Oral history interviews with Rosemary Q. Flores conducted by Elsa Lopez on October 16, 2018 and October 29, 2018 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. In these interviews, Flores discusses her family background and early life in Reno, Nevada. She recalls her father’s decision to move to Nevada in search of job opportunities. Flores then describes her move to Sonora, Mexico with her siblings and compares schooling in Sonora and Reno. She talks about moving back to Reno, her employment at Harrah’s Reno Hotel and Casino while still in school, and recalls graduating in the top twenty of her high school class. Later, Flores discusses her experiences attending the University of Nevada, Reno, the struggles of being Latina in higher education, and the influence that multicultural education has on her. She talks about moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1997 and her involvement with the Multicultural Education Services Alliance (MESA) at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Lastly, Flores recalls co-founding a nonprofit organization, The Family Leadership Initiative.
Oral history interview with Francisco Rufino-Parra conducted by Barbara Tabach on December 06, 2018 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. In this interview, Parra discusses his family background and immigrating to the United States from Mexico in 1989. He recalls moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1994 and describes his first impressions of the city. Parra then talks about his employment at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel and Casino as a dishwasher, being promoted, and becoming a member of Culinary Workers Union Local 226. He explains his role as shop steward for the Culinary Workers Union and describes the union strikes in 2018. Later, Parra discusses raising his three children in Las Vegas, living in a bilingual household, and how he has learned many languages from working in the hospitality industry. Lastly, Parra recalls visiting his birthplace and becoming a United States citizen.
Oral history interviews with Patricia Vazquez conducted by Marcela Rodriguez-Campo, Monserrath Hernandez, and Rodrigo Vazquez on November 14, 2018 and June 14, 2019 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. In these interviews, Vazquez discusses growing up in Las Vegas, Nevada before moving to Mexico. She talks about the transition of moving back to the United States from Mexico in 1970. Vazquez then describes how she was selected for special education in elementary school because she did not speak English, her education experience in the Clark County School District, and later being placed into Advanced Placement classes. She then shares coming out as a lesbian, her family dynamics after announcing her sexuality, and talks about what it is like to come out in the Latinx community. Vazquez describes her art and explains that her paintings depict moments in her life that defined her as a person. Later, Vazquez describes her involvement in queer activism in Las Vegas through the Latino Youth Leadership Conference and Planned Parenthood. Lastly, Vazquez discusses her involvement in diverse hiring committees for the College of Southern Nevada (CSN), which is a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), and teaching literature courses at CSN.
Oral history interview with Ruben Acherman conducted by Monserrath Hernandez and Laurents Bañuelos-Benítez on July 18, 2019 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. In this interview, Acherman discusses growing up in Palmira, Colombia, where his father emigrated to from Romania. He talks about how accepted he felt in a Catholic community, moving to Cali, Colombia to study medicine, and describes completing his rural residency in San Pedro, Colombia. Acherman then recalls specializing in cardiology at the University of Southern California (USC). Later, Acherman explains why he chose to specialize in cardiology, his interests in pediatric cardiology, and his inability to continue studying due to the lack of financial stability and his immigration status. Acherman describes his move to the Summerlin residential community in Las Vegas, Nevada after being offered a position to work for Dr. Bill Evans in 2001, and compares the differences in health care between the United States and Columbia. Lastly, Acherman discusses his first balloon dilation procedure and talks about the illustrations he has created in cardiology textbooks.
Oral history interview with Luis F. Valera III conducted by Nathalie Martinez and Laurents Bañuelos-Benítez on January 23, 2019 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. In this interview, Valera discusses his family background and explains the story of his parent's immigration to the United States. He talks about bilingual language challenges while transitioning from school in Caracas, Venezuela and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1994. Valera then describes being raised in both Cuban and Venezuelan cultures, describes their similarities, and his experience of not being welcomed into the student organization Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan (MECHa). He recalls his college career, his decision to get into politics, and pursuing a degree in law. Later, Valera discusses his role as vice president of Student Organization for Latinos, and talks about being elected as the University of Las Vegas, Nevada (UNLV) student body Vice President. Lastly, Valera describes his position as Vice President of Government Affairs for UNLV.
Oral history interview with Edmundo “Eddie” Escobedo conducted by Maribel Estrada Calderón on February 25, 2019 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. In this interview, Escobedo discusses his family background, growing up Latino in Las Vegas, Nevada, and his educational experiences. He recalls his father starting a promotional business where he would contract Mexican artists to perform, and describes his father’s involvement in politics. He talks about his family's newspaper business, El Mundo, and the events it sponsored. Escobedo explains the local political scene in 2019, the Latinx involvement with politics, and shares his thoughts on immigration policies and issues. Lastly, Escobedo discusses raising his family in Las Vegas and his work with the Latin Chamber of Commerce (LCC).
Oral history interview with Jaime Cruz conducted by Rodrigo Vazquez on July 03, 2019 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. In this interview, Cruz discusses growing up in Lima, Peru and immigrating to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1987. Cruz describes his first impressions of the city, attending the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and explains the importance of education for his children. He talks about his employment as a dishwasher at Vineyard Restaurant, food server at The Mirage, and being recruited by Treasure Island as a banquet waiter. Lastly, Cruz describes the Peruvian community in Las Vegas, instilling Peruvian culture in his children, and how he became the Executive Director of Workforce Connections.
The "Jazz on the Strip" Scrapbooks (1991-2000) consist of ten scrapbooks containing photographs, event programs, newspaper clippings, and ephemera for the "Jazz on the Strip" weekly performance series put on by the Las Vegas Jazz Society (LVJS). Photographs depict the weekly shows at the Riviera Hotel's Le Bistro Lounge in Las Vegas, Nevada, and include performers such as Chick Corea, Russ Freeman, Bill Watrous, and other well-known performers. The scrapbooks also document other events put on by the Jazz Artists of Nevada, including annual picnics, memorial performances, "Jazz in the Park" outdoor concerts, and fundraising events. Included throughout the scrapbooks are the LVJS Jazz Notes, a monthly newsletter.
The Las Vegas Founders Club Records (1983-2013) consist mainly of photographic prints of players, general operations, and events surrounding golf tournaments in Las Vegas, Nevada. The tournaments include the Invensys Classic, Las Vegas Senior Classic, men's and women's Collegiate Championships, and the Las Vegas Invitational. Materials also include media press reports, newspaper and press clippings, and scrapbooks created by the Founders Club. The collection also contains digital photographs from various tournaments in Las Vegas.
Oral history interview with Roger Pettersson conducted by David G. Schwartz on February 24, 2017 for the Slot Operations Oral History Project. Petterson discusses his background and his experiences in multiple positions for slot management. Pettersson also discusses the various slot operations in casinos such as the Bellagio Hotel and Casino, and the Mirage Hotel and Casino. He then describes what makes a good slot manager, what customers are looking for in slot machines, and how the slot industry has changed over the years, particularly with the use of free play.