Oral history interview with Mike, Fred, and John Pinjuv conducted by Barbara Tabach on May 13, 2014 for the West Charleston Neighborhoods--an Oral History Project of Ward 1. Mike Pinjuv discusses his father moving to Las Vegas, Nevada with his wife and kids in 1917, owning a gas station and grocery store, and later working as a civilian on the Nellis Air Force Base. John Pinjuv recalls owning Las Vegas Sheet Metal and Fred Pinjuv talks about his career in the United States Air Force. All three brothers then discusses moving to the West Charleston area in Las Vegas as adults.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with So Ping "Suzy" Chan conducted by Cecilia Winchell, Jerwin Tiu, and Stefani Evans on May 20, 2022 for the Reflections: the Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. Wai-Mei Borgel served as an interpreter. In this interview, Chan describes her early life in Toisan, China, where her father owned a jewelry store but soon joined her grandfather in the United States. During the Second Sino-Japanese War, Chan recalls one of her brothers dying, and after the war their family left for Hong Kong, where Chan would grow up and finish her education. In 1963, Chan immigrated first to San Francisco, California, before moving down to Los Angeles, California, and working in a kitchen at a restaurant named Food to Go. After working various jobs in Los Angeles, Chan and her family eventually relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada, where she would continue to work various culinary jobs and as a Pai Gow dealer. Chan discusses venturing into real estate and tells stories throughout the interview that reflect the hard-earned but fun-spirited life she has led.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Cynthia Mun conducted by Vanessa Concepcion and Stefani Evans on March 31, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. Cynthia Mun discusses her upbringing near Seoul, South Korea and her family's immigration to Los Angeles in 1974. She talks about her parents' employment as a seamstress and a janitor, as well as the educational mentors she encountered who helped her to succeed at Westridge School for Girls in Pasadena and later at Yale University. Mun shares her corporate employment history, including helping to launch the Pandora streaming service and creating an accessible platform for E-book use before the creation of Amazon Kindle. Mun talks about her career working at MGM International and how this opened the door for her mother to become an MGM employee and access better working conditions with union employment.
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Oral history interview with Isaac Barrón conducted by Maribel Estrada Calderón and Claytee D. White on March 27, 2019 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. Isaac Barrón was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada. His father entered the United States as a Bracero. Barrón attended Rancho High School and earned his bachelor's degree in secondary education from UNLV. He currently teaches history at Rancho High School and serves as North Las Vegas' Councilman. In this oral history, Barrón recalls his youth in North Las Vegas, navigating the presence of gangs, and his path to being a community activist and advocate for North Las Vegas youth. He has led volunteer efforts for community improvement projects, including the plans for a new public library. He holds the distinction of being the first Latinx member of the North Las Vegas City Council and Southern Nevada's first Hispanic Mayor Pro Tempore. In 2013, he was elected to represent Ward 1 and was reelected for a second term in April 2017. He discusses being Mexican American, the Coalition of Pan American Organizations, the Hispanic Student Union, the Bracero Program, and Rancho High School.
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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.
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Oral history interview with Tony Grasso and Doug Charles conducted by Coleen Seifert on February 29, 1980 and March 01, 1980 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Grasso first provides details on his background and how he ended up moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1951 before talking about his experience as a dealer in some of the early casinos. Grasso then talks about issues and controversies related to the gaming unions, the Nevada Gaming Control Board, and his then-current work at the Aladdin casino. Doug Charles discusses his career in the gaming industry. Charles also talks about his family background, his arrival to Las Vegas in 1957, and the early development of the various gaming properties in Las Vegas. He later goes into detail over some of his experiences as a dealer, his opinions on mob control over gaming, and some of the political and legal issues that have arisen in Las Vegas gaming.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Lyle and Maryann Rivera conducted by Claytee D. White on May 01, 2009 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Maryann discusses her father and grandfather arriving in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1905, and her mother being the eleventh baby born in Las Vegas. Lyle discusses his careers as a lawyer, a community activist, and the University of Nevada Las Vegas' (UNLV) Vice President for development and university relations. Mr. Rivera also discusses forming the UNLV Foundation and serving as its executive director.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Cherina Kleven conducted by Cecilia Winchell on June 9, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. Cherina Kleven talks about her family and childhood growing up in Taiwan amongst six siblings. She shares her family's history and how they immigrated to Las Vegas while she was a teen, as well as her employment history and how she met her husband. Cherina talks about racial and gender discrimination and the obstacles she has overcome to be the only working female in her family, the only woman firefighter at her station house, and the first female Asian American Assistant Fire Chief in the United States.
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Oral history interview with Myoung-ja Lee Kwon conducted by Claytee D. White on September 03, 2004 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Kwon discusses moving to the United States from Seoul, Korea after graduating from Seoul National University. She also discusses beginning her career as a librarian at multiple universities, retiring in 2001 and taking the position of dean of libraries at the Hayward campus of California State University, East Bay, retiring from there in 2008.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Dorothy, Alice, and Marva Love conducted by Claytee D. White on February 11, 2015 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Dorothy discusses her personal history and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1961. She describes the city at the time, living in West Las Vegas, and raising her children there. Alice and Marva, Dorothy's daughters, then talk about their educational experiences in Las Vegas and growing up in the Westside community. Later, Dorothy describes starting her family business, Love’s Cocktail Lounge, on Jackson Street and what it provided for the Westside community. The family recall the entertainers that performed at Love's Cocktail Lounge and the eventual downfall of Jackson Street. Lastly, they discuss the development and changes in the Westside.
Archival Collection