Oral history interview with J. A. Tiberti conducted by Terry Mowbray on February 23, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Tiberti discusses his personal history before arriving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1941 as a civil engineer for Nellis Air Force Base. Tiberti recalls the plane crash involving Carole Lombard in 1942 and describes his work in assisting to locate the plane. He then discusses the construction projects he worked on and environmental changes around Las Vegas. Lastly, Tiberti describes his construction company, J. A. Tiberti Construction.
Oral history interviews with Kevin M. Kelly conducted by Dennis McBride on September 08 and 22; and November 10, 2000 for the Las Vegas Gay Archives Oral History Project. In the interviews, Kelly talks about his family and early life in Boston, Massachusetts with a focus on his Catholic upbringing. He recalls his law education, serving in the United States Army during the Vietnam War for eleven years, and discovering his sexuality in 1966 while working in the Boston City Hospital. Kelly then describes being discharged from the military due to allegations of being gay, and his family's reaction. He then recalls moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1978, where he was involved in a robbery and shooting incident with a male sex worker in 1982. Kelly goes on to recall the trial that proceed the incident and how it publicly outed him. He details how he was charged with felony sodomy and ultimately lost his job as a result of the trial. Finally, he talks about serving on a task force to investigate bias in Nevada's court system in 1992 and being honored in 1994 by the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada for his work.
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.
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.
Oral history interview with D. D. (Ethel Dolores) Cotton conducted by Claytee White on February 14, 1997 and March 21, 1997 for the Women's Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN) Las Vegas Women Oral History Project. In this interview, Cotton discusses the beginnings of her dance career in New York City, New York. Later in the interview, Cotton discusses working in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Cotton Club and her interactions with other African American entertainers. Cotton also discusses race relations and her experiences as an African American dancer in Las Vegas. Cotton later goes on to discuss her career change in the service industry.
Oral history interview with S. J. Johnson conducted by Claytee D. White on May 24, 2016 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Johnson discusses his early life in Indianapolis, Indiana and living on his family's farm. He recalls joining the United States Air Force, adjusting to life outside of the family farm, and experiencing discrimination while serving. Johnson talks about being stationed in Panama, joining the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI), and becoming a military officer. Later, Johnson discusses his move to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1982, attending the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and obtaining his teaching license. Lastly, Johnson talks about the importance of education.
Oral history interview with Nancy Siegert Shepherd conducted by Claytee D. White on October 22, 2024 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Shepherd recalls growing up in Illinois with her family and attending Catholic mass services. Shepherd attended Northwestern University where she met her current husband during her freshman year and married after graduation. She recalls relocating several times with her husband to accommodate her husband John's beginning medical practice in ophthalmology. She remembers one city where they lived, Anniston, Alabama, where Shepherd faced segregation including separate drinking fountains, waiting rooms, and bathrooms. Las Vegas, Nevada was the family's last stop in 1968. Shepherd describes her various civic engagements and social organizations, including work related to Spring Mountain State Park, the Junior League of Las Vegas, Medical Wives, Great Basin National Park Foundation, St. Viator's School Board, and the Boys and Girls Club. Digital audio available; no transcript available.