Oral history interview with Dayle K. Rust conducted by Michelle Muniz on May 01, 2004 for the Public School Principalship Oral History Project. In this interview, Rust reflects upon his career as a teacher and administrator in Nevada’s White Pine County School District and Clark County School District. He describes the process by which he first became a teacher in the White Pine County School District, his experience as a coach, and legal challenges that he experienced with teacher dismissal. He then describes how he began working with the Clark County School District at J. D. Smith Middle School, and then was sent to work at various middle schools throughout the School District. He describes his experience as assistant principal of Gilbert Magnet School for Communications & Creative Arts, and discusses political challenges that led to his retirement.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Madeleine and Will Bradley conducted by Claytee D. White on October 11, 2021 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project.
Madeleine Bradley and her son Will discuss their familial ties to Henry Benjamin Cave, a Confederate soldier, by his widow Daisy Cave. Madeleine and Will talk about the Civil War, life in South Carolina compared to Nevada, and Will's occupation as a pilot. Will also shares his experiences with the military and serving during Operation Desert Storm.
Subjects discussed include: Confederacy; Daisy Cave; Civil War pension.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Cranford Crawford conducted by Claytee D. White on May 27, 2016 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview Crawford discusses his early life and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1964. He talks about his involvement with the Las Vegas branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), working with African American community leaders, and the consent decree of 1971 alleging a series of violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Crawford describes his career with the Clark County Department of Family Services (DFS), issues of segregation in Las Vegas, and being involved with Les Femmes Douze (The Ladies Twelve). Lastly, Crawford discusses Las Vegas government, school integration, and becoming a Freemason.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview of Fateen Seifullah conducted by Claytee D. White on October 28, 2020 for African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project.
Fateen Seifullah was born in Compton, California and was surrounded by gang culture from a very early age. As a teenager when he and his family moved to Las Vegas in the early 1980s, he began participating in gang activity. Fateen describes his knowledge about gang operations, drug "rules," and prison time. He also discusses his participation as a Muslim mosque leader in the Historic Westside Las Vegas, his "Iman" (faith and beliefs), and his work in the past decade to push gang activity and drug use out of the community.
Subjects discussed include: Compton, California; drug culture; Muslim philosophy; Iman; and Code of Justice.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jill DeStefano conducted by Stefani Evans on January 19, 2024 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, DeStefano describes growing up in Long Beach, California and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 2006 with her husband. DeStefano became interested in helping protect the 13,000 acres of land near her home of Aliente, and became a member of the founding board of "Protectors of Tule Springs." In this interview, she talks about the role the recession had on their work; engaging the public in the project; the stakeholders with whom they negotiated; the tours they conducted; and the legislation passed through Title 30 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) in December of 2014 creating the Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Albert Purdue conducted by Claytee D. White on August 16, 2000 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Purdue begins by explaining the importance of the railroad industry and specifically the Union Pacific Railroad Company to early Las Vegas, Nevada. He discusses his family's military history and the presence of the military in Nevada during the 1940s for desert training for the North African front during World War II. He gives an overview of life in Las Vegas from the 1940s to the 1960s, and discusses how the city has changed and what the future of the city may look like. Purdue talks about when the casinos of Las Vegas were controlled by organized crime and when Howard Hughes arrived and began buying properties. Purdue also discusses racial segregation in Las Vegas and the diverse peoples who live in the city.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Lucela M. Wattin conducted by Stefani Evans on December 6, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. Lucela shares memories of her life growing up in Cebu Province, Philippines and being raised by her mother and grandparents after her father's death. She talks about immigrating to the United States under her fiancée's visa, moving to Chinatown in Las Vegas, and her work as a busser at the Excalibur Hotel. Lucela discusses how joining the Culinary Workers Union improved her work conditions and benefits, and how she is working with the union and a legal attorney to help her daughter immigrate to America. She also shares her favorite Filipino dishes (sinagang, chicken adobo, and bugas mais), holiday traditions, and what life was like when casinos shut down during COVID-19.
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Oral history interview with John H. Pappas conducted by James Greene on October 04, 1974 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Pappas describes coming to the United States during the early twentieth century, eventually making his way to Nevada in 1904. Pappas discusses working for the San Pedro, Los Angeles & Salt Lake Railroad Company helping to build the railroad from Caliente, Nevada to Las Vegas, Nevada. Pappas later discusses leaving Nevada, then returning to help build the Hoover (Boulder) Dam, before leaving due to the extreme heat. Pappas describes his personal history in Las Vegas, the city's changes, and opening his own restaurant.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Nora Mirabal conducted by Elsa López on August 30, 2019 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. In this interview, Mirabal discusses her upbringing in Coralillo, Cuba. She describes her family's life in Cuba and shares her family's reasons for leaving the country. Mirabal talks about the immigration process, which involved Cuban migrants temporarily living in Spain, and moving from Spain to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1973. She recalls schooling, taking English as Secondary Language (ESL) classes, and being involved with the 28th street gang for protection. Later, Mirabal discusses attending the College of Southern Nevada (CSN) and the University of Las Vegas, Nevada (UNLV). She describes the Jumpstart Concurrent Enrollment Program, education funding in Clark County, and CSN’s collaboration with Jumpstart Concurrent Enrollment Program. Lastly, Mirabal talks about Cuban traditions, Cuban community in Las Vegas, and her involvement with the Latin Chamber of Commerce.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Andy Katz conducted by Barbara Tabach on February 16, 2016 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. Katz discusses managing the Manpower franchise—an employment placement company—in Las Vegas, Nevada, and his parents who were the original owners. He also talks about growing up in Las Vegas and its Jewish community.
Archival Collection