Oral history interview with Faye Duncan Daniel conducted by Claytee White on October 18, 1996 for the Women's Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN) Las Vegas Women Oral History Project. In this interview, Daniel discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1965. Daniel discusses living in Vegas Heights and her interactions with the local African American community. Daniel discusses her various jobs including a brief time as a police officer. Later Daniel discusses leaving Las Vegas to obtain her college education and her eventual return, to work as one of the first African American women in management in the Las Vegas hotel industry. Daniel also discusses her experiences with racism and gender discrimination.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Greta Peay conducted by Kali Woods on November 11, 2015 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. Peay, a school administrator with the Clark County School District (CCSD) discusses Las Vegas education experiences in Nevada that are relevant to racial inequities across the country. Peay also comments on studies that show Nevada schools at the bottom of national rankings when comparing Black graduation rates, the school-to-prison pipeline, and low enrollment in college-prep courses for Black high-school students.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Melvin Sanders Jr. conducted by John Grygo on February 18, 2013 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Sanders discusses his personal history and his experiences growing up in Las Vegas, Nevada. He describes the development of West Las Vegas, his father being a pastor at the House of Holiness church, and talks about other spiritual leaders in the community. Later, Sanders discusses the riots after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. and how African American entertainers were limited in where they performed on the Las Vegas Strip. He talks about Jackson Street, the increase of police on the Westside, and racial tensions in the mid 1970s. Lastly, Sanders recalls when casinos begun integrating, and he describes starting an automobile detailing business, J.R. Detailing.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Clinton Wright and Aaron Mayes conducted by Barbara Tabach on February 21, 2017 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Wright discusses being a photographer of the Westside community in Las Vegas, Nevada. He recalls creating his first photographic prints, being a freelance photographer, and experimenting with photography techniques. Wright talks about his employment with the
Archival Collection
Sgt. Greg McCurdy and fighter Riddick Bowe.
Image
Oral history interview with James H. Rainey, Sr. and Veronica Ross conducted by Claytee D. White on March 12, 2012 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. James H. Rainey, Sr. discusses his summers working in Las Vegas, Nevada before moving from Arkansas in 1961, as well as his work at the Nevada Test Site. Veronica Ross, his niece, talks of moving to Las Vegas in 1965 and her experiences growing up. Details are given on their recent family history as well as the budding African American community and lifestyles during the 1960s and 1970s in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Black and white photograph of Audrey James (seated, right) as a teacher with her class.
Image
Oral history interview with Marlena Shaw conducted by Claytee D. White on December 12, 2017 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Shaw discusses her early life in New Rochelle, New York and growing up in a musical family. She talks about her initial interest in singing, her career as a jazz singer, and performing with Count Basie in Las Vegas, Nevada. Shaw recalls recording her first studio album, and the discrimination she faced as an African American musician. Shaw describes performing at the Sands Hotel and Casino, touring around the world, and working with multiple recording labels. Later, Shaw remembers performing with Sammy Davis Jr. Lastly, Shaw discusses the significance of spirituality in her life, and her first time performing with a symphony orchestra.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Barbara Cole conducted by Claytee D. White on June 29, 2005 for the the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Barbara Cole talks about the history of African Americans in Las Vegas, Nevada previous to the 1950s. She discusses her early childhood and her large family, as well as the family's contributions to the community. Barbara shares her thoughts on the race relations in Las Vegas throughout her life and details some of her own personal experiences with it. She also shares her knowledge of the foundation of Las Vegas' Westside.
Archival Collection
Part of an interview with Barbara Kirkland by Claytee White on November 12, 2004. Kirkland discusses the growth of the Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) sorority since 1960 and the different projects and scholarships they have worked on throughout the years.
Sound