Oral history interview with Leonard Ray Pearson conducted by Steve Alvarado in 1974 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Pearson shares experiences of arriving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1950. Pearson later talks about the changes and development that Las Vegas went through.
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews with Patricia Vazquez conducted by Marcela Rodriguez-Campo, Monserrath Hernandez, and Rodrigo Vazquez on November 14, 2018 and June 14, 2019 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. In these interviews, Vazquez discusses growing up in Las Vegas, Nevada before moving to Mexico. She talks about the transition of moving back to the United States from Mexico in 1970. Vazquez then describes how she was selected for special education in elementary school because she did not speak English, her education experience in the Clark County School District, and later being placed into Advanced Placement classes. She then shares coming out as a lesbian, her family dynamics after announcing her sexuality, and talks about what it is like to come out in the Latinx community. Vazquez describes her art and explains that her paintings depict moments in her life that defined her as a person. Later, Vazquez describes her involvement in queer activism in Las Vegas through the Latino Youth Leadership Conference and Planned Parenthood. Lastly, Vazquez discusses her involvement in diverse hiring committees for the College of Southern Nevada (CSN), which is a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), and teaching literature courses at CSN.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Chris Giunchigliani conducted by Stefani Evans and Claytee D. White on October 20, 2016 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. Giunchigliani talks about her career in the Nevada State Assembly, as a Clark County Commissioner, and as a Clark County School District special education teacher.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Michael Mack conducted by Barbara Tabach on May 20, 2015 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. Mack discusses his early memories in the Las Vegas, Nevada Jewish community, attending the Fifth Street School, and participating in activities with his friends. He also reminisces about going to the Flamingo Hotel with his parents to see floor shows.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Elaine Newton conducted by Cecilia Winchell, Kristel Peralta, and Vanessa Concepcion on May 19, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project.
Elaine Newton shares her family's history living in Hawaii and Japan, and memories from her childhood growing up with her six siblings in Honolulu. She talks about becoming a flight attendant for Pan American World Airways and how she met her former husband, Wayne Newton, after a stop in Vietnam. Elaine recalls their courtship and marriage as well as what Las Vegas life, fashion, and entertainment were like during the 1980s. She also speaks about racial discrimination and anti-asian violence in the past and present.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Raymond Oscar Breyfogle conducted by Suzanne Snyder on March 15, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Breyfogle discusses his personal history and Nevada’s history, highlighting the Nevada ghost towns.
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews with the Genovese Family conducted by Shirley Emerson on August 20, August 29, September 05, and September 13, 2013 for the West Charleston Neighborhoods: An Oral History Project of Ward 3. In these interviews, the Genoveses (Robert, Ann, Joseph, Patrick, and David) discuss their lives in Las Vegas, Nevada since 1963. The family discusses the growth and development of Las Vegas and Robert and Anne's home in McNeil Estates. They talk about Robert’s career as a musician, the city’s recession in 1964, and the influence of organized crime in Las Vegas. Joseph recalls the development of Henderson and Boulder City, Nevada, his career in land development, and local government in the 1970s and 1980s. Later, Patrick discusses Las Vegas’ dependency on gaming industry taxes and the need for industry diversification. He talks about the lack of government investment in public goods, public education challenges, and water supply issues. Lastly, David recalls public school integration, attending a sixth grade center, and what it was like when the Nevada Test Site conducted nuclear explosions.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Marla Letizia conducted by Barbara Tabach on August 26, 2015 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. Letizia discusses living in Las Vegas, Nevada since the age of two. She talks about her activity in the Jewish community, owning the Letizia Agency with her husband, and the mobile billboards business.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jolie Brislin conducted by Barbara Tabach on April 21, 2017 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. In this interview, Brislin discusses her family background and upbringing in Redwood City, California. She remembers moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1991, her involvement in the Jewish community, and going on a trip to Israel. Brislin talks about joining the Anti-Defamation League, becoming the Regional Director of the organization in 2015, and her mentors at the time. Lastly, Brislin discusses the rise of hate acts towards minority groups across the country, and the issue of cyber-bullying.
Archival Collection