Oral history interview with Nanyu Tomiyasu conducted by Mark French on April 12, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Tomiyasu begins by discussing his father's immigration from Japan to North America in 1898, and his move to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1916. He talks about his father's work in agriculture and the types of crops grown in Las Vegas during the early twentieth century. Tomiyasu also discusses his own upbringing in Las Vegas, how the city has changed and grown, and his education. Tomiyasu describes the Native Americans of Southern Nevada, the environmental changes caused by the construction of the Hoover Dam (Boulder Dam), and his experiences as a Japanese American in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Lydi Owen-Martin conducted by Joann Brown on October 17, 1985 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In the interview, Owens-Martin discusses her experiences as a lay midwife, mother, and housewife after moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1968. Owens-Martin also discusses the history of midwifery in Nevada and her education.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Dean Pulsipher conducted by Dennis McBride on August 19, 1986 for the Boulder City Library Oral History Project. In this interview, Pulsipher discusses his early life in St. Thomas, Nevada and Bunkerville, Nevada. He remembers traveling to Las Vegas, Nevada as early as 1905, moving to Las Vegas in the early 1920s, and the significance of the railroad at the time. Pulsipher describes living through the prohibition era, paving the road from Las Vegas to Searchlight, Nevada, and the construction of the Hoover Dam.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Angela Castro conducted by Stefani Evans, Cecilia Winchell, Kristel Peralta, Vanessa Concepcion, and Ayrton Yamaguchi on November 05, 2020 for the Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. Castro begins the interview by talking about her early life, childhood, what Guam was like, and the history of her parents and grandparents. She describes the difference in public and private education in Guam and compares it to the United States. She explains the reason why she moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1998 and attended the University of Nevada, Las Vegas for public relations. Castro then talks about the differences between older and newer generations, the political atmosphere in Guam, and the differences between the United States and Guam in politics. She also talks about the discrimination she has experienced throughout her life and diversity in the workplace. Lastly, she describes her culture and traditions during holidays, the struggles with an absence of culture within her family, and her personal religious beliefs.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with William G. Flangas conducted by David Emerson on September 27, 2006 for the UNLV @ 50 Oral History Project. In this interview William Flangas speaks about working for Reynolds Electric/Engineering Company, being appointed to the State Public Works Board, and being an intermediary for communication between the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Reynolds Electric/Engineering Company, and the State Public Works Board.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with George Pollak conducted by Lisa Gioia-Acres on May, 25, 2010 for the All That Jazz Oral History Project. Pollak discusses breaking into the music industry and attending accounting school and working as an accountant while still performing in clubs. He also discusses playing with his band at Caesars Palace Hotel and the Tropicana Hotel, African-Americans in the music industry, and drug use among musicians. Pollak then discusses how Las Vegas, Nevada has changed, in terms of the entertainment industry.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Greg Phelps conducted by Claytee D. White on November 15, 2017 for the Remembering 1 October Oral History Project. Greg Phelps discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 2002 for work and attending the 2017 Route 91 Harvest festival with his mother and wife. He describes the event venue as well as his recollection of the shooting. Phelps explains how his life changed after that day, describing the true friendships he gained and his greater appreciation for living.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview of Fateen Seifullah conducted by Claytee D. White on October 28, 2020 for African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project.
Fateen Seifullah was born in Compton, California and was surrounded by gang culture from a very early age. As a teenager when he and his family moved to Las Vegas in the early 1980s, he began participating in gang activity. Fateen describes his knowledge about gang operations, drug "rules," and prison time. He also discusses his participation as a Muslim mosque leader in the Historic Westside Las Vegas, his "Iman" (faith and beliefs), and his work in the past decade to push gang activity and drug use out of the community.
Subjects discussed include: Compton, California; drug culture; Muslim philosophy; Iman; and Code of Justice.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jennifer Lanahan conducted by Jerwin Tiu on September 11, 2023 for Reflections: the Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. Born in Daegu, South Korea, Jennifer Lanahan fondly remembers her childhood growing up in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Lanahan had been adopted at a young age and grew up aware of this fact, but never felt different from her family because of it. Her father, with Irish roots, was a retired military sergeant for the U.S. Air Force. While her mother, with German roots, spent her time volunteering at veterans hospitals. Lanahan spent a majority of her life in Green Bay, eventually obtaining a degree at the University of Wisconsin, Green Bay in Spanish with a minor in linguistics. Shortly after, Lanahan moved to Hawaii to obtain a masters degree in Spanish but pivoted to earning a degree in legal studies at Arizona State University. Growing up in a predominately white community, Lanahan recalls having complex feelings about her Asian heritage. However, after moving to Hawaii for a year and then eventually Las Vegas, Nevada in 2012, she began to embrace her Asian heritage and engage more in different aspects of her Korean culture. After obtaining her law degree from the Boyd School of Law at UNLV, Lanahan went on to work as a litigation attorney for a few years. She now works as a lobbyist and serves as a board member for the Las Vegas AAPI Chamber of Commerce.
Archival Collection