Ellen Barre Spiegel grew up in Jericho NY, a predominantly Jewish town in Long Island. Her ancestors had migrated to the United Sates prior to the outbreak of World War II. And for much of life her exposure to cultural diversity was limited. Ellen was born in 1962. She attended Cornell University, located in upstate New York, and graduated in 1984. Though the student population was 30% Jewish, the university expanded her knowledge of the world: her Protestant roommate explained that she had never met a Jew and Ellen replied, I have never met a WASP. Her college studies centered on consumer economics and she was a public policy major. Ellen was an early adopter of technology and her career path included positions at American Express, Prodigy (a joint venture of IBM and Sears), the Weather Channel, and Manufacturers Hanover Trust. Each company used her increasing experience with using technologies to improve connections with consumers. Ellen describes her Jewish identity as conservative and is a member of Midbar Kodesh Temple in Henderson. She talks about her bat mitzvah and her move back to New York to recite the mourner’s Kaddish for the year following the passing of her father. Later, she moved to Santa Monica, where she met Bill, her husband, using a new dating site called Luvitt AOL. After marriage, the couple saw financial advantages to living in Las Vegas and relocated their business and home to the valley in 2001. Soon Ellen noted that there was no active Democratic Club in Henderson and it became her mission to reignite the club. This launched a long list of political and civic accomplishments for Ellen. She has been an assemblyperson in the Nevada legislature (2008, 2013-2017). Her list of accomplishments and affiliations are on pages 46-47.

Interview with Margo Mink Colbert by Barbara Tabach on November 11, 2014. Colbert discusses her upbringing in New York and her schooling at the High School of Performing Arts and Julliard. She is a choreographer and faculty member at the University of Nevada Las Vegas.

Margot Mink Colbert was born in 1935 in New York City, to parents of different economic backgrounds who shared a Jewish immigrant heritage. She attended Julliard and studied under modern dance pioneers like Martha Graham and Jose Limon. Margot honed her skill for choreography, and took her first job in academia as a Senior Lecturer in the dance department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In 1991, she moved to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas to take a one-year appointment as an instructor. A year later, she was hired into a tenure track position. Margot is now a Professor at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, assistant chairperson of and Director of Ballet in its Department of Dance. In addition, she continues to direct Ballet Mink, a dance company she founded in 1970.

On October 15, 1985, collector Lynn Ballard interviewed Thelma Jenkins (born June 10th, 1923 in Paragonah, Utah) at her home in Henderson, Nevada. In this interview, Thelma Jenkins discusses her career in nursing as well as the differences in the various positions she’s worked. She also talks about attending various conventions and her membership in the Nevada Nurses Association.

On February 23, 1979, collector Joseph Concannen interviewed educator, Howard E. Hollingsworth (born October 3rd, 1927 in Preston, Idaho) in J. D. Smith Junior High School in Las Vegas, Nevada. This interview covers the history of Nevada. Mr. Hollingsworth also discusses the Mormon Fort, ranches, and the railroad.

Long-range planning study conducted and prepared by the Levenberg Consulting Group regarding the Jewish community of Las Vegas with particular attention to Jewish elderly, the economically disadvantaged, young adults, and Jewish education at all ages.