Oral history interview with Christine Barrett conducted by Claytee D. White on March 19, 2021 for African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project.
Christine Barrett talks of her educational background and previous employment history that led her from California to Massachusetts, Virginia, and California again before her final move to Las Vegas. She has worked in management positions related to Las Vegas Valley water use for 38 years, and in the past decade has begun working for the Clark County School District in various professional capacities.
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.
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Oral history interview with Myron E. Leavitt conducted by Thomas Neill on March 14, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In the interview, Leavitt discusses his childhood in Las Vegas, Nevada during 1930s. He describes recreational activities during the time, his education, his law practice, and his eventual position as Justice of the Peace between 1960 to 1962. Leavitt then discusses issues and events occurring during his life including city navigation, the Las Vegas creek, employment, the arrival of Howard Hughes, the economy, atomic testing, and World War II.
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Oral history interview with Gabriel Garcia conducted by Monserrath Hernandez and Barbara Tabach on November 13, 2019 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. In this interview, Garcia discusses his early life in Arizona and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1984. He remembers attending a sixth grade center, the Pacific Engineering and Production Company of Nevada (PEPCON) explosion, and attending Las Vegas High School. Garcia talks about Mexican culture in Las Vegas, car clubs, and becoming a graphic designer. Lastly, Garcia discusses his involvement with the Association of Latino Professionals for America, and the idea of diversifying the professional workplace.
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Oral history interview with Claudine Williams conducted by Joanne Goodwin on November 20, 1997 and November 09, 2005 for the Women's Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN) Las Vegas Women Oral History Project. Goodwin begins the interview by discussing growing up in Shreveport, Louisiana, and how she supported her single mother. She goes on to describe her education and early jobs in restaurants and newsstands in Texas. Goodman then talks about meeting her husband, Shelby Williams, and how she became involved in the gaming industry, including her work with Benny Binion in Dallas, Texas and Jake Freidman in Houston, Texas. She describes moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1963, and how she and Shelby developed the Silver Slipper Casino, which was sold to Howard Hughes, and Holiday Casino, which eventually became Harrah's Hotel and Casino. Williams also speaks about her community involvement, including philanthropic efforts at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
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Oral history interview with Dennis Wilson conducted by Lisa Gioia-Acres on October 2, 2007 for the All That Jazz Oral History Project. In this interview, Wilson discusses his early life in Arabi, Louisiana and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1971. He recalls playing a variety of woodwind instruments for Wayne Cochran, the C. C. Riders, and traveling across the United States during the 1970s. After traveling internationally for a brief period, Wilson returned to Las Vegas and began playing for bands in Las Vegas casinos. He recalls working on musicals such as Avenue Q, Spamalot, and Phantom of the Opera. Lastly, Wilson discusses teaching music as a paraprofessional at Johnson Junior High.
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Oral history interview with Paul Sorensen conducted by Bill Friday on February 27, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Sorensen discusses the history of Clark County and Las Vegas, Nevada. Sorensen discusses education in Las Vegas, reasons for the growth of Clark County, and the establishment of the Nevada Test Site. Sorensen later describes how Las Vegas and its school system has changed, and discusses who he believes are moving to live in Las Vegas the most. Sorensen goes on to discuss racial segregation in Las Vegas and racial integration in the schools via busing.
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Oral history interview with Sonny V. Mallari conducted by Chanele Mallari on November 26, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project.
Sonny Mallari talks about his childhood in Masantol, Pampanga province, Philippines with his five siblings. He discusses his family's immigration to Salinas, California and details of his life and parents' lives in the United States. Sonny shares stories of being bullied in school and what the immigration process was like from his point of view at the age of seven. He also talks about his professional work as a cook, moving to Las Vegas, Nevada for work, and becoming a Culinary Workers Union member.
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Oral history interview with Zach Mossman conducted by David Schwartz on January 05, 2017 for the Slot Operations Oral History Project. Mossman discusses being an executive through several Las Vegas, Nevada Strip properties such as the Aria Hotel and Casino, and the Treasure Island Hotel and Casino. Mossman then explains what drew him to slot operations, what guests want when playing slots, and the importance of time on device.
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Oral history interview with Vince Hart conducted by Andrew Bannister on February 21, 1980 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Vincent “Vince” Hart (born on July 7, 1945 in Jerusalem, Palestine) is interviewed in Hart’s office about his experience with youth soccer, both as a coach and as a player. Hart discusses his family background and his residential history in the United Kingdom and the United States before explaining the development of the men’s soccer team at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He describes his impact on the program and his hopes for future student athletes. The two then delve into a discussion of the fundamentals of soccer and different strategies that are commonly used. They then conclude with a brief description of Vince’s experiences with meeting a variety of professional soccer players at the Las Vegas Stadium.
Archival Collection