Oral history interviews with Antioco Carrillo conducted by Rodrigo Vazquez and Monserrath Hernández on June 27, 2019 and July 11, 2019 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. In this interview, Carrillo discusses his early life in Jalisco, Mexico. He talks about attending an all-boys school, the braceros program, and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1987. Carrillo describes the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Las Vegas, being executive director of Aid for AIDS Nevada (AFAN), and the disproportionate infection rate of Hispanics and African Americans. Carrillo talks about advocating for same sex marriage, his involvement with lawsuits that involve defining marriage in Nevada, and being the first same-sex marriage in Nevada. Lastly, Carrillo discusses the struggles to achieve equality, and living in a heterosexual society.
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews with Julia Payne conducted by Claytee D. White on February 11, 2004 and March 07, 2004 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In the first interview, Payne discusses arriving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1961. She describes discrimination, redlining on the Westside, and recalls the lack of integration at the time. Payne then discusses Jackson Street and compares it to the Las Vegas Strip. Lastly, Payne talks about Cove Hotel, Hank’s Place, Colony Club, and the decline in African American businesses on Jackson Street. In the second interview, Payne discusses welfare rights, changes to the Westside and growth of suburban areas. She describes her employment with the Southern Nevada Drug Abuse Council and becoming the first African American substance abuse counselor. Lastly, Payne discusses her position as Executive Director of Nevada Treatment Center.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jim Bilbray conducted by Jeff van Ee on March 26, 2009 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Bilbray first outlines his life from high school, to enlistment in the Army Reserve, attending American University, and working for Nevada Senator Howard Cannon. He then speaks of the different political philosophies in Northern Nevada versus Southern Nevada, the thinking in the mining industry, Sagebrush Rebellion, federal ownership of 86% of Nevada, the doughnut hole around the valley, Bureau of Land Management, hearings on environmental matters, taxation, and grazing laws.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Betty Ham Dokter conducted by Roger Jablonski on February 27, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Dokter describes church activity and the first casino properties that were built. She later talks about presidential visits, economic changes in Nevada, and the construction of Hoover Dam. The latter part of the interview covers the topics of racial minorities, as well as social and environmental changes.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Howard Cannon conducted by K.J. Evans on September 28, 1998 for the Las Vegas Review-Journal First 100 Oral History Project. Cannon discusses his political involvement and working for the Las Vegas City Attorney’s Office. He then talks about his service in the Air National Guard during World War II and creating Nellis Air Force Base. Cannon also mentions his interactions with presidents, his thoughts on the Vietnam War, his support for civil rights, and his stance as a lawmaker.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Donna Rodriguez conducted by Justin Burrows on November 24, 2014 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Rodriguez discusses her personal history and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1993. She describes her first impressions of the city, her employment at McCarran International Airport, and working as a security dispatcher for casinos. Rodriguez then talks about the development of security surveillance at casinos, discrimination towards African American gamblers, and recalls the training she received. Later, Rodriguez discusses her church involvement, teaching at her church's Sunday school, and shares how she managed to raise her children on her own. Lastly, she talks about the role that politics had on minority communities, the importance of education, and changes in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Gail Hambley conducted by Mike Hinton on February 25, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Hambley reflects upon her upbringing in early Las Vegas, Nevada. She discusses her schooling at Las Vegas High School with wooden desks and no air conditioning, memories at the Stewart Ranch and Hoover Dam, and her job with the Nevada Test Site.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Walter V. Long conducted by Brenda Baechle on February 19, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In the interview, Long discusses his arrival to Las Vegas, Nevada from Tonopah, Nevada in 1930. Long also discusses his experiences as a teacher and principal in various Las Vegas schools. Other subjects Long discusses include his education, the Boulder (Hoover) Dam's construction, laws for obtaining a teaching certificate during the 1930s, his experiences with Las Vegas High School, and his early life in Tonopah.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Stefani Evans conducted by Claytee D. White and Barbara Tabach on November 21, 2017 for the Remembering 1 October Oral History Project. In this interview, Stefani Evans discusses how she moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1980 with her husband and her feelings associated with the city, especially after the 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting. She describes in detail how she found out about the traumatic event as well as her experience of waiting all day to donate blood on October 2, 2017, the day after the shooting. Mostly, Evans explains with emphasis the good of humanity that she witnessed during the aftermath of that tragedy.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Sarah Serna conducted by Dennis McBride on December 04, 1998 for the Las Vegas Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Archives Oral History Project. Serna opens her interview by discussing her move to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1993, and her first assignment as a Methodist minister to a small congregation in North Las Vegas. Serna then explains how she became involved in LGBT social justice issues after witnessing expressions of homophobia and prejudice within her church. She discusses her involvement with the Las Vegas LGBT community and the development of a pastoral care outreach program, the development of the World AIDS Day prayer vigil, and the foundation of the Community Counseling Center, later renamed Lighthouse Ministry. Serna then talks about her decision to transition from the Methodist Church to the Episcopalian Church and becoming the first Episcopalian priest in Las Vegas to bless same-sex marriages. She also discusses the development of a transitional housing program, changes in the LGBT community in Las Vegas, and many individuals involved in LGBT social justice programs in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection