Oral history interview with Michael Montandon conducted by Stefani Evans and Claytee D. White on September 22, 2016 and October 3, 2016 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. Montandon talks of forming relationships with developers, legislators, and other municipalities. He speaks about land use, open space, parks, trails, conservation, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act (SNPLMA). He shares histories and stories of the Becker family's role in developing Clark County, of the Combs family's North Las Vegas, Nevada pig farm and the drama that routinely characterized BLM land auctions, and of why North Las Vegas spent millions of dollars to build its own sewage treatment plant.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Carl Esteban conducted by William Bailey on December 2, 2022 for the Reflections: the Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. In this interview, Esteban recalls growing up in Salinas, California in a predominantly Asian community before relocating with family to Las Vegas, Nevada in 2002. As a first generation Filipino America, Esteban's mother sacrificed her life in the Philippines to become the sole person in her family to immigrate to America. Esteban received his degree in Special Education and is currently pursuing to a master's degree in the same field. Esteban is currently a special education educator at the Yvonne Atkinson-Gates Center in North Las Vegas. Throughout the interview, Esteban discusses a wide range of topics spanning from his family migration story, his early childhood, his Filipino identity, Asian stereotypes as the model minority, and how his mentors helped shape him into the person he is today.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Christine Szukala conducted by Bridgette Foote on November 12, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project.
Christine shares her family history and the story of her Thai mother and American Air Force father who met in Thailand and married before moving to the United States in 1970. She talks about her upbringing in Las Vegas, Nevada near Nellis Air Force base with her six siblings. Christine discusses her beliefs of how her newly immigrated mother adapted to American life, including altering her recipes to fit her husband's taste and reducing her visits to nearby Buddhist temples.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Phyllis Syzdek conducted by an unknown fifth grader on April 24, 2009 and is part of the UNLV University Libraries Oral History Collection. Syzdek opens her interview by discussing her childhood during the Great Depression, and moving around the United States often as her father searched for work. She then talks about moving to a small farm town in Colorado for her high school years. Sydek then recalls December 07, 1941 and where she was when she found out about the Pearl Harbor bombing. She remembers that her town had a considerable Japanese American population but they were not sent to internment camps because of their farm work. She then describes how World War II affected her, how young people helped the war effort, and her sister's service in the United States Marine Corps. Syzdek then discusses what life was like in the 1940s, how much things cost during that time, and what she remembers from when she was in 5th grade. Lastly, Syzdek talks about her adult life and family.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jim Jones conducted by Patrick Carlton on October 28, 2002 for the UNLV @ 50 Oral History Project. In this interview, Jones discusses different points in his career. He begins by talking about his early years in elementary school and his later years while attending Las Vegas High School. Jones discusses being a Las Vegas, Nevada native and becoming a dentist after a few years of graduate school. He discusses the different wars that took place over the years, and talks about his time serving in the military during the Korean War. Some of his most memorable experiences mainly revolved around being a traveling dentist.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Joey Trujillo conducted by David G. Schwartz on October 08, 2008 for the Remembering Jay Sarno Oral History Project. In this interview, Trujillo discusses his personal experience with Jay Sarno as his barber at Caesars Palace Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. He recalls gambling with Sarno and tells anecdotes of their friendship. Lastly, Trujillo discusses the death of Sarno in 1984.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Paul Kopczak conducted by Claytee D. White on September 04, 2012 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Kopczak begins the interview by discussing his family history and personal history in the United States Air Force before moving to Las Vegas, Nevada with his wife in the 1980s. He then describes his career working for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas as a storekeeper for Lied Library, explaining his job duties and how the university has changed since he began working there. Lastly, Kopczak also talks about various library employees and administrators he has worked with, and life in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jeanne Brown conducted by Claytee D. White on November 07, 2017 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Brown discusses her upbringing and growing up in a family who moved often. She talks about her initial interest in library science, and compares working as a university librarian to working as a public librarian. Brown remembers arriving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1978, joining the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) Architecture Library, and the construction of the UNLV School of Architecture building. Lastly, Brown discusses the future of UNLV Libraries.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Elizabeth Garrison conducted by Walter John Ritzau on February 25, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Garrison first talks about her schooling in Las Vegas, Nevada, the atomic testing, the Devils Hole in Ash Meadows, early church involvement, and some of the environmental aspects of Las Vegas. Garrison later describes her work for the Central Telephone Company and the Helldorado Parade.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Archie Curtis conducted by Lawrence R. Biggs on March 07, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Curtis discusses athletics in Nevada, racial discrimination on the Las Vegas, Nevada Strip, social and environmental changes, and the local health effects of the early atomic tests.
Archival Collection