The Robert Lang Professional Papers (1976-2020) mainly contain urban planning research and reports from former University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) professor and public policy expert Robert Lang. Materials represent different public policy related projects and issues Lang worked on when he was employed with the Fannie Mae Foundation in Washington, D.C., and Brookings Mountain West and the Lincy Institute at UNLV. Materials also include Lang's teaching files which include course syllabi, class presentation slides, and course readers. Research, notes, and drafts of Lang's books including Boomburbs: The Rise of America's Accidental Cities, Edgeless Cities: Exploring the Elusive Metropolis, and Blue Metros, Red States: The Shifting Urban-Rural Divide in America's Swing States are also represented in the collection. The collection also includes documentation for invited conferences and events documenting different conferences and events, copies of Black's Guide for commercial real estate in the United States.
The Vassili Sulich Papers (1951-2005) document the life of Vassili Sulich: ballet dancer, choreographer, and co-founder of the Nevada Dance Theatre, the first professional dance company in Nevada. Included are correspondence, newspaper clippings, newsletters, photographs, posters, and scrapbooks.
The Bill Schafer Papers (1980-2018) contain personal and professional papers of Las Vegas, Nevada journalist and publisher, Bill Schafer, and photographs from various LGBTQIA+ related events in Las Vegas. The materials include files related to Schafer's work managing the Las Vegas Night Beat and Las Vegas Bugle publications. The collection contains copies of various LGBTQIA+ directories and photographs from events such as the Las Vegas Pride parade and the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada's annual Honorarium. Also included are photographs and papers from Schafer's involvement with the Imperial Royal Sovereign Court of the Desert Empire, Inc.
Oral history interview with Kim You Taing conducted by Vanessa Concepcion, Cecilia Winchell, and Stefani Evans on November 15, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. Kim discusses his upbringing in Cambodia during the Cambodian Civil War, the death of his siblings from tragedy and his father from racially-motivated war crimes, and his immigration to the United States as a refugee. He shares how he and his mother lived and worked in the United States, first in Seattle, Washington and then in Las Vegas, Nevada. Kim talks about his work in the hospitality industry in various Vegas hotels and casinos and his membership with the Culinary Workers Union advocating for Asian workers. He also discusses family life with his wife and daughter and his plans to retire.
On February 26, 1980, Yatska Aldarondo interviewed psychiatric counselor, Dr. Nell Jeffers (born in Houston Texas) about her life in Las Vegas, Nevada. Dr. Jeffers discusses her work as the student and faculty counselor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. The two also discuss some of the hardships of living in a desert, as well Dr. Jeffers’ plans to move into private psychiatric practice.
On March 1, 1980, Ken Pyatt interviewed his grandmother, Merna Dennison (born September 9th, 1917 in Blanding, Utah) in her home in Henderson, Nevada. During the interview, Merna pinpoints Cashman Field as a landmark of Las Vegas. She recalls the Helldorado Parade as one of Nevada’s biggest annual celebrations in which her family attended and participated on numerous occasions. She mentions serving on the Clark County School Board and discusses the growth of the city of Las Vegas, particularly the development and expansion of both McCarran Airport and the Strip.
Interview with Gertrude Greenblatt by Dario Gratini on March 1, 1981. In this interview Greenblatt talks about arriving in Las Vegas in the 1940s, and the changes that took place place such as population growth, price increases, employment requirements, and recreation. She also talks about the changes in utilities and environmental issues.