Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American & Pacific Islander Web Archive is comprised of archived websites captured from 2022 to 2024 that are related to UNLV University Libraries community documentation project, "Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American & Pacific Islander Oral History Project." Archived websites represent local Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) civic and service organizations and individuals that have been interviewed as part of the oral history project. The collection includes archived websites of organizations such as the Las Vegas Asian Chamber of Commerce, the Asian-American Advocacy Clinic, Asian Community Development Council, and Thai Culture Foundation. Archived websites of individuals represented in this collection includes entrepreneur, real estate investor, and motivational speaker Lisa Song Sutton and magician Juliana Chen.
On November 28, 1986, James Courtney interviewed Norman Christiansen (born 1931 in Red Lodge, Montana) about his experiences while living in Las Vegas, Nevada. Christiansen first describes his family and background before talking about moving to Las Vegas in 1956 after graduating college in Montana. Christiansen, who worked at the Nevada Test Site for two years and eventually became a teacher at various schools, talks about the various changes he has noticed over the years in Las Vegas, including those in climate, pollution, economy, occupation, and standard of living. Christiansen also discusses his political involvement, his hobbies, the advantages and disadvantages of living in Las Vegas, historical events in Las Vegas, and atomic testing in Nevada.
On April 15, 1976, Judy Hammer interviewed Carmon Meswarb (b. February 9, 1932 in Cedar Falls, Iowa) about his life as a musician in Las Vegas, Nevada. Meswarb discusses how he ended up in Las Vegas, the musicians union and his time playing in a relief band. Meswarb also delves into the different entertainment acts of the 1950s and 1960s, the big-name performers, the city’s showgirls and racial segregation in entertainment. Moreover, Matson talks about the changing landscape of the city, residential areas and the changed attitude of the Strip. The interview ends with Meswarb discussing the short stint of Broadway shows on the Las Vegas Strip.
On February 28, 1977, collector Steve Gortz interviewed Mike Meade (b. September 16, 1950 in San Francisco, California) about his life in Nevada. Meade speaks about growing up in Tonopah, Nevada before its decline in population, his move to Elko, Nevada and eventually to the city of Las Vegas. Moreover, he talks about the development of the Strip, the differences between Las Vegas and rural Nevada, as well as the changing environmental landscape. Meade also spends time discussing the controversy surrounding the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) dormitory at the time of this interview, the attitude of locals, and his opinion on brothels and prostitution. Lastly, Meade talks about the city’s pollution, the sports and recreation throughout the whole of the state and ends by reading a poem about Nevada from a Bicentennial book.
Estralita Williams is a native of Las Vegas. Her father was a pastor; she and her sisters sang with choir that backed up celebrity musicians such as Paul Anka. Estralita worked for the EOB.