Oral history interview with Clara Alvarez conducted by Norma Flores and Claytee D. White on October 25, 2018 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. Brian "Paco" Alvarez also participated in the interview. Clara Alvarez describes her family background and her childhood in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She recalls dropping out of high school to work, memories of early jobs, and why she moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1966. She secured her first position at the Sands Hotel as a maid during a time when that job position was held almost exclusively by Black women. Alvarez describes her time working at the Sands Hotel, and recalls meeting Frank Sinatra and his wife. After working as a maid, she was recruited to deal games in clubs and casinos, and was the first woman to deal at the Las Vegas Club. Then, Alvarez explains the changes in racial discrimination in the city, and says she never felt discriminated against in Las Vegas. Lastly, she talks about moving back to Florida and what she did while living there.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with James Harris Johnson III conducted by Claytee D. White on May 6, 2021 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project.
Johnson was born in Las Vegas where his father landed as a result of his Air Force career. His mother's work as a short-time horticulturist at the MGM Mirage led to a scholarship for his higher education at University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV).
After graduating, Johnson left Las Vegas to advance his career, working as an anchor in Laredo, Texas; Bakersfield, California; and Omaha, Nebraska.
Racism in Omaha was more overt and damaging than in other cities, thus prompting Johnson and his family to move back to Las Vegas and resume the work he loves. To his credit, Johnson has earned three Emmy Awards because of his artistry in anchoring, reporting, editing, shooting, interviewing, producing, and writing. James Johnson presently works as a cameraman/photojournalist for Channel 3 CBS News.
Subjects discussed include: Channel 3; Fox 5; Emmy Awards; Bakersfield; and MGM Scholarship
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Elgin Holbert Jr. conducted by Claytee D. White on April 28, 2021 for African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project.
Elgin Holbert Jr. discusses growing up in the Westside community of Las Vegas, the activities he participated in as a child, community leaders he admired, and his observations of mixed family life (as his father was Black and his mother was white). Elgin also speaks of his work as a Red Cap on the Union Pacific Railroad (UPR), his time at Nevada Power, and his experience dealing cards at various Las Vegas casinos including the Riviera Hotel and Casino (for 15 years), the Tropicana Las Vegas (for 15 years), and the Treasure Island Hotel (for 20 years).
Subjects discussed include: Viola Cunningham; Union Pacific Railroad; Riviera Hotel and Casino; Tropicana Las Vegas Hotel Casino; Treasure Island Hotel; Cotton Bowl; Jimmy Gay; Jefferson Recreational Center; and Eleanor Walker
Archival Collection
The Elizabeth and Charles Pratt Personal Papers consist of correspondence, travel information, and photographs from the Pratt family dating from 1895 to 1953. The majority of correspondence in the collection is between Charles Pratt and his wife, Alice Elizabeth Margaret "Diane" Pratt. The collection also contains correspondence between Elizabeth Pratt's parents and her literary journals from her time attending Swarthmore College, in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Dr. Kevin L. Wright conducted by Claytee D. White on July 28, 2021 for African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project.
Dr. Kevin Wright discusses his childhood in Las Vegas and the influential women who have mentored him throughout his life. He talks of his education at the Gilbert Magnet School for Communications & Creative Arts in Las Vegas, his current professional pursuits as a part-time instructor in the College of Education, and his community involvement as a member of both Alpha Phi Omega and the National Service fraternities. Dr. Wright also shares his employment history within University of Nevada, Las Vegas where he previously worked in departments related to residential life, student activities, TRIO Training Institute programs (Talent Search, Upward Bound, and Student Support Service), student affairs, student diversity, and leadership.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Wendell Phillips Williams conducted by Claytee D. White on October 4, 2021 for African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project.
Wendell Phillips Williams discusses his childhood and education in Louisiana before moving to Las Vegas in 1977. Williams talks of his time teaching for the Clark County School District (CCSD), his radio program "Straight Talk" on KCEP's Power 88.1 radio station, the Crystal Apple Award he received as an educator from CCSD, and how he started the now-longest standing Martin Luther King Jr. parade in the United States. Williams shares his passion for Black history and education as well as the bills he championed as a Nevada State Assemblyman from 1987-2001. He also discusses the historical details of how Madison Elementary School was rebuilt and became the Wendell Phillips Williams Elementary School in 2002.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Judge John F. Mendoza conducted by an unnamed interviewer on the dates September 30, 2005, October 14, 2005, and October 21, 2005 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Mendoza talks about his early life and his childhood while growing up in the Westside area of Las Vegas, Nevada. He details the lives of his grandparents as they lived through the Mexican Revolution. Mendoza describes how he grew up in a diverse community that consisted of people from different backgrounds and cultures. A big part of his childhood was when he would sell newspapers to people in public places like bars. He talks about his career and explains that he completed and graduated from law school after being discharged from the United States Army. A crucial event that took place during Mendoza's time in law school was the rise of Communism, and he explains that students and professors in his law school had various perspectives on how Communism would influence the government.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Amanda "Alex" Aikens conducted by Barbara Tabach on December 28, 2017 for the Remembering 1 October Oral History Project. In this interview, Aikens discusses the support she provided for the community after the October 1, 2017 shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada along with the event at First Friday that she organized to provide counseling services for those in need. She describes her usage of Facebook as a social media platform to keep the community posted on the shooting as well as any advice and resources for those who wanted to help. Aikens expands upon her realization that people felt the need to contribute and discusses her efforts to gather a group of therapy volunteers that eventually grew so large an event space was needed. In addition to the volunteers who provided counseling and other event functions, she mentions a few of the companies that made the event possible with a donation of resources, such as First Friday that offered room space and a nearby office that supplied furniture.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Dr. Deborah Kuhls conducted by Barbara Tabach on December 29, 2017 for the Remembering 1 October Oral History Project. In this interview, doctor Deborah A. Kuhls describes the preparation and procedures implemented at the University Medical Center of Southern Nevada (UMC) during the night of the October 1, 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada. She describes her experiences from that night and into the next morning, starting from when the trauma center first learned about the shooting to when patients began arriving. She goes into detail on the hospital's Military-Civilian Trauma System Partnership, which allowed for the installation of a second trauma area to treat the large volume of patients. In addition to the events at the hospital, Kuhls talks about the flurry of activities during the week of the shooting, including interviews with various media, the statewide meeting for surgeons, fellows, and residents where "stop the bleed" training was provided, and general meetings with various government officials, including Donald Trump. Deborah Kuhls also discusses the emotional impact of the shooting and its aftermath as well as her goals for the future of trauma in the medical field.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Amber Diskin conducted by Barbara Tabach on January 5, 2018 for the Remembering 1 October Oral History Project. In this interview, Amber Diskin discusses her experience at the Route 91 Harvest music festival during the October 1, 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada. Diskin talks about finding her way home after escaping the crowds and letting her family and friends know she was not hurt. She speaks of the aftermath of the shooting, including how her children were affected, the post-traumatic stress disorder she developed, and how the shooting has affected her love of concerts. As a native Nevadan, she shares her views of Las Vegas and how her sense of community deepened after this event. Diskin ends the interview by discussing her appreciation for the first responders and the gift baskets she helped distribute to hospitals, police stations, and the fire department.
Archival Collection