Oral history interview with Sylvester Collier conducted by Claytee D. White on May 17, 2017 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Collier discusses his early life in Dallas, Texas. He talks about his interest in art, joining the United States Air Force in 1951, and being sent to Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, Nevada. Collier recalls attending the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), earning a master’s degree in education, and teaching art classes in the Clark County School District (CCSD). Later, Collier discusses starting the Left of Center Art Gallery, and describes some of his art pieces. Lastly, Collier talks about his experience as an African American artist.
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.
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.
Oral history interview with Everlena Brown conducted by Claytee D. White on June 15, 2016 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Brown discusses her upbringing in Moro, Arkansas and moving to Little Rock, Arkansas. She talks about the Little Rock Nine students and her experience attending a segregated school for African Americans. Brown recalls attending Clark County Community College (now College of Southern Nevada) and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), becoming a nurse, and the process of applying for nursing positions. Later, Brown discusses living in the Westside, entertainment on Jackson Street, and participating in church activities. Lastly, Brown describes changes in the Westside.
Thomas Oliver, (left) with his brothers, Henry Oliver, (center) and Sonny Boy (James Haley), (right) with an unidentified female child standing in front of an automobile at Four Mile, a little community four miles east of downtown Las Vegas in 1954.
Oral history interview with Nadine Connor and Harriet Watson conducted by Claytee D. White on May 29, 2018 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Connor and Watson discuss their early lives and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada. They talk about African American women’s civil and social work, and the establishment of Charms, Inc. Watson describes founding the Las Vegas chapter of Charms, Inc. and organizing activities to feed the hungry, assist homeless youth, and funding for higher education. Lastly, Connor and Watson discuss the homelessness issue in Las Vegas.
Oral history interview with Clarence Gilyard conducted by Barbara Paige on December 02, 2014 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. Gilyard begins the interview by discussing his upbringing on United States Air Force bases, his father's career as an Airman, and the advantages he had attending Air Force schools as a child as opposed to attending public schools, where he may have faced discrimination as an African American. He describes his higher education, playing college football, and later pursuing a career in acting after becoming involved in local theatre while attending college at California State University, Long Beach. Gilyard continues, detailing how he gained more acting work and eventually acted alongside actors like Jim Carrey, Andy Griffith, and Chuck Norris, as well as starred in film and television series such as Top Gun, Die Hard, Matlock, and Walker, Texas Ranger. He concludes by discussing his career as an acting teacher and continuing his own education.