Oral history interview with Yvanna Cancela conducted by Monserrath Hernández and Barbara Tabach on February 27, 2020 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project.
Yvanna Cancela, Nevada State Senator, discusses her personal history growing up in Miami, Florida and her studies at Northwestern University. She talks of working for Senator Harry Reid's campaign in Las Vegas, which led to her organizing efforts for the Culinary Workers Union Local 226. Yvanna recalls being appointed to the Nevada State Senate in 2016 as the first female state senate majority. In addition to fulfilling her duties as the Co-Majority Whip, she worked on the Joe Biden campaign and is the Executive Director of the Citizenship Project. After this interview was conducted, Yvanna received her Juris Doctorate from the William S. Boyd School of Law at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Subjects discussed include: Miami, Florida; Nevada State Senate; The Citizenship Project
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Sandra Candel conducted by Elsa Lopez, Monserrath Hernández, and Barbara Tabach on October 03, 2019 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project.
Sandra Candel talks of her childhood growing up with her grandparents in Guadalajara, Jalisco after her mother immigrated to America. She moved to California to attend university before moving to Salt Lake City, Utah, where she raised her children and began homeschooling them. This path led to Sandra opening a Montessori school, igniting her interest in education. She talks of her pursuit of both a Masters Degree from Drexel University and a Doctoral Degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). Sandra concludes her interview with discussion of her research and current employment as a part-time instructor for the Department of Interdisciplinary, Gender, and Ethnic Studies at UNLV.
Subjects discussed include: Guadalajara; Salt Lake City, Utah; Sensitive Teaching Practices; Multi-generational families
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews with Olivia Díaz conducted by Nathalie Martinez and Barbara Tabach on August 31 and September 14, 2020 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. In the first interview, Díaz gives her family and personal history, growing up in Las Vegas but often visiting her family in Durango, Mexico for extended stays. She recalls her matriarchal upbringing, particularly while living in Mexico, and what life was like growing up and going to school in East Las Vegas and at the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV). Subjects discussed include: Mexico; Latina identity. In the second interview, Díaz talks about her English language education career for the Clark County School District (CCSD) and the events that led her to run for Nevada Assembly and Las Vegas City Council. She is presently Nevada's Assemblywoman for District 11 and Las Vegas' Councilwoman for Ward 3. Olivia concludes her interview with insights into her political and educational goals for the community and the initiatives she has focused on in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Oral history interview with America Recinos conducted by Marcela Rodriguez-Campo on December 7, 2018 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project.
America discusses her family history and life in El Salvador, where her father was a union leader and organizer at the height of the country's civil war. She talks about the difficulties of leaving El Salvador with her children and reuniting with her husband in the United States, as well as what brought her family to Las Vegas. America, like her father, is also a union organizer for the Culinary Workers Union Local 226, and she shares her experiences organizing at hotels across the city including the Riviera Hotel and Casino, Sahara Hotel and Casino, Circus Circus, MGM International, Caesars Palace, Bellagio, and various Station casinos.
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Oral history interview with Margaret Crabbe, conducted by Patricia van Betten on January 14 and January 19, 2004 for the History of Blue Diamond Village in Nevada Oral History Project. In this interview, Margaret Crabbe discusses her upbringing in California, her education as a schoolteacher and her move to Blue Diamond, Nevada in 1949. She briefly talks about her husband, Lester, and his work as facilities manager for both the Blue Diamond Mine and Blue Diamond Village. She then discusses her work as a teacher in Blue Diamond and the school children's participation in the dedication of the Blue Diamond Post Office in the 1950s. She also comments on problems with spring flooding in the town and surrounding areas and some of the wild animals that would come into the town. Finally, she talks about her grandfather John W. Bain, who established the first Methodist church in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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Oral history interviews with William Laub Sr. conducted by Claytee D. White on October 20 and 28, 2004 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Laub opens the interview discussing his service in the United States Navy in the Pacific Theater in World War II. He also talks about his education in Van Nuys, California, his time in law school, and gaining Basic Magnesium Inc. as a client for his California law firm. He discusses coordinating the construction of the gas pipeline from Henderson, Nevada into Las Vegas, Nevada. He recalls being injured in a gas explosion, that forced him to rehabilitate in Las Vegas, and inevitably move his family to the area in 1956. He describes the construction changes that occurred on the Las Vegas Strip from the 1950s onward. Laub also explains why the Thunderbird Hotel and Casino was a political epicenter, and recounts meeting Nevada Lieutenant Governor Clifford Jones and other political candidates.
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews with Judy Corbisiero conducted by Dennis McBride on September 05, 2003; and April 21, July 02, and December 10, 2004 for the Las Vegas Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Archives Oral History Project. In the interviews, Corbisiero recalls her early childhood in New York City, New York, coming out in the late 1970s, and meeting her then-partner, Janice Summers. She describes forming Summercor, Incorporated (a portmanteau of their last names) with Summers to produce women musicians, with a focus on lesbian artists, while living in New York. Corbisiero also talks about musicians she worked with, running political fundraisers during music events, and meeting her next partner, Gudrun Fonfa. She then explains moving to Las Vegas, Nevada with Fonfa in 1983 to promote women's music and culture in Las Vegas and throughout the West Coast.
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Oral history interviews with Edmund Uehling and Marlon Tinana conducted by Dennis McBride on March 14, 21, and 22, 2000 for the Las Vegas Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Archives Oral History Project. In the first interview, Uehling discusses his early life in Boulder City, Nevada, his time as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, becoming aware of his sexuality, and his involvement with the founding of the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada in 1992. In the second interview, Uehling and Tinana discuss investing in Las Vegas, Nevada gay community real estate beginning in 1988. They also discuss purchasing and managing business properties, including the Gipsy and The Cave nightclubs. In the third interview, Uehling and Tinana recall Uehling's attempt at running for Clark County, Nevada Sheriff in 1994 and memories of confronting police while managing their business properties. Finally, they discuss managing Bright Pink Literature bookstore (later known as Get Booked).
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Oral history interviews with Richard Bryan conducted by Kristin Guthre on November 10, 2011 and an unknown date for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Bryan begins by discussing his father’s time as a law student in Washington, D.C. and the influence his father had on his decision to pursue law. Bryan then chronicles moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in the 1940s and growing up in the Huntridge Community near Charleston Boulevard. Bryan recounts attending both the University of Nevada, Reno and the University of California, Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco, California. Bryan describes his experiences in the Las Vegas District Attorney’s office and the Army Reserve. He then recalls his political career as a member of the Nevada Senate, his role as the Attorney General of Nevada, the Governor of Nevada, and as a United States Senator. Lastly, Bryan discusses political issues in Nevada and the United States during his time in office such as debates about renewable energy, environmentalism, and preservation.
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Oral history interviews with Diana Saunders conducted by Joyce (Marshall) Moore on May 23, 1996, conducted by Brigid Kelly on July 22, 2002, and conducted by Joanna Goodwin on August 12, 2002 for the Women's Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN) Las Vegas Women Oral History Project. In her interviews Saunders discusses her dance career in New York City, New York. Saunders discusses working on Broadway and touring internationally in Europe and Australia as a dancer. Saunders discusses working at the Dunes in Las Vegas, Nevada and her experiences as a dancer in Las Vegas. Saunders also talks about the lengths dancers had to go through to be successful.
Archival Collection