Oral history interview with Billie Mae Polson conducted by Eva Diane Head on March 08, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Polson discusses arriving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1947. She also describes her employment at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) James R. Dickinson Library (now Lied Library) and recalls the construction of the Library's upper floors. Later, Polson discusses the Library's switch to an automated circulation system.
The Brian "Paco" Álvarez Professional Papers (1997-2014) are comprised of the personal papers of Las Vegas, Nevada museum curator and arts advocate Brian "Paco" Álvarez. Cultural heritage institutions and events represented in this collection include the Neon Museum's relocated of the La Concha structure, the "Vegas VIP: Vegas Viewed in Postcards" exhibit and "Post Modern 2005" at the Mob Museum for the City of Las Vegas centennial celebration in 2005, and various photograph exhibits at the Liberace Museum. Also included in the collection are documents related to KUNV radio station "Gimme My KUNV" awareness event regarding the station's commitment to diverse radio shows.
The John S. Wright Faculty Papers (1951-1975) are comprised of faculty papers from and about Dr. John S. Wright who was considered one of the founding faculty members at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). The collection documents Wright's involvement in establishing UNLV as a separate university from the University of Nevada, Reno. The collection includes memoranda, correspondence, meeting minutes, and reports from different committees Wright was a part of including Academic Council, Faculty Senate, and other ad hoc committees.
Oral history interview with Erika Castro conducted by Maribel Estrada Calderon on November 12, 2018 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. In this interview, Castro discusses her early life in Mexico City, Mexico before migrating with her family to North Las Vegas, Nevada in 1992. She describes adapting to the city, her early education, and learning that she was an undocumented immigrant. Castro then talks about Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and how DACA gave her a vision for a future for the first time. Later, Castro discusses The Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act and explains objectives of the nonprofit organization, Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada (PLAN). Lastly, Castro talks about her involvement with Planned Parenthood, studying social work at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), and immigration resources provided by the UNLV Law Clinic.
Oral history interview with Raul Daniels conducted by Maribel Estrada Calderon on July 03, 2019 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. In this interview, Daniels discusses his childhood memories of Cuauhtémoc, Mexico and later moving to Las Vegas, Nevada with his family in 1989. He talks about his father’s employment in construction and joining the painters union. Daniels then recalls attending Las Vegas High School, receiving his citizenship, and his experiences attending the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Daniels describes learning about The LGBTQ Center of Southern Nevada, studying international business, his employment at Neiman Marcus, and eventually becoming the Vice President of Catering with Station Casinos. Later, Daniels discusses what The Center meant to him as a gay teen and being a member of the Student Organization of Latinos (SOL). Lastly, Daniels recalls going through the adoption process for his son and talks about Aids for Aids Nevada (AFAN).
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 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 Richard Wyman conducted by Kenneth B. Manoff on March 12, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Wyman discusses working at the Nevada Test Site and his involvement with the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) Engineering Department.
Oral history interview with Robert “Bob” Agonia conducted by Marcela Rodriguez-Campo on September 6, 2018 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. Agonia recalls his community being very diverse, with families sharing Filipino and Mexican American heritage and his neighbors being Japanese Americans. Agonia also discusses the role he played in starting the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) engineering school, and helping start a Minority Engineering Program at UNLV. He then speaks about Latino community involvement in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Oral history interview with Helen Naugle conducted by Irene Rostine on October 31, 1996 for the Women's Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN) Las Vegas Women Oral History Project. Naugle opens her interview by discussing moving to Las Vegas, Nevada after she visited the city on a family vacation. She then talks about attending the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in order to obtain her real estate license. Naugle describes opening her own real estate office, the types of properties she brokered, and her participation in the Las Vegas Board of Realtors. She ends her interview by discussing her international business work and vacations.