Interviewed by Laurents Bañuelos-Benitez. Nery Martinez was born in El Salvador, he describes his childhood as one filled with war and violence. When Martinez was five years old, the small country of El Salvador erupted in civil war. Martinez describes the panic that he saw growing up, never being certain when violence could occurred. The 12 year war took up the entirety of Martinez's childhood. After the war, the country was left in runes, seeing little hope for recovery, Martinez left El Salvador for Las Vegas where his brothers had fled earlier during the war. In Las Vegas, Martinez was able to find work in the service industry, at the same time attending English classes at night. Martinez is currently working as a bartender within the Culinary Union. Interview conducted in Spanish.
Allard Frank Roen, age 87, of La Costa in Carlsbad, CA passed away on Thursday, August 28, 2008, succumbing to complications of heart disease. He was born May 8, 1921, in Cleveland, Ohio, and was a resident of La Costa for 41 years. Allard graduated Duke University in 1943 with a degree in business. He served as a lieutenant in the United States Navy from 1943 thru 1946; participating in the Gilbert Islands and Okinawa campaigns. Following his discharge in 1946, Allard worked in Palm Beach, Florida, as a hotel contractor and builder.
The Charles A. Hendel Notebook is comprised of one notebook of poetry and prose written by Charlie Hendel between 1960 and 1976. Topics include the state of Nevada, World War II, American nationalism, and biographical materials about Charles Hendel.
The Frank Scott Papers date from 1940 to 1984 and contain promotional materials, photographs, and menus from the Union Plaza Hotel; University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) basketball memorabilia; and KRLR TV documentation, correspondence, and news clippings. The collection also contains a scrapbook and photographs of the re-opening of the Mizpah Hotel in Tonopah, Nevada.
Oral history interviews with Richard Bryan conducted by Kristin Guthre on November 10, 2011 and an unknown date for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Bryan begins by discussing his father’s time as a law student in Washington, D.C. and the influence his father had on his decision to pursue law. Bryan then chronicles moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in the 1940s and growing up in the Huntridge Community near Charleston Boulevard. Bryan recounts attending both the University of Nevada, Reno and the University of California, Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco, California. Bryan describes his experiences in the Las Vegas District Attorney’s office and the Army Reserve. He then recalls his political career as a member of the Nevada Senate, his role as the Attorney General of Nevada, the Governor of Nevada, and as a United States Senator. Lastly, Bryan discusses political issues in Nevada and the United States during his time in office such as debates about renewable energy, environmentalism, and preservation.
Oral history interview with Flora and Stuart Mason conducted by David G. Schwartz on February 27, 2010 for the Remembering Jay Sarno Oral History Project. Flora Mason begins by discussing the relationship between her family and the Sarnos. Mason describes that she and her husband socialized with Jay and Joyce Sarno in the 1960s because they lived on the same street in Las Vegas, Nevada. Stuart Mason recounts how the Sarnos were incredibly friendly and Jay occasionally invited him to play golf. Mason then chronicles his role as a contractor and the work he did for Jay Sarno throughout his career. He talks about how many of the development ventures of Sarno's were funded by Jimmy Hoffa and the Teamster’s Union. Lastly, Mason discusses how Sarno understood the gaming industry more than any other casino operator and how that was attributed to the success of Caesars Palace.
The Hazel Baker Denton Photograph Collection (1910-1961) is comprised of photographic prints and one negative of the Denton family and friends, primarily taken in Nevada and Utah. Many photographs depict life in small Nevada towns, particularly Caliente. Photographs also depict Utah, Oregon, Washington D.C., and California, and unidentified desert and forest landscapes throughout the American West.
The Nevada Division of State Parks Photograph Collection (approximately 1910-1940) contains black-and-white photographic prints and some corresponding negatives that depict state parks and recreational areas throughout southern Nevada. The images also portray Lake Mead, Hoover Dam, Logandale, the Valley of Fire, and Mount Charleston as well as images of actors filming on location in southern Nevada.