict moments in her life that defined her as a person. Later, Vazquez describes her involvement in queer activism in Las Vegas through the Latino Youth Leadership Conference and Planned Parenthood. Lastly, Vazquez discusses her involvement in diverse hiring committees for the College of Southern Nevada (CSN), which is a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), and teaching literature courses at CSN.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Ruben Acherman conducted by Monserrath Hernandez and Laurents Bañuelos-Benítez on July 18, 2019 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. In this interview, Acherman discusses growing up in Palmira, Colombia, where his father emigrated to from Romania. He talks about how accepted he felt in a Catholic community, moving to Cali, Colombia to study medicine, and describes completing his rural residency in San Pedro, Colombia. Acherman then recalls specializing in cardiology at the University of Southern California (USC). Later, Acherman explains why he chose to specialize in cardiology, his interests in pediatric cardiology, and his inability to continue studying due to the lack of financial stability and his immigration status. Acherman describes his move to the Summerlin residential community in Las Vegas, Nevada after being offered a position to work for Dr. Bill Evans in 2001, and compares the differences in health care between the United States and Columbia. Lastly, Acherman discusses his first balloon dilation procedure and talks about the illustrations he has created in cardiology textbooks.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Luis F. Valera III conducted by Nathalie Martinez and Laurents Bañuelos-Benítez on January 23, 2019 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. In this interview, Valera discusses his family background and explains the story of his parent's immigration to the United States. He talks about bilingual language challenges while transitioning from school in Caracas, Venezuela and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1994. Valera then describes being raised in both Cuban and Venezuelan cultures, describes their similarities, and his experience of not being welcomed into the student organization Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan (MECHa). He recalls his college career, his decision to get into politics, and pursuing a degree in law. Later, Valera discusses his role as vice president of Student Organization for Latinos, and talks about being elected as the University of Las Vegas, Nevada (UNLV) student body Vice President. Lastly, Valera describes his position as Vice President of Government Affairs for UNLV.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Edmundo “Eddie” Escobedo conducted by Maribel Estrada Calderón on February 25, 2019 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. In this interview, Escobedo discusses his family background, growing up Latino in Las Vegas, Nevada, and his educational experiences. He recalls his father starting a promotional business where he would contract Mexican artists to perform, and describes his father’s involvement in politics. He talks about his family's newspaper business,
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jaime Cruz conducted by Rodrigo Vazquez on July 03, 2019 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. In this interview, Cruz discusses growing up in Lima, Peru and immigrating to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1987. Cruz describes his first impressions of the city, attending the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and explains the importance of education for his children. He talks about his employment as a dishwasher at Vineyard Restaurant, food server at The Mirage, and being recruited by Treasure Island as a banquet waiter. Lastly, Cruz describes the Peruvian community in Las Vegas, instilling Peruvian culture in his children, and how he became the Executive Director of Workforce Connections.
Archival Collection
The "Jazz on the Strip" Scrapbooks (1991-2000) consist of ten scrapbooks containing photographs, event programs, newspaper clippings, and ephemera for the "Jazz on the Strip" weekly performance series put on by the Las Vegas Jazz Society (LVJS). Photographs depict the weekly shows at the Riviera Hotel's Le Bistro Lounge in Las Vegas, Nevada, and include performers such as Chick Corea, Russ Freeman, Bill Watrous, and other well-known performers. The scrapbooks also document other events put on by the Jazz Artists of Nevada, including annual picnics, memorial performances, "Jazz in the Park" outdoor concerts, and fundraising events. Included throughout the scrapbooks are the LVJS Jazz Notes, a monthly newsletter.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Pamela Goynes-Brown conducted by Kane Toomer on November 26, 2014 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Goynes-Brown discusses her upbringing and describes her life in Las Vegas, Nevada. She talks about her education, being involved in music, and explains why her parents decided to move to Las Vegas. Goynes-Brown recalls experiencing racism in school, her employment at Mabel Hoggard Elementary School as a music teacher, and working in the Clark County School District. Later, Goynes-Brown talks about African American community leaders in Las Vegas and serving on the City Council of North Las Vegas. Lastly, Goynes-Brown talks about the importance of voting, especially the African American community, and the development of the West Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Rose Miztri and Rachel Parker conducted by Claytee D. White on March 07, 2016 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Miztri discusses growing up in La Puente, California and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1978. She describes her experiences in the United States Army and talks about being involved in a motorcycle accident. Parker talks about her upbringing and describes her experience being transgender while attending high school in Chicago, Illinois. Parker then recalls her first impressions of Las Vegas, Nevada in 1990 and why she was unable to get a job because of her sexuality. Later, Miztri and Parker discuss assisting transgender youth with housing, employment, and becoming comfortable in a society where tolerance and understanding of different sexual identities are constantly evolving. Lastly, both explain their involvement with Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), an international educational organization aimed to bring awareness on sexual identities.
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews with Woodrow Smith conducted by Claytee D. White on February 10, 2014 and February 12, 2014 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In these interviews, Smith discusses his upbringing in Chattanooga, Tennessee and describes moving to another part of Chattanooga due to the violence his family experienced. He talks about attending Tuskegee University, studying engineering, and being taught by Tuskegee Airmen professors. Later, Smith discusses his work at the Nevada Test Site, the aerospace industry, and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in the mid-1980s. Lastly, Woodrow recalls his experiences in Las Vegas and describes investing into a McDonald's franchise.
Archival Collection