Oral history interview with Astrid Silva conducted by Monserrath Hernández and Barbara Tabach on April 22, 2019 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. Astrid Silva was born in Gomez Palacio, Durango in 1988. She immigrated with her mother to the United States in 1992, where they were met by her father before flying to Los Angeles. She recounts her first impression of the United States and her families eventual move to Las Vegas, where she describes her time living in Las Vegas’ west side and struggles she faced being an undocumented student living in Las Vegas. She describes her first meeting with Senator Harry Reid and the friendship that developed afterwards. She has spoken at the Democratic National Convention and has been vocal about her status as a Dreamer. She is currently the Executive Director for DREAM Big Nevada which was established in 2017 in order to provide aid to Nevada’s immigrant families. She writes about her hopes for Dreamers and her continued work in expanding the ways that immigrant families can be helped in an always changing political climate. Subjects discussed include: DACA, Dreamers, Immigrant Rights, and Higher Education.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Hamed Ahmady conducted by Stefani Evans on March 22, 2023 for the Reflections: the Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. Interviewed by Stefani Evans. Culinary Union Local 226 organizer Hamed Ahmady recalls his childhood as the oldest of six children in Mazar-e Sharif in northern Afghanistan. As an child, he remembers hearing about the September 11, 2001 attack in New York while living in a Taliban-controlled city on a television connected to a concealed antenna that received signals from Uzbekistan. He recalls how, one month after he graduated high school, he became an translator for the U.S. Army, which he did for more than four years. He talks about securing his Special Immigrant Visa (SIV); landing in Los Angeles, California in 2013 and moving his family to the United States; and supporting his siblings and parents in Afghanistan. He also discusses relocating his family from California to Las Vegas, Nevada in 2018, finding a mosque community, and working with Culinary Union Local 226.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jack West conducted by Perry Kaufman on June 12, 1972 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, West discusses his experience and employment in the advertising industry in Las Vegas, Nevada. West also explains the significance of publicity campaigns for companies.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Norman Wood conducted by Karen Amell on March 01, 1980 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In his interview, Wood discusses his work with the Nevada Department of Wildlife and his interests in biology.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Robert H. Lias conducted by Verna M. Holley on March 02, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Lias describes life in early Las Vegas, Nevada after arriving in 1932, and his career as a postmaster.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Allan Kelly conducted by David Crawford III on March 28, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Kelly talks about living and growing up in early West Las Vegas, Nevada in the 1940s and 1950s. He specifically talks about his experiences growing up in a predominantly white neighborhood.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Mary Wilson conducted by Patricia Conerly on March 23, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview Wilson discusses her personal experiences in Las Vegas, Nevada as an African-American woman living in Las Vegas in the 1950s and onward.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Frank Bondi conducted by Janice Koukel on June 20, 1972 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Bondi discusses his personal history, early above-ground atomic testing, and economic, environmental and societal changes in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Gary Ostensen conducted by Claire McCoy on March 13, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. in this interview, Ostensen describes the difficulties that face bellmen in the hospitality industry in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ostensen later discusses the requirements to be a good bellmen.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Michael Drakulich conducted by Christopher Zockoll on October 02, 1972 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Drakulich discusses his personal Las Vegas, Nevada history from 1955 to 1972, including his career as the Rancho High School basketball coach.
Archival Collection