Oral history interview with Ruth Poirier conducted by Joanne Goodwin on February 05, 2003 for the Women's Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN) Las Vegas Women Oral History Project. Poirier opens her interview by discussing her partner Doris Pressler, who had passed away before the interview. She describes Doris' upbringing, her role in the first band at the Roseland Ballroom in New York, and explains how an all-women band in the 1930s and 1940s was a phenomenon. Poirier then discusses her own history, including how she became involved in music and all-women bands, and how she met Doris. Poirier describes in detail the importance of music to her family, the types of music she played, and what it was like to be a musician during the Depression. She talks about her relationship with Doris and recalls early interactions with other gay youths. Poirer ends her interview explaining why she and Doris decided to settle in Las Vegas, Nevada, and describes their impressions and involvement with the local LGBTQ+ community.
Archival Collection
The Center Stage, Inc. Records (1994 to 2008) are comprised of photographs, bylaws, correspondence, meeting minutes, publicity, scripts, programs, cast lists, and video cassettes of a number of the productions. Center Stage Theater Inc. was the first LGBT theater company in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
The Robert L. Forbuss papers (1945-2011) are comprised of the personal papers of Las Vegas, Nevada educator and businessman, Robert L. "Bob" Forbuss. The collection materials include photographs of Forbuss throughout his life, including his early childhood, as well as some photographs of his mother, Marjorie Forbuss, during the 1940s and 1950s. The collection documents Forbuss's early childhood through adulthood and includes materials such as personal correspondence and Forbuss's baby book. There are also papers documenting Forbuss's professional life including his involvement with local politics and businesses. The collection includes records for J&B Strategic Alliances, LLC., a consulting company that he co-founded with former Las Vegas mayor, Jan Jones.
Archival Collection
Archival Collection
The Strutt Hurley Collection on the Southern Nevada Pride Association, Inc. (SNAPI) and Las Vegas Pride (1989-2000) contains materials collected and produced by Strutt Hurley during her tenure as Director of Entertainment of SNAPI. Materials include meeting minutes, advertising contracts, Las Vegas Pride programs, and ephemera collected from Pride celebrations in Las Vegas, Nevada and other parts of the United States and the world.
Archival Collection
The D. L. Washburn Photograph Collection on Sasha's Nightclub and Restaurant is comprised of primarily candid photographs of patrons and entertainers such as musicians, female impersonators, and male strippers at Sasha's Nightclub in Las Vegas, Nevada from approximately 2001 to 2003. The collection includes photographs of Sasha Scarlett with patrons and entertainers at the nightclub. The majority of individuals in this collection are unidentified.
Archival Collection
The UNLV Center for Social Justice (CSJ) Records (2015-2016) are primarily comprised of postcards and fliers advertising events hosted and sponsored by CSJ at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). Events advertised include the Stand Up. Speak Out. event series. This series aligned with Latin heritage celebrations; LGBTQIAA student, staff, and faculty luncheon;
Archival Collection
The Ted Lenhart LGBTQ Community Collection (1990-2001) is comprised of correspondence, newspaper clippings, and organizational material detailing LGBTQ community issues in Nevada throughout the 1990s. The collection includes materials from organizations including: Aid for AIDS of Nevada, the Clark County Coalition of HIV/AIDS Service Providers, the Nevada chapter of the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power (ACT-UP), efforts to organize an HIV-Negative Men’s support group in Nevada, and Nevada Outdoors, an LGBTQ hiking club.
Archival Collection
The Dennis McBride Personal Papers (approximately 1920-2023) contain the papers of local historian and activist Dennis McBride. Papers include correspondence between McBride and many prominent members of the Las Vegas, Nevada LGBTQ community; financial and employment records from McBride's time at University of Nevada, Las Vegas and the Nevada State Museum; publications, press, and research surrounding McBride's numerous written works, unpublished and published; and family history, correspondence, and other personal documents. The collection also contains McBride's detailed personal date books and diaries that span multiple decades. Some audiovisual material and correspondence exist as digital files.
Archival Collection
The Carratelli Family Collection on Gay Rights in Nevada (1992-2002) consists of documents and ephemera from various gay rights organizations and events in Las Vegas, Nevada. In addition to documents, fliers, and meeting minutes, the collection houses a box of t-shirts from various gay events and campaigns. The collection is especially focused on issues of Gay Pride organizing.
Archival Collection