Oral history interviews with Nanyu Tomiyasu conducted by Robert McCracken on January 18, 2000, February 05, 2000 and April 02, 2000 for the Women's Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN) on behalf of the Tule Springs Preservation Committee. Tomiyasu opens his interview by discussing his father's immigration journey from Japan to Las Vegas, Nevada. Tomiyasu then describes his father's career in Las Vegas as a vegetable farmer. He talks about the process and challenges his father faced as a farmer in Nevada, and the techniques he used to maintain his land. Tomiyasu then discusses taking over his father's farm, racial discrimination the family faced, and the farm's purchasing agreements with local grocery stores. He also talks about the water systems his farm and the surrounding area relied on, as well as the animals that lived in the area. Tomiyasu ends his interview by discussing his mother's life story and his wife and children.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Elaine Newton conducted by Cecilia Winchell, Kristel Peralta, and Vanessa Concepcion on May 19, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project.
Elaine Newton shares her family's history living in Hawaii and Japan, and memories from her childhood growing up with her six siblings in Honolulu. She talks about becoming a flight attendant for Pan American World Airways and how she met her former husband, Wayne Newton, after a stop in Vietnam. Elaine recalls their courtship and marriage as well as what Las Vegas life, fashion, and entertainment were like during the 1980s. She also speaks about racial discrimination and anti-asian violence in the past and present.
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Q. B. Bush oral history interview conducted by Claytee White on May 15, 2007 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. Bush discusses his career at the Moulin Rouge, Sands Hotel, and Town Tavern. He also talks about the Economic Opportunity Board and fight for equality for black workers in Las Vegas, Nevada during the civil rights movement in the 1960s and 1970s.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Marion Paris Lamb conducted by Frances Kristich on June 21, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Lamb discusses raising her kids in Alamo, Nevada and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1919.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Oscar Goodman conducted by Claytee White on November 10, 2014 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. Goodman discusses his experiences with the Temple Beth Sholom, Jewish leaders and organizations in Las Vegas, Nevada; raising children in Las Vegas, and practicing law as an attorney.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Lily Teo conducted by Stefani Evans on February 7, 2022 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. Lily Teo discusses her upbringing in Singapore, her education, her religious beliefs, and converting from Buddhism to Catholicism. She talks about her husband, her early married years, and what life was like as a young mother of three children. Teo shares how she started a catering business to feed construction workers and was responsible for shopping for ingredients, preparing all meals and tea, and cooking the food on site in her temporary kitchen. She talks about her children, the faiths they practice and languages they speak including English, Malay, and Mandarin, and the customs and traditions they practice, such as celebrating Lunar New Year and other holidays. Lily's daughter, Stella, sits in on the interview and expands on her mother's recollections.
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Oral history interview with Harold R. Hunter conducted by Philip John Mile on March 19, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Hunter discusses his different experiences working in early Las Vegas, Nevada restaurants during the 1930s and 1940s. Hunter also discusses the rapid growth of the Mormon community during this time.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Byrde Rafael conducted by Cheryl Stewart on February 14, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Rafael describes the Stewart Ranch and "Grandma Stewart's" collection of Native American baskets. Rafael also discusses the crash of Carole Lombard's plane, nuclear testing, and the development of Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Craig Palacios conducted by Stefani Evans and Claytee White on September 27, 2016 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. Palacios discusses his childhood in Las Vegas, Nevada and his early career in construction. He also talks about working as an architect, forming Bunnyfish Studio, and the Maryland Parkway architectural project.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Brendan Ly conducted by Cecilia Winchell and Stefani Evans on March 27, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project.
Brendan discusses his background growing up in communist Vietnam in the early 1970s and fleeing with his family as refugees; they immigrated to Hong Kong, China before moving to the United States to live briefly in North Carolina before settling in California. Brendan talks about working at a young age picking fruit, working in catering, and having positions in retail before pursuing higher education and studying pharmaceuticals. He shares stories of his work experience with Walgreens and how this led to him opening a pharmacy with his brother, which they've managed together for the past 18 years.
Archival Collection