Mixed Content
Oral history with Chris Davis, Debbie Davis, and Mynda Smith conducted by Claytee D. White and Barbara Tabach on May 24, 2018 for the Remembering 1 October Oral History Project. In this interview, Debbie and Chris Davis and Mynda Smith discuss the murder of their daughter and sister (respectively), Neysa Davis Tonks, at the Route 91 Harvest Country Music Festival on October 1, 2017. They discuss plans to form Fifty-Eight Loved and Never Forgotten, a foundation to help educate the children of the 58 families affected that night. Neysa, a single mother, left behind three sons, 24, 18, and 15 years of age. The family members recall how they were first alerted to Neysa's death, and having to locate and identify her body at the coroner's office twenty-four hours later. Chris, David, and Mynda reflect on Neysa's life, her work, and legacy. Debbie, Chris, and Mynda believe that "darkness cannot exist in the presence of light. Neysa's light will shine forever."
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Oral history interview with Sanje Sedera conducted by Kristel Peralta, Cecilia Winchell, Ayrton Yamaguchi, and Stefani Evans on April 16, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. Sanje Sedera discusses growing up in Sri Lanka, formerly Ceylon, with his family. He shares his educational history, moving from Sri Lanka to Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia as a high schooler to learn English before immigrating to the United States to attend Idaho State University. Sedera discusses the political unrest and civil war that took place in Sri Lanka between the Tamil and Sinhalese people, and how he grew to appreciate political activism instilled in him by his paternal grandparents. Sedera shares his employment history working as a manager for K-Mart, an opportunity that brought him to Las Vegas, as well as his entrepreneurial pursuits of owning a mortgage business and becoming a realtor. He talks about the financial crisis of 2008 that led to losing his business, his attempts to run for public office, and how he helped to form Nevada's Asian American Democratic Caucus. Sedera concludes with a discussion of his Buddhist practice and how these philosophies have shaped his life.
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The North Las Vegas Bicentennial Committee Photographs and Drawings of Kiel Ranch document the buildings on Kiel (Kyle) Ranch in 1974. As part of the commemoration of the United States bicentennial, the North Las Vegas City Council elected to restore Kiel Ranch, which was one of the first non-indigenous settlements in the Las Vegas Valley. The materials include black-and-white photographs of Kiel Ranch as it was in 1974 as well as architectural drawings of planned renovations to the main house, the Brown House, the foreman's house, and the ranch hands' house.
Archival Collection
The Eileen Brookman Photographs depict Nevada Assemblywoman Eileen Brookman from 1959 to 1989. The photographs primarily depict Brookman with other Nevada politicians, including U.S. Senators Harry Reid, Alan Bible, Eugene McCarty, and Howard Cannon, and Nevada Governors Paul Laxalt, Mike O’Callaghan, Richard Bryan, and Grant Sawyer. The photographs also depict Brookman at political events with the Nevada National Guard, bill-signing ceremonies, and at events in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
The Bill Willard Photograph Collection depicts Las Vegas, Nevada, hotels and casinos in Las Vegas, the Las Vegas Valley, and Laughlin, Nevada from 1905 to 1919 and from 1940 to 1999. The photographs primarily depict hotels and casinos in Las Vegas, including the Sahara Hotel, Circus Circus Hotel and Casino, MGM Grand Las Vegas Hotel and Casino, Caesars Palace, Flamingo Hotel, and the Aladdin Hotel. The photographs also depict students at Nevada Southern University (predecessor of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas), the city of Las Vegas, industrial plants in Henderson and Apex, Nevada, and events in Laughlin, Nevada.
Archival Collection
The Women's Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN) Oral History Records (1995-2015) are comprised of Dr. Joanne Goodwin's research, communication, and publicity relating to the Las Vegas Women Oral History Project. The records include correspondence, photographs of interview participants, news clippings, and working drafts of transcripts. The records also contain oral history interview documentation for projects in which WRIN and Joanne Goodwin provided assistance and consultation.
Archival Collection