Oral history interviews with Sherril and Samuel Coleman conducted by Claytee White on February 12 and 22, 2016 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In these interviews, Sherrill and Samuel Coleman discuss experiencing violence against African Americans in Durant, Mississippi, and discuss moving to Las Vegas, Nevada during the 1990s. The Colemans later describe their contributions with the African American community and recall the poor working conditions for African Americans in Las Vegas and throughout the United States. The two then discuss social class, American Federation of Labor (AFL-CIO), and their involvement with religious organizations.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Wendy Starkweather conducted by Claytee White on June 16, 2010 and June 22, 2010 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Starkweather discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1978 when her husband Peter L. Starkweather accepted a teaching position in the biology department at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). She also discusses working in several types of libraries in Las Vegas before being offered the head of reference position at the UNLV library in 1985. She talks about her experiences working under six deans and retiring in 2010.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Ruth Moore Weaver conducted by her grandson, Danny Weaver, on November 22, 1986 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Weaver begins by discussing her early life and family history. Weaver describes how Las Vegas, Nevada has developed and changed, as well her and her husband's participation in community organizations. She talks about her husband's jobs, how she prefers living in Southern Nevada compared to other areas, and segregation in the city. Weaver concludes by discussing why she prefers to live in Henderson, Nevada and the history of gambling in Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Hamed Ahmady conducted by Stefani Evans on March 22, 2023 for the Reflections: the Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. Interviewed by Stefani Evans. Culinary Union Local 226 organizer Hamed Ahmady recalls his childhood as the oldest of six children in Mazar-e Sharif in northern Afghanistan. As an child, he remembers hearing about the September 11, 2001 attack in New York while living in a Taliban-controlled city on a television connected to a concealed antenna that received signals from Uzbekistan. He recalls how, one month after he graduated high school, he became an translator for the U.S. Army, which he did for more than four years. He talks about securing his Special Immigrant Visa (SIV); landing in Los Angeles, California in 2013 and moving his family to the United States; and supporting his siblings and parents in Afghanistan. He also discusses relocating his family from California to Las Vegas, Nevada in 2018, finding a mosque community, and working with Culinary Union Local 226.
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews with Thalia Dondero conducted by Suzanne Becker on March 10, 2008 and August 22, 2008 for the Women's Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN) Las Vegas Women Oral History Project. Dondero opens her interviews discussing why she became involved with the Las Vegas, Nevada Parent Teacher Association (PTA) and eventually the Nevada State PTA. Dondero then describes her work with the Girl Scouts and her election campaign for a seat on the Clark County Commission. Dondero also discusses Las Vegas city development and how the city has flooding issues. Later Dondero discusses her membership in the Las Vegas Junior League and her work throughout the state to supervise the living conditions of foster care children. Lastly, she describes her experience as a commissioner working to ensure various goods and services were available to the community.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Sarah McKenzie conducted by Brandy Campbell on October 22, 2002 for the Public School Principalship Oral History Project. In this interview, McKenzie reflects upon her career as a middle school, high school, and special education administrator in Fort Worth, Texas. She describes the process by which she initially became a teacher, and later an administrator. She discusses her experiences working in special education, and describes her typical responsibilities and challenges.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Thomas Taney and his wife, Helen Taney, conducted by Anthony Foley on October 22, 1972 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Mr. Taney discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada to work in the factories and Mrs. Taney discusses moving to Las Vegas for adventure. Mrs. Taney talks about her music career and Mr. Taney talks about the importance of the railroad and the mining industry in Nevada. Lastly, Mr. Taney describes the changing water levels in Las Vegas as well as the growth of the city.
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews with Joan Swift conducted by Sue Peterson on March 18, 2004, March 25, 2004, and June 22, 2004 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Swift discusses life in Las Vegas, Nevada during the 1940s and 1950s. Swift begins the interview by describing her upbringing in the Basic townsite and Boulder City, Nevada, attending Basic High School, and life in Southern Nevada during World War II. She then discusses working in the Clark County Recorder's office, explaining her job duties and what function the office served for the county. Swift continues, talking about recreation activities at the time, including visiting the casinos on the Las Vegas Strip and the Helldorado Parades. Swift discusses nuclear weapons testing at the Nevada Test Site and her career as the Clark County recorder. Lastly, she describes her thoughts on the future of Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Barbara Rosenberg conducted by Rebecca Richey on April 22, 2002 for the Public School Principalship Oral History Project. In this interview, Rosenberg reflects upon her nearly 40-year career as a teacher and administrator in New York and Nevada from the 1960s to the 2000s. She discusses her approach to school administration, and describes her regular responsibilities. She also compares her different roles as teacher, dean, assistant principal, and principal.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jose Alvarez conducted by Kendall Worthington, Chava Haron, Dr. Norma Lisa Flores, and Claytee D. White on November 28, 2018 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. In this interview, Jose Alvarez talks about his early life in Buenos Aires, Argentina, sharing what it was like growing up there. He shares his family history as well as his immigration to the United States. He first moved to New York City, New York, working as a dishwasher and/or busboy in New York City restaurants and resorts in the Catskills. In 1968, Alvarez moved to Las Vegas, Nevada when he got a job at the Landmark Hotel. He shares his experiences working in the hospitality industry for 22 years. Alvarez also discusses playing and watching soccer.
Archival Collection