Oral history interview with Fluff LeCoque conducted by Joyce Marshall on May 05, 1997 for the Women's Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN) Las Vegas Women Oral History Project. LeCoque discusses the history of Las Vegas, Nevada’s entertainment industry. LeCoque recalls her dance experience in Las Vegas including work at the Thunderbird Hotel and Casino, and performing as a principal dancer for Arden-Fletcher Productions at the Desert Inn. LeCoque retired from dancing in 1970 but recalls being lured out of retirement by Donn Arden to become company manager of Jubilee at the new MGM Grand Hotel (later renamed Bally's). Finally, she talks about the economic, social, and political changes that occurred in Las Vegas after World War II.
Oral history interviews with Rob Schlegel conducted by Dennis McBride on various dates in March and April of 1998 for the Las Vegas Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Archives Oral History Project. In the interviews, Schlegel recalls his early life in Port Angeles, Washington, his conservative Baptist upbringing, and his early experiences with literature. Schlegel then discusses working with newspaper publications in high school and college, understanding his sexuality during college, his first gay sexual experience, and his first trip to Las Vegas, Nevada. He recalls working with Robert Lloyd "Bob" Brown at the Valley Times during this visit. Schlegel talks about moving to Las Vegas and working full-time as the production manager for the Valley Times. Schlegel explains becoming active in politics through his newspaper work, meeting notable casino executives, and financial and political controversies the Valley Times experienced in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He then describes coming out as gay, and working at the Nevada Gay Times beginning in 1985. Schlegel also talks about opening and managing the Bright Pink Literature bookstore in 1987 and starting a separate publication Night Beat in 1992. He then recalls co-founding Las Vegas Gay Pride and Southern Nevada Association of Pride, Inc., conflicts he had within the Las Vegas gay community, and working at the Gipsy nightclub as a secretary. Lastly, Schlegel discusses the repeal of Nevada's sodomy laws, homophobia, and memories of individuals and organizations associated with the Las Vegas gay community.
Oral history interview with J. David Hoggard conducted by Claytee White and unnamed interviewer on various dates in 1997, 1998, and 1999 for the Women's Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN). Hoggard discusses serving in World War II, being transferred to Nellis Air Force Base in 1945, and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada from New Jersey in 1946. He also recalls becoming one of the first African American police officers in Las Vegas, and working in the Clark County School District for 15 years. Hoggard then discusses his involvement with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), including serving as chapter president for four years.
The Kenny Kerr Papers (approximately 1973-2013) contain audiovisual materials, photographs, newspaper clippings, and ephemera that document the career of Las Vegas, Nevada female impersonator Kenny Kerr. The majority of the collection includes recordings of Kerr's performances, including his impersonation revue show This is Boy-Lesque. Audiovisual materials in this collection represent Kerr's performances in Las Vegas as well as around the United States, music used for Boy-Lesque, and an audiocassette recording of Kerr's song, "Uncle Sam Wants You." Other materials in this collection include Kerr's professional headshots and Boy-Lesque show ephemera such as performance tickets and show programs. Also included are professional and candid photographs of Kerr's performances and with other performers.The collection also includes a 2012 digital video recording of UnBOYlievable starring female impersonator Jimmy Emerson at the Riverside Resort in Laughlin, Nevada, fourteen songs from Kerr's album "Songs From the Heart," and digital scans of the photographs in the collection.
The Margot Mink Colbert Papers (approximately 1959-2018) are comprised of materials that represent Colbert's career as a professional dancer, choreographer, and instructor. The materials span Colbert's career as a dancer in New York City at The Juilliard School, instructor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and instructor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. The materials in this collection also document Colbert's teaching career as well as her professional studio Ballet Mink. The materials include press and promotional materials about performances choreographed by Colbert within the United States as well as other countries including Russia and Denmark. The collection also include recordings of Colbert's choreographed performances.
Oral history interviews with Nanyu Tomiyasu conducted by Robert McCracken on January 18, 2000, February 05, 2000 and April 02, 2000 for the Women's Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN) on behalf of the Tule Springs Preservation Committee. Tomiyasu opens his interview by discussing his father's immigration journey from Japan to Las Vegas, Nevada. Tomiyasu then describes his father's career in Las Vegas as a vegetable farmer. He talks about the process and challenges his father faced as a farmer in Nevada, and the techniques he used to maintain his land. Tomiyasu then discusses taking over his father's farm, racial discrimination the family faced, and the farm's purchasing agreements with local grocery stores. He also talks about the water systems his farm and the surrounding area relied on, as well as the animals that lived in the area. Tomiyasu ends his interview by discussing his mother's life story and his wife and children.
The Tonopah-Goldfield Mining Photograph Collection depicts mining activities in the mining towns of Tonopah and Goldfield in Esmeralda County, Nevada from approximately 1901 to 1920. The photographs primarily depict mines, miners, mills, construction, ore, and workers transporting ore. The photographs also depict events and people in Tonopah and Goldfield, including parades, celebrations, banquets, children, Native Americans, and prominent buildings.
The Florence Lee Jones Cahlan Photographs depict locations and events in Las Vegas, Nevada from 1909 to 1980. The photographs primarily depict historical locations, including the Las Vegas Mormon Fort, the Kiel Ranch, and plaques commemorating Las Vegas’s 75th anniversary. The photographs also depict celebrations, including the Diamond Jubilee festivities held to celebrate Las Vegas’s 75th anniversary, plaque dedications, building dedications, and the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the first mail planes in Las Vegas. The photographs include the Kennecott Copper Corporation’s facilities in McGill, Nevada, Western Airlines planes and pilots, and Union Pacific Railroad locomotives.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal Photograph Collection depicts several events in Las Vegas, Nevada from 1935 to 1983 that were documented by Nevada’s largest newspaper, the Las Vegas Review-Journal. The photographs depict the fire at the Las Vegas School in 1935, the fire at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in 1980, an exhibition at the Lost City Museum in 1973, a memorial event honoring the first permanent school in Las Vegas in 1980, and an exhibition at the Nevada State Museum and Historical Society in 1983. The collection also contains photographs of some denizens of Las Vegas, including people at the Hughes Bar in Las Vegas, the last Union Pacific passenger train in Las Vegas, and schoolchildren at the Las Vegas School.
The University of Nevada, Las Vegas Photograph Collection (approximately 1900-2004) depicts the development of the university and the city of Las Vegas. The collection includes images of campus buildings, student activities, sports teams, past university presidents, and Las Vegas in the early twentieth century. Early images depicting the surrounding area are included in this collection as well.