Oral history interview with Sasha Semenoff conducted by Claytee D. White on April 29, 2009 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Semenoff begins the interview by discussing his early life in Latvia and learning to play the violin as a child before the Nazi invasion. He describes being a Jewish Holocaust survivor, surviving the ghettos and concentration camp where he was held, and explaining how he immigrated to the United States after he was liberated. Semenoff then discusses moving to New York City, New York, where he joined the musician's union before moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1959. He details his career as a prominent lounge and big band violinist in Las Vegas, where he played at several different casinos, including the Desert Inn Lounge, the Dunes Hotel and Casino, and the MGM Grand Hotel. Semenoff also talks about the musicians he has played with, such as Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, his work at the time of the interview, and the presence of organized crime in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Joseph J. Buckley conducted by Patrick Carlton on July 17, 2002 for the Las Vegas Rotary Club Oral History Project. Buckley opens his interview by detailing his participation in the Rotary Club of Las Vegas, Nevada, including offices he held. He then recalls his upbringing in New York through the mid-1950s, his employment at Rockwell International, and the work he did to test components of the Apollo 11 spacecraft. He then discusses moving to Las Vegas in 1969 to become the Personnel Director at the Desert Inn Hotel and Casino and recalls opening his own human resources consulting firm in 1985. He then describes the Rotary Club in more detail including the club philosophy, fundraising auctions, the scholarships they offered, and their short-lived television program. Buckley further talks about the Rotary Club's campaign to eradicate polio globally, events that occurred during his club presidency in the 1980s, and his time as Rotary Club District Governor in 1985. He then discusses overseeing a global Rotary Club convention in Las Vegas during the 1980s, and dealing with a lawsuit filed against the Rotary Club organization for discrimination against women. He recalls his time in Human Resources for the Howard Hughes Corporation, and a lawsuit filed against the Las Vegas hotel industry for employment discrimination against African Americans. Lastly, Buckley talks about the expansion of Las Vegas, the increase the city's population, and labor union relations.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Donna Silva conducted by Claytee D. White on February 6, 2023 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Silva recalls her childhood living in Los Angeles, California; Las Vegas, Nevada; Valdosta, Georgia; and Japan. When her family settled in Las Vegas, her family joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, but Silva later left the organization as a teenager. Throughout the interview, Silva recalls memories of the Rolling Stones, Steve Wynn, Elvis, and doing lighting work throughout the city as the first female to join the stagehand's union. Silva's work in the hotel/casino industry provides insight in work on the casino floor and behind the curtains of entertainment venues. She worked as a cocktail waitress, cigarette girl, and then backstage as a member of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees. Her passion later turned to working with the Rape Crisis Center, where Silva has acquired training that allows her to go to hospitals to assist patients.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jennifer Lanahan conducted by Jerwin Tiu on September 11, 2023 for Reflections: the Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. Born in Daegu, South Korea, Jennifer Lanahan fondly remembers her childhood growing up in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Lanahan had been adopted at a young age and grew up aware of this fact, but never felt different from her family because of it. Her father, with Irish roots, was a retired military sergeant for the U.S. Air Force. While her mother, with German roots, spent her time volunteering at veterans hospitals. Lanahan spent a majority of her life in Green Bay, eventually obtaining a degree at the University of Wisconsin, Green Bay in Spanish with a minor in linguistics. Shortly after, Lanahan moved to Hawaii to obtain a masters degree in Spanish but pivoted to earning a degree in legal studies at Arizona State University. Growing up in a predominately white community, Lanahan recalls having complex feelings about her Asian heritage. However, after moving to Hawaii for a year and then eventually Las Vegas, Nevada in 2012, she began to embrace her Asian heritage and engage more in different aspects of her Korean culture. After obtaining her law degree from the Boyd School of Law at UNLV, Lanahan went on to work as a litigation attorney for a few years. She now works as a lobbyist and serves as a board member for the Las Vegas AAPI Chamber of Commerce.
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Oral history interview with Lubertha Johnson conducted by Larry Buckner on February 10, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview Lubertha Johnson discusses her family background, work experience, civic activity, and philosophy. She talks about discrimination in the workplace for Black people, segregation in Las Vegas, Nevada, and her forty year membership in the National Association for the Advancement of Colored Peoples (NAACP). She also discusses the historic Westside neighborhood and its schools, the prejudice Black performers faced in the 1950s and 1960s, and how she feels disappointed in President Jimmy Carter.
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Oral history interview with George Ward conducted by Charles P. Hall on March 11, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Ward discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1942 and his experience in the city as an African American. Ward describes the jobs African Americans were hired for in Las Vegas during the 1940s and his teaching career. He describes segregation and discrimination in the school system and in casinos. He also talks about how African American police officers were only allowed to patrol West Las Vegas, housing availability, and organized crime in the city. Lastly, Ward talks about his involvement in local politics, the beginnings of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and the development of Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jean McColl conducted by Sam C. Melchiome Jr. on March 01, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In the interview, McColl discusses her childhood and family in Searchlight, Nevada and her eventual move to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1944. McColl also discusses her education, Boulder (Hoover) Dam, Mount Charleston, Lee Canyon, atomic testing, Las Vegas entertainment, and juvenile delinquency.
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Oral history interview with Sandra F. Mack conducted by Claytee D. White on March 29, 2018 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Mack discusses her early life in Seattle, Washington. She talks about her education in home economics, becoming a teacher, and her experience teaching during segregation. Mack recalls moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 2001, and her involvement with community organizations 100 Black Women, the Las Vegas Branch of The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the Urban League Guild, and the local Delta Sigma Theta chapter. Lastly, Mack talks about the 1 October shooting, gun violence, the increase of security at churches.
Archival Collection