The "Las Vegas: Snapshots of History" Photograph Collection is comprised of photographic prints and slides as well as digital surrogates of photographic prints and ephemera representing architecture and events in Las Vegas, Nevada from approximately 1960 to 2017. Materials were donated by members of the Las Vegas community as part of a community scanning day sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities' Common Heritage grant. The majority of the collection documents landmarks in Las Vegas including the Stardust Resort and Casino, The Mint Las Vegas, Fremont Street, and the Desert Inn.
Oral history interview with Eric Mendoza conducted by Holly O'Donnell on November 29, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project.
In this interview, Eric Mendoza shares his family's chain migration history from Manila, Philippines to the United States and his difficult immigration and naturalization process once arriving in America in 1996. He talks about what brought him to live in Las Vegas, Nevada, his education and professional pursuits, what his life is like in the United States compared to that of the Philippines, and the lives of his eight siblings. Eric Mendoza discusses the historical past of the Philippines, the infrastructure in place there, and government corruption. He also speaks to Filipino traditions and festivals, food and customs, his cultural identity, and assimilating to American culture.
Oral history interview with Dr. Javier A. Rodríguez conducted by Elsa Lopez and Barbara Tabach on December 19, 2019 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project.
Dr. Javier Rodríguez, Biology Professor at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, talks of his personal and educational history that led him to UNLV. He discusses his migration from Puerto Rico to California where he received his PhD from the University of California Berkley and became a biological museum curator for various animal specimens. He later moved to Las Vegas to teach at UNLV where he has now been for nearly two decades; Dr. Rodríguez shares how UNLV has changed since he first started working here, including the university's increased interest in faculty research to become a Top Tier institution. Subjects discussed include: Puerto Rico; University of California Berkley; University funding; Tier 1 research institutions.
The Elmer R. Rusco Collection on Ethnicity and Race in Nevada (1964-1972) contains correspondence, court cases, employment information, and research materials compiled by Rusco for a book he was writing on race relations in Nevada.
The Jane Ham Legislative Papers (1980-1981) document the legislative activities of Nevada Republican Assemblywoman Jane Ham during the 1981 legislative session. The collection consists of Legislative Bureau correspondence, memos, pamphlets, and draft legislative bills. Also included are reports, studies, and informal polls from private individuals and lobby groups expressing response to pending legislation.
The Florence McClure Photograph Collection (approximately 1985-1997) consists of color photographic prints. Images show McClure and members of the Las Vegas, Nevada Community Action Against Rape (CAAR) organization that she co-founded with Sandi Petta in 1973. Also included are images of Nevada public figures and several travel images from China.
The W. I. Booth and A. Allen Photograph Album of Goldfield, Nevada (approx. 1900-1910) contains forty-five black-and-white photographs taken by photographers W. I. Booth and A. Allen. The images depict the Goldfield, Nevada townsite; mines, miners, camps, and equipment; horses pulling freight and carriages across the desert; and topographical features of Goldfield and outlying areas. The photographs document the mining boom in the Goldfield area during the early 20th century.
Arthur G. Grant Photograph Collection (approximately 1950-1965) consists of 120mm and 35mm color photographic slides taken in the mid-1950s in and around Las Vegas, Nevada. Images depict Arthur G. Grant's home life, the Fortune Club business on Fremont Street, general downtown, Helldorado Parade, and a Mount Charleston picnic. The collection also contains images of Lake Mead boat races including an appearance by Donald Campbell and his water speed world record-setting jet powered boat, Bluebird.