Skip to main content

Search the Special Collections and Archives Portal

Search Results

Display    Results Per Page
Displaying results 1881 - 1890 of 631747

Donna Silva oral history interview

Identifier

OH-03891

Abstract

Oral history interview with Donna Silva conducted by Claytee D. White on February 6, 2023 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Silva recalls her childhood living in Los Angeles, California; Las Vegas, Nevada; Valdosta, Georgia; and Japan. When her family settled in Las Vegas, her family joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, but Silva later left the organization as a teenager. Throughout the interview, Silva recalls memories of the Rolling Stones, Steve Wynn, Elvis, and doing lighting work throughout the city as the first female to join the stagehand's union. Silva's work in the hotel/casino industry provides insight in work on the casino floor and behind the curtains of entertainment venues. She worked as a cocktail waitress, cigarette girl, and then backstage as a member of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees. Her passion later turned to working with the Rape Crisis Center, where Silva has acquired training that allows her to go to hospitals to assist patients.

Archival Collection

Kelly Benavidez oral history interview

Identifier

OH-03551

Abstract

Oral history interview with Kelly Benavidez conducted by Maribel Estrada Calderón on January 29, 2019 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. Laurents Bañuelos-Benitez also participates in the questioning. Kelly Benavidez is originally from San Francisco, California. Benavidez arrived in Las Vegas after her family spent two years in Mexico so her and her brother could learn Spanish. Benavidez and her family have remained in Las Vegas ever since. Kelly attended Area Technical Trade School for hotel management, and was then recruited by Mesa State College in Colorado. She currently works for Commissioner Lawrence Weekly. Her list of community involvement is extensive: Las Vegas-Clark County Library District Board, the Fernando Vargas Foundation, Las Vegas Latin Chamber of Commerce, Hispanics in Politics, Latina Network, among others. Subjects discussed include: Las Vegas, Commissioner Weekly, New York New York construction accident, and Spanish Language.

Archival Collection

Gai Phanalasy oral history interview

Identifier

OH-03894

Abstract

Oral history interview with Gai Phanalasy conducted by Jerwin Tiu, Cecilia Winchell, and Stefani Evans on April 7, 2023 for the Reflections: the Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. Born on a Thailand refugee camp, Soukpaseut "Gai" Phanalasy describes his early upbringing in many different countries. Due to political tension, Phanalasy's family had to move from their native Laos to seek refugee in countries like Thailand, the Philippines, and eventually were granted asylum in Nashville, Tennessee in 1981. There, the Phanalasy family had to learn to assimilate to American culture, receiving aid from several religious organizations and the local Laos community. Phanalasy went on to attend Middle Tennessee State University, where he majored in mass communications and later decided to enter a broadcasting program where he interned at a radio station in Tennessee. His passion for photography began in 2007, and through a connection, he received a job offer from Fox 5 News in Las Vegas, Nevada. Since then, Gai has enjoyed a career in photography, including working as the state photographer in Carson City. After several projects, he returned to Las Vegas to work as the Multimedia Production Specialist for the City of Las Vegas where he has received many awards for his work. Gai emphasizes his love for his community, Las Vegas, and his passion of photography.

Archival Collection

Nora Luna oral history interview

Identifier

OH-03510

Abstract

Oral history interview with Nora Luna conducted by Maribel Estrada Calderón and Barbara Tabach on November 07, 2018 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. Luna talks about the Las Vegas, Nevada Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), the Latin Chamber of Commerce, and the Nathan Adelson Hospice.

Archival Collection

Reverend Caesar Caviglia oral history interview

Identifier

OH-00353

Abstract

Oral history interview with Reverend Caesar Caviglia conducted by Susan Hanley on March 14, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Caviglia discusses the relationship between Catholic Schools in Las Vegas, Nevada. He also talks about the need for education in Henderson, Nevada and federal senior housing.

Archival Collection

Patricia (Kaye) Bowman oral history interview

Identifier

OH-00227

Abstract

Oral history interviews with Patricia (Kaye) Bowman conducted by an unidentified interviewer ranging from November 16, 1978 to January of 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Bowman discusses life as America's first Prima Ballerina.

Archival Collection

Louis Family oral history interviews

Identifier

OH-02187

Abstract

Oral history interviews with the family of Joe Louis conducted by Claytee D. White on November 18, 2014 and February 06, 2015 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In these interviews, the family of Joe Louis discuss his life and career as a famous African American boxer from the 1930s to 1950s. They describe charity fights he held to raise money for the Navy Relief Fund during World War II, which later became an issue for him when the Internal Revenue Service claimed he still owed taxes on the money he raised despite it being donated. The family discusses what it was like growing up and meeting celebrity friends of Louis', such as Frank Sinatra and Muhammad Ali, Louis' involvement with the Moulin Rouge Hotel-Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Louis' status as an African American sports hero. They also detail his eventual retirement from boxing, his job working as a greeter at Caesars Palace, and his death.

Archival Collection

Nancy Mallette oral history interview

Identifier

OH-02556

Archival Collection

Rodrigo Vazquez oral history interview

Identifier

OH-03769

Abstract

Oral history interview with Rodrigo Vazquez conducted by Nathalie Martinez and Barbara Tabach on May 24, 2021 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project.

Rodrigo was raised in a mixed status Mexican family. He was born in Mexico and immigrated to the United States at the age of three, later becoming a citizen when he was in the 8th grade. Rodrigo is currently a graduate student worker for the Latinx Voices Oral History Project and reflects on what he has learned. He also discusses what the past year of the Coronavirus pandemic has been like for him.

Subjects discussed include: Latinx and Mexican identities, COVID-19 era, and Latinx Voices Project oral historian

Archival Collection

Randy Char oral history interview

Identifier

OH-03825

Abstract

Oral history interview with Randy Char conducted by Cecelia Winchell and Stefani Evans on December 15, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project.

Randy discusses his family history, his childhood growing up in California, and his undergraduate education. He shares his employment history that ranged from selling life insurance to trading stocks and finally selling luxury real estate. Randy talks about pursuing an MBA program at Pepperdine University during the 2008 financial crisis and how his capstone project idea of luxury real estate lounges helped him to open his own brokerage in Las Vegas in 2014 before becoming a real estate broker for Sotheby's. Randy also shares his thoughts on diversity within Asian cultures and different Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) organizations that helped him to "reclaim his Asian identity" including the Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA) and the Leaders Forum.

Archival Collection