Oral history interview with Jelaine Velasco conducted by Angela Tampol in November 2021 for the Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. Velasco describes her early life in California, and the different processes that her parents went through to become citizens after immigrating from the Philippines to the United States at different times. She explains her thoughts about what being "Asian American" means and how growing up in California gives her a unique perspective although she still experiences racism and microaggressions.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Joey Trujillo conducted by David G. Schwartz on October 08, 2008 for the Remembering Jay Sarno Oral History Project. In this interview, Trujillo discusses his personal experience with Jay Sarno as his barber at Caesars Palace Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. He recalls gambling with Sarno and tells anecdotes of their friendship. Lastly, Trujillo discusses the death of Sarno in 1984.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Oscar Goodman conducted by David Schwartz on January 05, 2009 for the Remembering Jay Sarno Oral History Project. In this interview, Goodman discusses initially meeting Jay Sarno and representing him as his lawyer. He remembers the allegations of organized crimes within Sarno’s properties, Las Vegas gaming at the time, and Sarno’s involvement with the development of Las Vegas. Lastly, Goodman talks about becoming Mayor of Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Claudine Williams conducted by Joanne Goodwin on November 20, 1997 and November 09, 2005 for the Women's Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN) Las Vegas Women Oral History Project. Goodwin begins the interview by discussing growing up in Shreveport, Louisiana, and how she supported her single mother. She goes on to describe her education and early jobs in restaurants and newsstands in Texas. Goodman then talks about meeting her husband, Shelby Williams, and how she became involved in the gaming industry, including her work with Benny Binion in Dallas, Texas and Jake Freidman in Houston, Texas. She describes moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1963, and how she and Shelby developed the Silver Slipper Casino, which was sold to Howard Hughes, and Holiday Casino, which eventually became Harrah's Hotel and Casino. Williams also speaks about her community involvement, including philanthropic efforts at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Robert Skaggs conducted by Dr. David Emerson on May 06, 2006 for the UNLV @ Fifty Oral History Project. Skaggs discusses teaching engineering at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, starting in 1969. He also discusses being involved in getting accreditation with Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) Inc. for the engineering college, establishing a chapter of Tau Beta Pi, the engineering honor society, and building an engineering master's and a PhD program.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Sonny V. Mallari conducted by Chanele Mallari on November 26, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project.
Sonny Mallari talks about his childhood in Masantol, Pampanga province, Philippines with his five siblings. He discusses his family's immigration to Salinas, California and details of his life and parents' lives in the United States. Sonny shares stories of being bullied in school and what the immigration process was like from his point of view at the age of seven. He also talks about his professional work as a cook, moving to Las Vegas, Nevada for work, and becoming a Culinary Workers Union member.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Juanita Gusewelle conducted by Nita Kreuzer on March 06, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Gusewelle discusses life during World War I and II, the effects of the Great Depression, Nellis Air Force Base, Helldorado Days, and political changes in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Roger Thomas oral history interview conducted by Stefani Evans and Claytee White on August 31, 2016 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. Thomas is the Executive Vice President of Design at Wynn Design and Development. He discusses joining Wynn's design team in 1980 for The Mirage. Thomas has done interiors for all Wynn projects since, including these in Las Vegas, Nevada: Treasure Island, Bellagio, Wynn Las Vegas, and Encore Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Paul Hejmanowski conducted by Lois M. Goodall on March 13, 2014 for West Charleston Neighborhoods-- An Oral History Project of Ward 1. Paul Hejmanowski in this interview recalls his family moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1972 and his first impressions of the city and its people. Hejmanowski then discusses his children’s activities at Lorenzi Park and traveling to an area near Caliente to cut down their Christmas tree. He also discusses how the law and justice community has changed in Las Vegas, given the rise in the amount of lawyers in Las Vegas and the advent of modern office technology.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Mary B. Kieser conducted by Ronald Gray on February 27, 1979 for the UNLV University Libraries Oral History Collection. In this interview, Kieser discusses her early life and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1953. She remembers teaching at the Nellis Air Force Base Elementary School and being a substitute teacher in the 1960s. Kieser talks about insufficient funding for education, the implementation of a double session school model, and the increase of students in Southern Nevada. Lastly, Kieser discusses teacher wages, staggered session school models, the development of sixth grade centers, and the teacher credit union.
Archival Collection