Oral history interview with Maria Benítez conducted by Monserrath Hernández and Maribel Estrada Calderón on June 21, 2019 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. Maria Benítez is the image of a hardworking and determined Salvadoran woman. After facing adversity amidst the Salvadorian Civil War she talks about her journey as a nurse in El Salvador and migrating to the United States. Here in Las Vegas, she has worked as a cook on the Strip, been an active member of her church, and supported the education of her children selling pupusas. Subjects discussed include: El Salvador, Salvadorian Civil War, Migration, US Citizenship Documentation, and Judaism.
The University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Nursing Records (1950-2019) contain records documenting the history of the UNLV School of Nursing. The materials include records from the nursing school's Alumni Association, including financial reports, bylaws, correspondence, and membership information; recruitment materials from the School of Nursing, including brochures, photographs, and program requirements; history of the School of Nursing, including photographs, newspaper clippings, a short summary of the program, and a short documentary film comprised of digital video files; and accreditation information, including newspaper articles, accreditation reports, and evaluations of the program from the Nevada State Board. The materials also include nursing student uniforms, caps, and nursing capes from the 1950s and 1960s.
The University of Nevada, Las Vegas Solar Decathlon Records (2013-2021) are comprised of records documenting the University of Nevada, Las Vegas's participation in the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Decathlon collegiate competition. The collection includes records created by the 2013, 2017, and 2020 UNLV teams (Team Las Vegas) in designing and building their respective competition entries: DesertSol, Sinatra Living, and Mojave Bloom. Records include competition application files, working project files, As-Built submittal packets, and promotional and marketing files for the competition. The majority of records in this collection represent the 2017 competition. Archived websites and social media accounts associated with Team Las Vegas and the Solar Decathlon competition are also included in the collection. The records document Team Las Vegas's efforts in designing and building energy efficient homes for the Solar Decathlon competition.
The Six Companies, Inc. Hoover Dam Photograph Collection (1931-1935), consists of approximately 400 black-and-white photographic prints contained in two photograph albums and an additional twenty-one loose black-and-white photographic prints with ten corresponding photographic negatives.
Jan Kennedy was born (1924) Janet Parmelee, the daughter of a Connecticut physician and a homemaker. In high school she met Norman Kennedy, who she would marry after both had attended college and to whom she was married for 64 years. Until 1963, their roots seemed to be taking hold in the Seattle area. That is until Norm was offered an attractive career opportunity as a weather man at the Nevada Test Site. They settled in and enjoyed a zest-filled life with their four sons and a dynamic group of friends who they often entertained at their cabin in Mount Charleston. In addition, Jan managed to volunteer for a list of organizations including UMC Hospital/Southern Nevada Memorial Hospital; Clark County Museum Guild; Salvation Army Women's Auxiliary; church deacon; Assistance League; Red Hats—keeping herself ever busy and joyfully satisfied.
At the age of thirteen, the incredible life journey of Stephen “Pista” Nasser (b. 1931 - ) is preserved in his heart. His ordeal begins when his family are ripped from their home to be interred in a Nazi concentration camp in 1944. Fifty years later, he sits in his Las Vegas home and reflects on his calling to write and speak about his survival and losses. His ordeal is preserved in his book My Brother’s Voice (2013) and in his follow up stage production Not Now Pista. He is also the author of a companion memoir, Journey to Freedom. Stephen and his wife Francoise are tireless in their travels throughout the United States and the world. At the time of this 2018 oral history interview, Stephen had done over 1092 presentations about his harrowing life story to thousands of people of all ages and denominations. Each presentation fills a spot in his heart as he honors his brother and reminds listeners that such devastating episode in history should not be forgotten, and should never occur again. The timing of this interview also coincided with the premiere of a 20-minute documentary based on his writings and the play production. It was shown at the 2018 Las Vegas Jewish Film Festival. Note: the photo above of Stephen and Francoise Nasser was taken shortly after this interview on their next cruise. (2018)