Oral history interview with Nadine Cracraft conducted by Barbara Tabach on November 27, 2017 for the Remembering 1 October Oral History Project. In this interview, Nadine Cracraft discusses the development of her career in child and family therapy after moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1991. While describing the work she has done, Cracraft talks about the volunteer counseling services she provided for the survivors of the October 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting. She specifically mentions working with Aria staff members who were struggling with the aftermath of the shooting as well as her time spent working with First Friday to help those impacted by the traumatic event. Throughout the interview, Cracraft explains the different ways people manage their post-traumatic stress disorder and how this knowledge influenced her care of the survivors.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Alber A. Mora conducted by Rodrigo Vazquez and Laurents Bañuelos-Benitez on December 7, 2018 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project.
Alber Mora talks about his life growing up in Cuba with his family and the circumstances of their departure from the country; his brother faced pressures to join the military, which led the Mora family to immigrate to the United States by way of a fishing boat in 1994. Alber discusses the family's lives in Houston, Texas and how he met and married his wife, Rosemary, before the couple moved to Los Angeles and Alber began working at Porto's Bakery, a famous Cuban eatery in L.A. Alber shares how he and his wife eventually moved to Las Vegas, where he works for Caesar's Palace and for the Culinary Workers Union as a Shop Steward.
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews with Don Snyder conducted by Stefani Evans on April 20, 2017, July 28, 2017, September 26, 2017, January 09, 2018, and March 14, 2018 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In these interviews, Snyder discusses his early life and arriving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1987. He talks about First Interstate Bank, his involvement with the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) Foundation, and his career in banking. Snyder describes banking regulations, his resignation from First Interstate Bank, and the opening of Bank West of Nevada (Bank of Nevada) in 1994. He talks about the Downtown Progress Association, Fremont Street Experience, and joining Boyd Gaming. Snyder discusses his career at UNLV and serving as Dean of the UNLV William F. Harrah College of Hospitality from 2010 to 2013. Lastly, Snyder is joined by Bo Bernhard, the Executive Director for the UNLV International Gaming Institute. The two discuss UNLV's involvement in building Allegiant Stadium, the creation of the Campus Improvement Authority Board, and their goal to move UNLV toward Tier 1 status.
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Oral history interview with Joanna S. Kishner conducted by Barbara Tabach on January 10, 2017 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. Kishner discusses being born and raised in both the Jewish and secular worlds of Las Vegas, Nevada. She discusses the importance of the Jewish tradition of Tzedakah, and what it was like to work on a Kibbutz in Israel after her freshman year at Claremont McKenna College. Kishner also discusses desegregation of Las Vegas schools.
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Oral history interview with Junior Fonotisatele conducted by Cecilia Winchell and Stefani Evans on November 10, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. Junior discusses his Samoan background and the importance of strong family values. He talks about his early years in Utah and California before moving to Las Vegas where he attended and graduated from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Junior shares his employment history as a bodyguard for Floyd Mayweather, an entrepreneur of a clothing brand, and an investor into a range of ventures including security, solar energy, and mental health. He concludes with a discussion of Samoan cultural celebrations, his religion, and the significance of his tattoos.
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Oral history interview with Craig Knight conducted by Adriona Jordan on December 01, 2014 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. Knight begins the interview talking about his childhood in New York, including entertainment at the Apollo Theater, religious activities, and education. He then discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1980 in order to attend Bishop Gorman High School, emphasizing its racial makeup and his time spent playing in the jazz band. He also details his involvement in minority serving community organizations, including the Urban Chamber of Commerce and the Metro Advisory Council. He concludes the interview
discussing West Las Vegas, the closure of F Street, and modern renovations in the area.
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Oral history interview with Arthur Lurie conducted by Cheryle L. Bacot on April 25, 1986. In this interview Arthur Lurie discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada, the various businesses he owned, Judaism and Jewish culture in Las Vegas, and his work with the Golden Gloves gym and Nevada Boxing Commission.
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Oral history interview with Shelley Berkley conducted by Michael Geeser on January 9, 2006 for the I Remember When: Recollections from Las Vegas Jewish Leaders Oral History Project. Berkley talks about her career as a Jewish woman legislator, about growing up in Las Vegas, Nevada, and about issues such as Medicare, education, and Israel. She also answers questions from the audience.
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Oral history interview with Sam Diaz conducted by Elsa Lopez on January 03, 2020 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. In this interview, Diaz discusses his upbringing in Chula Vista, California. He describes growing up near the United States-Mexico border and going to a school where instruction was initially in Spanish. Diaz recalls joining the United States Air Force in 2001, the impact that September 11, 2001 had on him, and being deployed to Iraq for two years. Later, Diaz talks about about difficulties he faced when readjusting to civilian life, moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 2007, and obtaining a job with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD). Diaz recalls the October 1, 2017 shooting and changes that the LVMPD implemented after the tragedy. He talks about adopting two children, the process of becoming a foster parent, and raising his children to speak Spanish. Lastly, Diaz discusses his goals as the chair of the Hispanic Recruitment Council with the LVMPD and the changes that are happening in law enforcement in an attempt to mirror the demographics of the Las Vegas community.
Archival Collection