Oral history interview with Kathleen Bryan Gaston conducted by Niki Rodriguez on March 17, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview Kathleen Gaston talks about moving to Las Vegas, Nevada, how Las Vegas looked when she was growing up, the growth of Las Vegas, the schools she attended, and the growth of the Las Vegas Strip.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Joe Cortez conducted by Laurents Bañuelos-Benitez on November 29, 2018 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. In this interview, Cortez discusses his early life in New York City, New York and growing up in the Spanish Harlem. He talks about Puerto Rican traditions he participated in, his early interest in boxing, competing in the Golden Glove tournaments, and becoming a boxing referee. Cortez recalls some of the biggest fights he refereed, and being inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame in 2011. Lastly, Cortez discusses the boxing rivalry between Mexican and Puerto Rican boxers, and the future of boxing.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Mimi Rodden conducted by Claytee White on April 9, 2009 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Rodden begins by discussing her family's Basque heritage from their immigration to California and then into northern Nevada. She then discusses her immediate family, especially her mother, and the beginning of ther own volunteer work, which led to a lifelong interest in historic preservation that began with fundraising for the Nevada State Museum. After moving to Las Vegas, Nevada, Rodden continued working on historic preservation activities around the Keil Ranch and other historic sites in Clark County. Her work led to a Presidential selection for the National Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. She then discusses her move to Boulder City, Nevada and her work on the preservation of Tonopah Mining District.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Freddy Chavez conducted by Marcela Rodriguez Campo, Laurents Bañuelos-Benitez, Maribel Estrada Calderon, and Barbara Tabach on February 7, 2019 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. In this interview, Chavez recalls his early life and childhood in Bolivia, where he was born. Chavez talks about why he left his home country and the experiences he had in Brazil. After spending a few years in Brazil, Chavez came to the United States on a student visa to learn English. He discusses his immigration to Florida and his brief marriage. In 2001, Chavez made his way to Las Vegas, Nevada where he founded the Las Vegas Carnaval International, a parade celebrating Mardi Gras and the cultures that celebrate it. Chavez discusses his experience working with parades and his passion for event organizing, as well as his civic engagements.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Joeseph L. Haughaboo conducted by James F. Haughaboo on April 01, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. The two discuss Haughaboo’s personal family history, his occupational history, and Mr. Haughaboo’s observations of Las Vegas city life since he moved to the state in 1953.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jose Alvarez conducted by Kendall Worthington, Chava Haron, Dr. Norma Lisa Flores, and Claytee D. White on November 28, 2018 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. In this interview, Jose Alvarez talks about his early life in Buenos Aires, Argentina, sharing what it was like growing up there. He shares his family history as well as his immigration to the United States. He first moved to New York City, New York, working as a dishwasher and/or busboy in New York City restaurants and resorts in the Catskills. In 1968, Alvarez moved to Las Vegas, Nevada when he got a job at the Landmark Hotel. He shares his experiences working in the hospitality industry for 22 years. Alvarez also discusses playing and watching soccer.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Henry Clay Davis conducted by Wendy Christian on March 05, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Davis discusses his personal life history as a resident of Las Vegas, Nevada. He discusses hunting and fishing, employment, railroads, hotels, the Davis Dam, and Lake Mead. Additionally, he offers a detailed description of the Helldorado parade.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with K. Oscar Knudson conducted by Dorothy O'Hara on an unknown date in 1974 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Knudson discusses his personal history in Las Vegas, Nevada and recalls positive economic changes that Southern Nevada had as a result of tourism.
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews with Olmedo Hoyos conducted by Marcela Rodriguez-Campo on October 29, 2018 and November 9, 2018 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. Hoyos talks about his childhood, family, and work life in Bogota, Colombia. He talks about his struggles as a young child, his community, and poverty. He talks about Colombian culture and traditions and how he included that in his restaurants. Hoyos then explains the problems and corruption that was happening in Colombia and the Revolutionary Movement of Laborers (MOIR). He immigrated to the United States twice and spoke about his journey, the discrimination between ethnicities, and difference in treatment of Mexicans and Colombians in jail. He recounted his process of getting a permit, residence, and citizenry. He explains why he moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 2000 and his past jobs. He describes the process of opening up a restaurant, making it the first Colombian restaurant in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection