Oral history interview with George Albright conducted on April 13, 1972 for an unspecified project. In this interview, Albright first talks about his background in operating appliance businesses before discussing his role in creating building plans for the Hoover (Boulder) Dam. He later talks about his experience working with the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, the Clark County Board of County Commissioners, and specific details on how conventions were planned in the various Las Vegas Strip properties.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Sergio Salgado conducted by Laurents Banuelos-Benitez and Rodrigo Vazquez on September 26, 2018 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada oral history project. In this interview, Sergio Salgado briefly discusses his childhood and family experiences in Juarez, Mexico, where he was born. He arrived in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1960 to work in the kitchens of the Nellis Air Force Base. Salgado discusses his work in the restaurant industry and reflects on the changes in the industry. He also shares his experiences meeting famous people, like Joe Pesci, the Rat Pack, and John F. Kennedy. Salgado recalls his work as an editorial columnist for El Mundo and discusses his involvement as a founding member of The Mexican Social Club. Finally, he discusses immigration and his feelings on his immigration process.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Reverend Jerome Blankinship conducted by Claytee D. White on November 24, 2004 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Jerome Blankinship discusses founding the University Methodist Church in 1966. He also discusses teaching nursing at University of Nevada, Las Vegas and being the senior chaplain at Sunrise Hospital.
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews with Rozita Lee conducted by Stefani Evans, Cecilia Winchell, Kristel Peralta, Vanessa Concepcion, Jerwin Tiu, and Su Kim Chung on June 1, 2021, April 12, 2022, and May 18, 2023 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. Rozita shares her experiences growing up on a sugar plantation with her family in Hawaii. She talks about the benefits her family received and the "privileged" life she led with her father as the plantation boss, allowing her household to have electricity, plumbing, and a telephone. Rozita discusses her use of Pidgin English amongst her peers and "good English" in her household, and the roles and responsibilities her parents had working on the plantation. She shares what life was like day to day and what she remembers growing up during World War II including hearing air raid sirens and hanging blackout curtains in her home. Rozita also talks about meeting her husband, Clifford Lee, in high school, their marriage in 1979, and how the couple came to move to Las Vegas. In the second interview, Lee discusses pursuing a bachelor's degree at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), working with Governor Miller and Bob Bailey, and her involvement in a Polynesian show at Imperial Palace for eighteen years.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Chelsie Campbell conducted by Maribel Estrada Calderón, Laurents Bañuelos-Benítez, and Nathalie Martínez on January 09, 2019 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. In this interview, Campbell discusses her family background and growing up in Las Vegas, Nevada. She talks about her educational experience, her early interest in becoming a lobbyist, and her involvement with the Latin Chamber of Commerce and the Student Organization of Latinos (SOL). Campbell recalls the growth of SOL across Las Vegas, the organization’s efforts with The Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act, and attending the Boyd Law School at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). Lastly, Campbell discusses the Latino Enrichment Conference (LEC), the Latin Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals, and Chicanos Por La Causa Nevada (CPLC).
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Madeleine and Will Bradley conducted by Claytee D. White on October 11, 2021 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project.
Madeleine Bradley and her son Will discuss their familial ties to Henry Benjamin Cave, a Confederate soldier, by his widow Daisy Cave. Madeleine and Will talk about the Civil War, life in South Carolina compared to Nevada, and Will's occupation as a pilot. Will also shares his experiences with the military and serving during Operation Desert Storm.
Subjects discussed include: Confederacy; Daisy Cave; Civil War pension.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Carl Esteban conducted by William Bailey on December 2, 2022 for the Reflections: the Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. In this interview, Esteban recalls growing up in Salinas, California in a predominantly Asian community before relocating with family to Las Vegas, Nevada in 2002. As a first generation Filipino America, Esteban's mother sacrificed her life in the Philippines to become the sole person in her family to immigrate to America. Esteban received his degree in Special Education and is currently pursuing to a master's degree in the same field. Esteban is currently a special education educator at the Yvonne Atkinson-Gates Center in North Las Vegas. Throughout the interview, Esteban discusses a wide range of topics spanning from his family migration story, his early childhood, his Filipino identity, Asian stereotypes as the model minority, and how his mentors helped shape him into the person he is today.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Maria Benítez conducted by Monserrath Hernández and Maribel Estrada Calderón on June 21, 2019 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. Maria Benítez is the image of a hardworking and determined Salvadoran woman. After facing adversity amidst the Salvadorian Civil War she talks about her journey as a nurse in El Salvador and migrating to the United States. Here in Las Vegas, she has worked as a cook on the Strip, been an active member of her church, and supported the education of her children selling pupusas. Subjects discussed include: El Salvador, Salvadorian Civil War, Migration, US Citizenship Documentation, and Judaism.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Aubrey “Bud” Weil conducted by Claytee White on December 09, 2003 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Weil discusses working as a disc jockey and radio broadcaster at the KENO radio station in Las Vegas, Nevada and the stars he interviewed on his show.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Steven Kwon conducted by Stefani Evans on October 1, 2024 for the Reflections: the Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. In this interview, Kwon begins by describing his childhood in Seoul, Korea as the youngest of three children during the Korean conflict. In 1960, he served his compulsory military service, which was 18 months for students. In 1964, he followed a friend's recommendation to go to Denmark and attend the folk high school (now the International People's College) to immerse himself in the Danish language, history, and community. He spent one year at the folk high school and later attended the College of Building Technology at the University of Denmark. While he was in his final year, Las Vegas, Nevada architect James McDaniel recruited him to join his firm, which he did in December 1974. After working with McDaniel for one year, he joined Jack Miller Associates for three years and David Welles/Architronics before opening his own design/build firm, GKG Builders in 1986, which he claims was the first Las Vegas firm to offer both services. Soon after arriving in Las Vegas, he joined the Lions Club and Rotary International and, in 1986 created Southern Nevada's first Asian Chamber of Commerce. He also worked with various politicians at different levels of government to encourage South Korean investment in Las Vegas and Nevada, eventually forming a sister-city relationship between Las Vegas, Nevada, and An San, Korea. Lastly, Kwon recalls how he came to design and build the International Peace Education Center (IPEC) on Bermuda Road for the Reverend Sun Myung Moon, founder of the Unification Church, shortly before Moon passed away.
Archival Collection