Oral history interview with Andrea Gardea conducted by Barbara Tabach on June 26, 2019 for the Remembering 1 October Oral History Project. Gardea starts talking about her early life, family, and family history. She explains why she moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 2002 and why she chose to attend University of Nevada, Las Vegas. After, Gardea describes what happened before and during the Route 91 Harvest festival, what she experienced during the shooting, and her journey in escaping the scene. She talks about the aftermath of the shooting, the trauma and PTSD experienced, and her healing process. Gardea also talks about the making of Engelland’s Vegas Born Heroes Foundation in 2018, what they do, and what they represent. Lastly, she talks about her opinions on gun control and her viewpoint on making peace.
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Oral history interview with Carrie Christensen and Orien “Buster” Stevens conducted by Bernard Timberg on February 04, 1974 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Christensen and Stevens discuss segregation in Boulder City, Nevada, their interactions with Native Americans, and the Westside community in Las Vegas, Nevada. They also talk about the Union Pacific Railroad, the influx of migrants and growth of churches during World War II. Stevens describes his experience working on Hoover Dam (Boulder Dam) as well as the railroad starting at age fifteen. Christensen discusses her personal life, her religious opinions, and mottos.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Emilia Marquez conducted by Maribel Estrada Calderón on July 5, 2019 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. Claytee D. White and Emily Lucile are also present during the interview. Emilia Marquez was born in the United Stated and raised in Alexandria, Virginia, where her father worked as a bricklayer, until the age of twelve, when her father decided to move the family back to Uruguay. She describes acclimating to her new life in middle school and her shift from being perceived as an outsider in Uruguay to accepting Uruguay as home. She describes life in Uruguay and the positions that her family held while living there. After meeting and marrying her husband they trained to work in a casino. She trained as a slot machine operator, and her husband trained as a dealer. This eventually led them to leave Uruguay for the U.S. After the encouragement of her father and mother, she moved with her mother to Las Vegas to work in the casino industry. She describes working as a change person at the Luxor before moving to the newly opened Palms, where she worked until she left it to work at the Wynn. She ends the interview talking about various Uruguayan dishes and traditions, and a brief history of Uruguay. Subjects discussed in this interview: Uruguay, immigration, Las Vegas Strip, Latinx, Luxor.
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Oral history interview with John Lear and Jaina L. Moan conducted by Claytee D. White on April 24, 2018 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project.
John Lear discusses his occupation as a pilot, secret missions he flew for the CIA and State Department, and the places he has visited all over the world including Lebanon, Taiwan, South Africa, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Egypt. He talks about his retirement from flying and his interest in Gold Butte National Monument, an area of over 300,000 acres of protected desert in Nevada. Lear shares how he became interested in Gold Butte after he embarked on gold and silver mining excursions and his hopes to further educate the public about this national monument.
Jaina Moan discusses the history of Gold Butte National Monument and her work in preserving the area as a member of the Friends of Gold Butte nonprofit organization.
Subjects discussed include: Air Club International, Ambassador I and II; Hank Wharton; Ned Day; Art Bell
Archival Collection
The Junior League of Las Vegas Oral History Project (2011-2019) consists of five oral history interviews conducted by Carole Terry between 2011 and 2019. Interviewees discuss their experiences living in Las Vegas and being part of the Junior League of Las Vegas. Interviews exist as physical transcripts only; no audio is available.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Chet Buchanan conducted by Barbara Tabach on November 28, 2017 for the Remembering 1 October Oral History Project. Chet Buchanan begins this interview with a discussion of his move to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1999 after he was offered a job as a radio show host for 98.5 KLUC. He talks about the specifics of his job, including his career background as well as the Chet Buchanan Toy Drive. For this interview, he specifically goes into detail on his coverage of the Las Vegas October 2017 mass shooting and discusses being in San Diego, California at the time, yet still striving to reach people through his broadcast with the help of CBS San Diego. Throughout the interview, Buchanan examines his desire to make a difference in the community with his show and his interactions with the public.
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Oral history interview with Ashley Nitz conducted by Claytee D. White on February 6, 2018 for the Remembering 1 October Oral History Project. In this interview, Ashley Nitz discusses her experiences attending the 2017 Route 91 Harvest music festival in Las Vegas, Nevada with a friend. She talks about making the weekend of the event a "staycation", where she stayed with her friend at the Trump Hotel. Nitz goes into detail on the Route 91 Harvest festival venue and the events of that Sunday night when the shooting began. She speaks of the lockdown in the Tropicana Hotel and the support given there to all of the survivors, such as water and medical aid, as well as her journey home once the lockdown was lifted. The interview ends with a discussion on life after the shooting.
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Oral history interview with Robin Greenspun conducted by Barbara Tabach on February 09, 2017 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. In this interview, Greenspun discusses her family background and growing up in Las Vegas, Nevada. She talks about her early interest in the arts, working in television productions, and becoming a film director.
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Oral history interview with Adele Baratz and Florence Frost conducted by Barbara Tabach on May 19, 2015 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. Baratz and Frost, two longtime friends, discuss the early Jewish community of Las Vegas, Nevada, the Temple Beth Sholom, the Women's League, and their volunteering activities.
Archival Collection