Oral history interview with Horacio Lopez conducted by Laurents Banuelos on September 05, 2018 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. In this interview, Lopez discusses his early life in Cordova, New Mexico and arriving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1963. He recalls the establishment of the Nevada Association of Latin Americans (NALA), the increase of Latin Americans in the southwest region of the United States, and his role as the Vice President of the Latin Chamber of Commerce. Lastly, Lopez discusses his thoughts on the future of Latino culture.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Paul Pradia conducted by Claytee D. White on July 13, 2010 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Pradia discusses living in Cameron, Louisiana and the natural disasters that he experienced. Pradia recalls joining the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program at Southern University (University of Nevada, Las Vegas) and later receiving a commission to the United States Army. He describes race-relations in the military during the early 1960s and his employment for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Lastly, Pradia discusses African American golfers and teaching golf professionally in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Leslie Mujica conducted by Barbrara Tabach on June 2, 2020 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project and The Great Pause: Las Vegas Chronicles of the Covid-19 Pandemic. In this interview, Mujica talks about her childhood growing up in Guatemala and immigrating to Southern California with her family in 1980. She discusses her move to Las Vegas in 2005 and her employment history both in nonprofit work and in construction, which led to the pursuit of her current position as the Executive Director and Chief Marketing Officer of Las Vegas Power Professionals. Leslie also shares her educational history with the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. It is where she obtained her Master's Degree in Public Administration and where Leslie currently serves as a board member of the Latinx Voices Project and the Alumni Legacy Board. Digital audio available; digital transcript available.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Ruby C. Leavitt conducted by her grandson, Patton Alberti, on November 30, 1986 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Leavitt describes her early childhood in Genoa, Nevada, and then discusses moving to different towns in northern Nevada while working as a teacher. Leavitt also discusses the expansion of Reno, Nevada and her time attending University of Nevada, Reno in the 1920s.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Liz Butler conducted by David Schwartz on September 27, 2010 for the UNLV Libraries Oral History Collection. Butler explains that she has worked as a cocktail waitress at the El Cortez Hotel and Casino since the early 1970s. She describes what the casino was like, the types of entertainment, and the less developed nature of North Las Vegas, Nevada during this early period. She also talks about the level of racial prejudice that existed in Las Vegas, something that she compared unfavorably to her hometown of Newark, New Jersey. Finally, she discusses the details of her job, good and bad bosses, problems with customers, and how she deals with underage patrons.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Larry Davis conducted by Barbara Tabach on October 14, 2020 for The Great Pause: Las Vegas Chronicles of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Born and raised in Southern California, Larry moved to Las Vegas in 1995 to work in the funeral services industry. He describes the changes he has seen during his career during the past 40 years with particular regard to recent challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Norman Christiansen conducted by James Courtney on November 28, 1986 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Christiansen describes his family, and background before moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1956 from Montana. Christiansen then talks about working at the Nevada Test Site and about his career as a teacher. He speaks about the various changes he has noticed over the years in Las Vegas, including those in climate, pollution, economy, occupation, and standard of living.
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews with Robert List conducted by Claytee D. White on December 10, 2018, January 11, 2019, May 3, 2019, May 7, 2019, and June 12, 2019 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Robert List, former Governor of Nevada and Nevada Attorney General, recounts his early life and his summers spent on a family ranch in Northern Nevada. List details moving to Carson City in 1951, eventually practicing law, and recounts various experiences leading up to his political career. He elaborates on the events that happened during and after his term, including his involvement in an operation to clear the Mob out of many Las Vegas, Nevada hotels, such as the Tropicana, the Stardust, and the Riviera. List explains how his term helped Las Vegas move away from the influence of organized crime.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with William Murphy conducted by Donald Sutherland on February 20, 1972 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Murphy discusses his life in Henderson, Nevada. Murphy describes the growth of the city and briefly talks about subjects such as atomic bomb testing, indoor heating, and his career in the U.S. Navy.
Archival Collection