Oral history interview with Isaac Barrón conducted by Maribel Estrada Calderón and Claytee D. White on March 27, 2019 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. Isaac Barrón was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada. His father entered the United States as a Bracero. Barrón attended Rancho High School and earned his bachelor's degree in secondary education from UNLV. He currently teaches history at Rancho High School and serves as North Las Vegas' Councilman. In this oral history, Barrón recalls his youth in North Las Vegas, navigating the presence of gangs, and his path to being a community activist and advocate for North Las Vegas youth. He has led volunteer efforts for community improvement projects, including the plans for a new public library. He holds the distinction of being the first Latinx member of the North Las Vegas City Council and Southern Nevada's first Hispanic Mayor Pro Tempore. In 2013, he was elected to represent Ward 1 and was reelected for a second term in April 2017. He discusses being Mexican American, the Coalition of Pan American Organizations, the Hispanic Student Union, the Bracero Program, and Rancho High School.
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Oral history interview with Ben Mammina conducted by Stefani Evans and Claytee D. White on October 21, 2016 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Mammina discusses his early life in Chicago, Illinois, and his work renovating movie theaters and building hotels. Mammina moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1994 and he recalls developing master plans for Caesars Palace Hotel and Casino, attending the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), and obtaining a degree in civil engineering. He then describes the development of security technology and its effect on building planning. Lastly, Mammina discusses the process of choosing a building master plan.
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Oral history interview with Melvin Green conducted by Stefani Evans and Claytee D. White on September 23, 2016 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Green discusses his upbringing in Louisiana and growing up in a family of farmers. He recalls moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1983, working for Nevada Partners, and his involvement in the redevelopment of the Westside School. Green talks about his architect firm, KME Architects, and lists projects his company has worked on in Las Vegas. Lastly, Green describes presenting new designs to community members and partnering with church leaders to build community housing.
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Oral history interview with Paulette Morris conducted by Claytee White on January 06, 2009 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Morris opens her interview by discussing traveling around the world as a child due to her father's career with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Morris then talks about the school system in Morocco and how it gave her the opportunity to study ballet. She describes her audition process with the Paris, France based revue, the Folies Bergere. Morris discusses the Bluebell Girls, Margaret Kelly ("Madame Bluebell"), costumes, and the show schedule. Morris then recalls dancing in the Lido show at the Stardust Hotel and Casino, and her experiences in Las Vegas, Nevada during the 1960s. She ends the interview discussing her return to school, her job in retail, and her final thoughts on her experiences with the Bluebell Girls.
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Oral history interview with Dr. Patrice Johnson conducted by Kiley Veigel on November 16, 2009 for the Public School Principalship Oral History Project. In this interview, Johnson reflects upon her more than 20-year career as a teacher and school administrator in California and in the Clark County School District. She discusses her upbringing and how she always wanted to be a teacher, her training to become a teacher, and experiences in teaching. She describes her path to becoming a school principal, and eventually assistant superintendent for the Clark County School District. She also discusses how her family life has shaped her approach to teaching, in addition to regular job duties that she faced as a teacher and administrator.
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Oral history interview with Harvey Allen conducted by Claytee D. White on December 12, 2006 for the UNLV @ 50 Oral History Project. In this interview Allen speaks about working for the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, working in a segregated casino, and the opening of the first integrated casino in Las Vegas, Nevada: The Moulin Rouge. In addition, he spoke about hosting the "All-Nighters Club Convention", a popular talk show on KDON radio, and teaching classes at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) for 31 years.
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Oral history interview with Charles Silvestri conducted by Claytee D. White on December 31, 2012 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Silvestri begins by discussing his family history and his personal history in the United States Army during the 1950s. He describes moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1957 after leaving the army, working as a casino dealer at The Mint Hotel and Casino and California Club while attending the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, called Nevada Southern University at the time. Silvestri then describes attending the University of Nevada, Reno to finish his degree and moving back to Las Vegas to begin his career as a teacher. Lastly, he talks about life in Las Vegas, entertainment in the city, race relations in Las Vegas during the 1960s, and the middle school that was named in his honor.
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Oral history interview with Ellen Knowlton conducted by Claytee D. White on August 13, 2018 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Knowlton discusses her family background and her career in the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). She talks about criminal investigations she has been involved with, bank robberies, and the rise of white-collar crimes. Knowlton recalls moving to Las Vegas, Nevada, her involvement with the opening of the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement (known as the Mob Museum), and ensuring accuracy on the role of law enforcement with the handling of organized crime. Lastly, Knowlton discusses the future of the museum.
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Oral history interview with Charissa B. Fabian conducted by Kyle Gregory Baluyut on November 24, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project.
In this interview, Charissa B. Fabian discusses her upbringing in Angeles City, Pampanga, Philippines with her three siblings and memories shared with her grandparents and cousins. She talks about her nursing education from the University of the Philippines and her immigration via a recruitment agency to work in New York. Charissa Fabian reflects on her move to Las Vegas, Nevada with her husband in 1995, the growing Filipino population in the city, and her work as a nurse. She also shares her thoughts on the immigration process, the COVID-19 pandemic, and politics.
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Oral history interview with Gerome Sapp conducted by Claytee D. White on September 9, 2015 for the Building a Las Vegas Tech Culture Oral History Project. In this interview, former NFL player Gerome Sapp recounts his personal, academic, and business experiences. He first came to Las Vegas, Nevada in September 2012 seeking investment opportunities for his company, Fluencr. A year later, he received the investment and moved to Las Vegas. Eventually, Sapp began working with the 2015 Life is Beautiful festival to document the artists of the Art Motel.
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