Oral history interview with Bob Coffin conducted by Claytee D. White and Stefani Evans on August 08, 2017 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Coffin discusses his early life in Anaheim, California, and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1951. He describes living near the Huntridge Theater, housing in that area, and working for his father’s business, Western Petroleum Distributors. Coffin talks about his initial interests in local politics, becoming a political campaign manager in the 1970s, and running for City Councilman. Lastly, Coffin discusses the construction of the Fremont Street Experience, and the issue of homelessness in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Perry Dickerson conducted by Bryce Gracie on February 21, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Dickerson discusses the history of Las Vegas, Nevada from his perspective. In particular, he discusses telephone companies’ improvements, McCarren Airport growth, boat races at Lake Mead, Golden Nugget Hotel, Greyhound Depot bus station, the plane crash near Sloan Highway, Nellis Air Force Base, Lorenzi Park, Old Salt Lake Highway, Downtown Las Vegas, and Stardust Raceway.
Archival Collection
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.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Carmen Mahan conducted by Nathalie Martinez and Barbara Tabach on November 18, 2019 and August 19, 2020 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project.
Carmen discusses her personal history growing up in Barranquilla, Colombia and her professional aspirations in her present work; she is the founder of the Colombian Association of Nevada, a former member of the Professional Latina Women organization in Las Vegas, and has worked with Senator Harry Reid as a representative of the Colombian community related to voting rights and access. Subjects discussed include: Colombian Association of Nevada; National Hispanic Leadership Summit
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Sylvia Alvarado conducted by Rodrigo Vazquez and Monserrath Hernández on April 12, 2019 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. In this interview, Alvarado discusses her early life in Las Vegas, Nevada. She talks about attending College of Southern Nevada (CSN) and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), studying journalism and media, and her internship with Lotus Broadcasting. Alvarado describes hosting a one-hour show on the
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Carol Leavitt conducted by Nathan Miller on October 28, 2002 for the Public School Principalship Oral History Project. In this interview, Leavitt reflects upon her 35-year career as a teacher and administrator with Nevada’s Clark County School District (CCSD) from the 1960s to the 2000s. She discusses her experiences working at several middle and high schools, though she highlights her experience as dean of Valley High School in the 1970s, and as principal when she returned in the 1990s. She discusses changes that she witnessed within the school, as well as the school district in general such as student expectations, violence, and standardized testing.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jerry Tao conducted by Kristel Peralta, Ayrton Yamaguchi, and Stefani Evans on March 26, 2021 for the Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. In this interview, Tao discusses his family’s background in China and Taiwan, and his upbringing in Virginia. He talks about his parents’ decision to assimilate their children to the American culture, not participating in Chinese traditions during his youth, and racial discrimination he experienced as an Asian American. Tao remembers attending law school at George Washington University, becoming a speechwriter for United States Senator Harry Reid, and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1998. Later, Tao talks about being appointed to the Eighth Judicial District Court in 2011 and to the Nevada Court of Appeals in 2014 by Governor Brian Sandoval. Lastly, Tao compares Chinese family culture and American family culture.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Gerri Schroder conducted by Cecilia Winchell, Jerwin Tiu, and Stefani Evans on September 2, 2022 for the Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. In this interview, Schroder discusses her childhood in both California and Michigan. She discusses attending Orange Coast College, and later moving to Las Vegas, Nevada with her husband for a job opportunity. Schroder first began her community invovlement by participating in the Henderson Beautification Planning Commission. She gradually became more involved in several community activities including campaigns, commissions, and committees. Amongst them was Bill Clinton's presidential campaign and the National League of Cities. Schroder carried out three terms as Councilwoman and continues to work with the local and national community on issues that she finds most valuable, including the Las Vegas water crisis, women's rights, and public safety.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Lily Teo conducted by Stefani Evans on February 7, 2022 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project.
Lily Teo discusses her upbringing in Singapore, her education, her religious beliefs, and converting from Buddhism to Catholicism. She talks about her husband, her early married years, and what life was like as a young mother of three children. Teo shares how she started a catering business to feed construction workers and was responsible for shopping for ingredients, preparing all meals and tea, and cooking the food on site in her temporary kitchen. She talks about her children, the faiths they practice and languages they speak including English, Malay, and Mandarin, and the customs and traditions they practice, such as celebrating Lunar New Year and other holidays. Lily's daughter, Stella, sits in on the interview and expands on her mother's recollections.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Helen Early conducted by Dale Forshee on February 26, 1979 and February 27, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Early talks about some of the first businesses in Las Vegas, Nevada, the initial development of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and the early nightclubs and casinos in the city. Early also discusses her work in establishing a school for disabled children.
Archival Collection