Oral history interview with Gregory T. H. Lee conducted by Stefani Evans, Ayrton Yamaguchi, Cecilia Winchell, and Kristel Marie Peralta on December 1, 2020 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project.
Gregory discusses his birth in Honolulu, Hawai'i, his upbringing in San Francisco, California, his education from Harvard University, and his moving to Las Vegas in 1988 with his family. He shares how his parents, Doris Shoong Lee and Ted Lee, purchased a casino on East Sahara Avenue and renamed it the Eureka before Gregory left Las Vegas to earn his Juris Doctorate degree from USC Gould School of Law. He talks about his employment history related to law and the joint venture with his parents to open Eureka's sister property in Mesquite, Nevada. Gregory also discusses his Chinese and Japanese heritage, the Hawaiian culture, and his current affairs as well as his take on current events and discrimination in the United States, with particular regard to Black Lives Matter and COVID-19.
Subjects discussed include: Kyushu, Japan and "China virus."
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Daniel Van Epp conducted by Stefani Evans on April 19, 2017 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Van Epp discusses his upbringing in Virginia. He talks about his initial interest in architecture, moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1995, and becoming President of the Howard Hughes Corporation. Van Epp recalls the development of Summerlin, the increase of homes being built in that area, and the construction of the I-215 Beltway. Lastly, Van Epp discusses master planning communities and the construction of Symphony Park in downtown Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Vera Vann Wilson conducted by Patricia Van Batten on September 24, 2006 for the History of Blue Diamond Village in Nevada Oral History Project. Wilson begins the interview by describing how she came to move to Blue Diamond, Nevada in 1976 and being in a country music band in Reno, Nevada with her husband. She discusses life in Blue Diamond during that time and how Nevada has changed. Wilson expands upon how she built a straw-bale house and the difficulties she faced from the local county during its construction. She concludes by discussing the Blue Diamond community as it is at the time of the interview and her contributions to the community.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Madeline Taylor Knighten conducted by Jay Brewer on November 06, 1974 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In the interview, Madeline Taylor Knighten discusses her life in the early days of Boulder City, Nevada. She also speaks about her husband’s work in the Green Hut Café, as well as in diamond drilling.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Michael Mack conducted by Barbara Tabach on May 20, 2015 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. Mack discusses his early memories in the Las Vegas, Nevada Jewish community, attending the Fifth Street School, and participating in activities with his friends. He also reminisces about going to the Flamingo Hotel with his parents to see floor shows.
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews with the Genovese Family conducted by Shirley Emerson on August 20, August 29, September 05, and September 13, 2013 for the West Charleston Neighborhoods: An Oral History Project of Ward 3. In these interviews, the Genoveses (Robert, Ann, Joseph, Patrick, and David) discuss their lives in Las Vegas, Nevada since 1963. The family discusses the growth and development of Las Vegas and Robert and Anne's home in McNeil Estates. They talk about Robert’s career as a musician, the city’s recession in 1964, and the influence of organized crime in Las Vegas. Joseph recalls the development of Henderson and Boulder City, Nevada, his career in land development, and local government in the 1970s and 1980s. Later, Patrick discusses Las Vegas’ dependency on gaming industry taxes and the need for industry diversification. He talks about the lack of government investment in public goods, public education challenges, and water supply issues. Lastly, David recalls public school integration, attending a sixth grade center, and what it was like when the Nevada Test Site conducted nuclear explosions.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Maila Aganon conducted by Kristel Peralta, Cecilia Winchell, and Stefani Evans on June 10, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. Maila Aganon discusses her childhood, family upbringing, and immigration to the United States from the Philippines when she was a college student. She shares how her parents moved to Las Vegas first and Maila followed a decade later, investing in real estate and eventually taking up permanent residence. Maila talks about her employment history with Allstate Insurance, Bank of America, AAA, Caesars Entertainment, and finally Aon as a Senior Vice President. She also shares her thoughts on the growth of Las Vegas and the growth of the Asian community and cultural influence within the city. Subjects discussed include: anti-Asian violence; Filipino grocery stores; Filipino foods; remote work.
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Oral history interview with Jolie Brislin conducted by Barbara Tabach on April 21, 2017 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. In this interview, Brislin discusses her family background and upbringing in Redwood City, California. She remembers moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1991, her involvement in the Jewish community, and going on a trip to Israel. Brislin talks about joining the Anti-Defamation League, becoming the Regional Director of the organization in 2015, and her mentors at the time. Lastly, Brislin discusses the rise of hate acts towards minority groups across the country, and the issue of cyber-bullying.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Alma Athella Huffman conducted by R. A. Grau on March 2, 1972 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. This interview covers the history of Southern Nevada. Huffman also offers an in-depth description of early life in Bunkerville, Nevada. Huffman lastly discusses being a Justice of the Peace.
Archival Collection