Oral history interview with Ashok Mirchandani conducted by Kristel Peralta, Cecilia Winchell, and Stefani Evans on March 11, 2021 for the Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. In this interview, Mirchandani discusses his early life in Kolkata, West Bengal, India and arriving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 2002. He talks about Indian traditions he celebrates and Indian festivals in the United States. Mirchandani recalls his employment with the State of Nevada, becoming the Director of the Department of Business and Industry, and advocating for small businesses. Later, Mirchandani describes the importance of minorities in politics, engaging in policy making, and the need for Asian Americans in public services. Lastly, Mirchandani discusses the model minority myth, developing the Nevada Home Retention Program, and emphasizes children's mental health.
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On March, 14, 1981, collector Diane Donavan interviewed her neighbor, pharmacist Wayne Earl (born June 21, 1926 in St. George, Utah) at the collector’s home in Las Vegas, Nevada. This interview covers Earl’s early recollections of Nevada and his life after moving to Las Vegas in 1940. Earl also talks about World War II, McCarran Airport, Nellis Air Force Base, North Las Vegas politics, Jaycees, and the Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, Earl recalls his involvement in civic affairs, social and religious activities, including his affiliation with the Mormon Church.
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In this multi-part interview, Louis Wiener, Jr. discusses coming to Las Vegas from Pittsburgh at a young age, attending Las Vegas High School and University of Nevada Reno. He attended law school at University of California at Berkeley and passed the Nevada State Bar in 1941. He established a practice, Jones, Wiener and Jones, with Bob Jones and Cliff Jones and later with Herb Jones. He had another practice with Neil Galatz and Dave Goldwater, retiring in 1988. Wiener had other business ventures that allowed him to do pro bono work as a lawyer. Wiener discusses his family, including former spouses, his children, and various aspects of his career as an attorney in Las Vegas, representing hotels in the Greenspun antitrust lawsuit, and as an attorney for Bugsy Siegel. He says of his success, "I'm just lucky. I was here at the right time and I picked the right people to help."
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Louis La Porta served on the City Council of Henderson, Nevada and the Board of Clark County, Nevada and oversaw periods of great growth. He was born in 1924 in New York City, but his service in the United States Air Force pulled him out West. After settling in Henderson, Nevada, with his wife Elayne, La Porta became interested in insurance sales and local politics. While in office, La Porta oversaw the development of critical roads for Clark County, the Henderson Historical Society, and Henderson Libraries. He recounts each of these major developments in his interview, chronicling the evolution of Henderson, Nevada, into a major city.
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The William J. Moore Jr. Photograph Collection (approximately 1942-1960) consists of black-and-white photographic prints, negatives, and one oversize image depicting William "Bill" J. Moore Jr.'s career as a casino operator in Las Vegas, Nevada. Images include events at the Moore family home and the Hotel Last Frontier. Also included are images of Moore with politicians, casino operators, and other notable figures in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Elbert Edwards conducted by Ronald Johns in 1972 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Edwards discusses his work in Las Vegas, Nevada public schools during the Great Depression. The two also discuss the Hoover (Boulder) Dam, Edwards’ involvement in politics, and mining in Nevada. He also talks about the development of Boulder City, Nevada, the early territorial boundaries of Nevada and Utah, the atomic testing at the Nevada Test Site, and early water sources in Southern Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Paul Christensen conducted by Claytee D. White on February 19, 2008 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview Paul Christensen discusses his early childhood in Las Vegas, Nevada during World War II, his family's jewelry business, the various educational institutions he attended, his service in the United States Air Force, and his long career in city politics.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Clifford Jones conducted by an unknown collector in the year 1974 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Jones discusses his life in Southern Nevada, his educational background, and his involvement in Nevada politics. Jones also talks about the social and environmental changes that occurred in Las Vegas, Nevada since the 1930s.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Ron Lurie conducted by Barbara Tabach on June 05, 2015 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. In this interview, Lurie discusses growing up in Las Vegas, Nevada, attending Las Vegas High School, and working for his father in a grocery store. He also talks about his time in politics, campaigning for office, and changes he made while in office as mayor and in the city council. Lurie then talks about crime, Jewish business leaders, and law enforcement of Las Vegas.
Archival Collection