Oral history interview with Astrid Silva conducted by Monserrath Hernández and Barbara Tabach on April 22, 2019 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. Astrid Silva was born in Gomez Palacio, Durango in 1988. She immigrated with her mother to the United States in 1992, where they were met by her father before flying to Los Angeles. She recounts her first impression of the United States and her families eventual move to Las Vegas, where she describes her time living in Las Vegas’ west side and struggles she faced being an undocumented student living in Las Vegas. She describes her first meeting with Senator Harry Reid and the friendship that developed afterwards. She has spoken at the Democratic National Convention and has been vocal about her status as a Dreamer. She is currently the Executive Director for DREAM Big Nevada which was established in 2017 in order to provide aid to Nevada’s immigrant families. She writes about her hopes for Dreamers and her continued work in expanding the ways that immigrant families can be helped in an always changing political climate. Subjects discussed include: DACA, Dreamers, Immigrant Rights, and Higher Education.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Alana Brown conducted by Dennis McBride on May 26, 2008 for the Las Vegas Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Archives Oral History Project. In this interview, Brown discusses establishing the Center Stage Inc. theater company in Las Vegas, Nevada with her partner, Lenore Simon. Brown describes the production of certain plays including
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Susanne E. Morrow conducted by Dennis McBride on September 29, 2000 for the Las Vegas Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Archives Oral History Project. Morrow begins by discussing her childhood in a military family, her marriage and children, and her move to Genoa, Nevada in 1961. She then talks about her move to Carson City, Nevada in 1962 and her twenty-nine year career as a journalist and city editor for the Nevada Appeal newspaper. The remainder of the interview focuses on Morrow's memories of the 1965 assault on then Chief Justice of the Nevada Supreme Court, Frank McManee, and the subsequent judicial actions and court decisions that reflected attitudes toward homosexuality prevalent in society at the time.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Cathy Scott conducted by Dennis McBride on December 12, 2006 for the Las Vegas Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Archives Oral History Project. In this interview, Scott discusses reporting about the murder of Roger Jameson, a gay man who was found dead outside of a gay bar in Las Vegas, Nevada on April 25, 1995. Scott describes the scene upon her arrival and her initial reactions to the homicide. She talks about the issue of homophobia in Las Vegas at the time and explains that other newspaper publications would not want to cover this story because this was not seen as a serious issue. Lastly, Scott talks about the double life that Jameson lived and how the public reacted to his story.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with J. D. Smith conducted by Albert Hewitt on October 31, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Smith begins by discussing his move to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1927 after buying an office for his dental practice. He describes life in Las Vegas at the time, how the city has expanded and changed, and his career as a dentist. Smith also talks about his time as president of the Nevada State Board of Education. He concludes by elaborating on other aspects of Las Vegas history, such as the crash of Carole Lombard's plane, the Helldorado Parades, and nuclear weapons testing.
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews with Jane Heenan conducted by Dennis McBride on June 21 and 28, and August 30, 2005 for the Las Vegas Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Archives Oral History Project. In the interviews, Heenan begins by clarifying the vocabulary used within the transgender and queer communities for self-identification, comparing these terms with terms used in the medical and psychological fields. They then discusses the distinction between gender identity and sexual orientation. Next, Heenan recalls growing up and in Chicago, Illinois, coming out in the 1990s, and undergoing sex reassignment surgery. Lastly, they talk about arriving in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1994, the Las Vegas transgender support and advocacy community, and Las Vegas transgender organizations.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Richard Schlegel conducted by Dennis McBride on June 03, 2006 for the Las Vegas Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Archives Oral History Project. In this interview, Schlegel discusses his involvement with Equal Rights Nevada (ERN) and the petition to amend the Nevada Constitution that prevented same-sex marriages in the early 2000s. He talks about the approach that ERN took to campaign against the petition and the role that the Coalition for the Protection of Marriage had at the time. Schlegel then describes the Marriage Protection Pledge, his experiences managing a campaign supporting marriage rights for gay couples, and explains how the outcome of the petition affected the Las Vegas, Nevada gay community.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with George Smith conducted by Dennis McBride on June 28, 2002 for the Las Vegas Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Archives Oral History Project. In this interview, Smith discusses his life as a priest of the Christian Orthodox church and a gay man. He describes his experiences living in an Orthodox monastery, his interactions with the gay community of Las Vegas, Nevada since the 1960s, and other gay priests Smith has known. Smith also details bringing in speakers for talks with his gay congregation to provide information on topics including sexually transmitted diseases and careers. He concludes by discussing his involvement with gay student groups at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with J. K. Russ conducted by Claytee D. White on December 22, 2017 for the Remembering 1 October Oral History Project. In this interview, Russ discusses her early life in New Zealand and growing up on a tobacco farm. She remembers arriving to the United States and establishing a career as an artist. Russ talks about the 1 October shooting, creating an art exhibit using cards and letters received from people all over the world, and Las Vegas’ response to the tragedy. Lastly, Russ describes the art community in Las Vegas and the Arts District.
Text
Oral history interview with J. A. Tiberti conducted by Terry Mowbray on February 23, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Tiberti discusses his personal history before arriving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1941 as a civil engineer for Nellis Air Force Base. Tiberti recalls the plane crash involving Carole Lombard in 1942 and describes his work in assisting to locate the plane. He then discusses the construction projects he worked on and environmental changes around Las Vegas. Lastly, Tiberti describes his construction company, J. A. Tiberti Construction.
Archival Collection