Oral history interview with Cecelia Zamora and Celia Rivero Mummey conducted by Claytee D. White on January 15, 2022 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Celia Rivero Mummey is the mother of Cecelia Zamora, and both participate in this interview. Both were born in Las Vegas, Nevada and Mummey recalls the Helldorado Parades as her favorite part of the city. Mummey's mother and father - Margarita and Francisco - owned the first Mexican restaurant in the city. Frank's Cafe was located at Fremont and First Streets. The interview covers memories of other downtown business locations, cruising on Fremont Street, outings to Lake Mead, living in Vegas Heights, Culinary Union membership, working in various hotels, and Las Vegas entertainment.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jane Overy conducted by Claytee D. White on August 17 and December 20, 2023 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Overy discusses her museum work, early life, and many civic projects she has participated in over the years. Overy grew up in Kansas, where she spent time playing pool (billards) and spending time outdoors. After high school, she joined the United States Air Force and served in Alaska where there were two women, each with a private guard. Additionally, she worked as a newspaper reporter and as an entertainer who sang around the world. Overy served in the military for four years. In 1981, she moved to Nevada and desert climate for the improvement of her overall health. Over the years, her work and civic projects connected her with Senator Harry Reid, the Walking Box Ranch, the Searchlight Nugget Casino, and many other experiences.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Gloria Dea Anzalone conducted by Claytee D. White on October 22, 2022 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Gloria Dea describes her childhood in Oakland, California where she learned the art of magic from her father. Her family moved to Sacramento where Gloria Dea first performed in Breuners Department Store and by age twelve, she was working in nighclubs. Later in Hollywood, Gloria Dea danced in several films and entertained in USO shows. She performed in 1941 at the Last Frontier and the El Rancho - some of the earliest places on what was later the Las Vegas Strip. In the interview, she recalls time serving as president of both the Women's Club of Burbank, Hadassah, and the board of American Guild of Variery Artists.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jill DeStefano conducted by Stefani Evans on January 19, 2024 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, DeStefano describes growing up in Long Beach, California and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 2006 with her husband. DeStefano became interested in helping protect the 13,000 acres of land near her home of Aliente, and became a member of the founding board of "Protectors of Tule Springs." In this interview, she talks about the role the recession had on their work; engaging the public in the project; the stakeholders with whom they negotiated; the tours they conducted; and the legislation passed through Title 30 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) in December of 2014 creating the Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Leah Chan Grinvald conducted by Stefani Evans and Claytee D. White on January 22, 2024 for the Reflections: the Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. In this interview, Grinvald discusses growing up with a large Chinese family on her father's side, and an Orthodox Jewish family on her mother's side. Grinvald talks about family, identity, traditions, and schooling. She discusses how she became interested in law, her legal career, and volunteer work with the affinity Bars in Nevada, the State Bar of Nevada Board of Bar Governors, and the Association of American Law Schools Deans Council Executive Committee. She also talks about meeting her Israeli husband, marrying him in Israel, and living there for a year.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Amee B. Cauton conducted by Stefani Evans on January 23, 2024 for the Reflections: the Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. In this interview, Cauton reflects on her childhood growing up in Honolulu, Hawai'i, and later relocating with her mother and step-father to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1999. She recalls starting work at The Mirage with her morther, where she worked for a total of 15 years in a variety of hospitality positions. Cauton is now a Negotiating Committee Captain for Culinary Union Local 226, has a total of eighteen years seniority with MGM Resorts. She also talks about her work with the Culinary Union and the 2023 contract campaign and strike vote.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Sandy Croteau conducted by Claytee D. White on January 18, 2024 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Croteau discusses the history of Tule Springs area, which covers over 13,000 acres and how she became involved in turning the area into Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument. Croteau is a retired real estate professional and a National Parks volunteer. She recalls growing up in Los Angeles and Downey, California and engaging in outdoor activities with her father and brothers, which paved the way for her work on Tule Springs.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Kathleen Cortez, Delores "Dee" Gammell, Kelli Hansen, and Sallie Samis conducted by Jerwin Tiu and Stefani Evans on January 26, 2024 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, three sisters of seven siblings, Delores "Dee" Gammell, Sallie Samis, and Kathleen "Kathy" Cortez, describe their beginnings in early Las Vegas alongside Dee's daughter, Kelli Hansen. This six generation family of Las Vegas natives trace their roots to Mexico and Delores, Sallie, and Kathleen all recall their childhood spent with family. Each sister eventually ended up leaving Las Vegas. However, each sister ended up returning to Las Vegas and settling in the city where they grew up. While they have their qualms about the city and it is different from when they were growing up, they savor the time they are able to enjoy as a family in the place where they all started.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Joan Adams Shoofey conducted by Claytee D. White on January 30, 2024 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Shoofey recalls moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1955, where she became Miss Sahara Hotel Casino before becoming Miss Nevada. Born in Fresno, California, Shoofey moved to Tahoe the day following her high school graduation. She and her friend ran the Stateline Country Club for one season and then moved to Las Vegas. Once at the Sahara, she became the Entertainment Coordinator at the Flamingo and then at the International where she worked with Tom Jones.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Pamela Jones Brown conducted by Claytee D. White on June 12, 2019 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Brown discusses growing up in Nashville, Tennessee and meeting her husband, Joe W. Brown, while attending Sweer Briar College and married two months later. They moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in July 1968, where she taught English and French at Brinley Junior High School. She left teaching and joined PBS/Channel 10 as a scriptwriter. The Junior League of Las Vegas became her creative outlet with the "Crossroads of the West" project that documented the history of the town. These short documentaries were produced by the local PBS statio, and she discusses writing the scripts.
Archival Collection