Oral history interview with Eric Mendoza conducted by Holly O'Donnell on November 29, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project.
In this interview, Eric Mendoza shares his family's chain migration history from Manila, Philippines to the United States and his difficult immigration and naturalization process once arriving in America in 1996. He talks about what brought him to live in Las Vegas, Nevada, his education and professional pursuits, what his life is like in the United States compared to that of the Philippines, and the lives of his eight siblings. Eric Mendoza discusses the historical past of the Philippines, the infrastructure in place there, and government corruption. He also speaks to Filipino traditions and festivals, food and customs, his cultural identity, and assimilating to American culture.
Archival Collection
The Southwest Oral History Association Records contains records of the Southwest Oral History Association (SOHA) from 1981 to 2020. Records include agendas and minutes from the executive board committee, financial records, correspondence, photographs, and planning documents for SOHA's annual conference.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Gerald Connor conducted by James Bonnell on February 22, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Connor first discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada and serving as a pilot in the United States Air Force. He then discusses his education at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and his church membership. Topics that Connor discusses during the interview also include changes in the school district and properties located in Downtown Las Vegas and the Las Vegas Strip, his political activity within the Democratic Party, the Helldorado Parades, and the early atomic tests at the Nevada Test Site.
Archival Collection
The Charles Aplin Photograph Collection (approximately 1935-1955) consists of black-and-white photographic prints and negatives. The images primarily depict the Fraternal Order of Eagles, Las Vegas, Nevada chapter events and members. Also included are images of Las Vegas, Helldorado parades, and Conrad H. Mann, former president of the Fraternal Order of Eagles.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Janet Savalli conducted by Irene Rostine on September 21, 1996 for the Women's Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN) Las Vegas Women Oral History Project. Savalli begins her interview by discussing her move to Las Vegas, Nevada as a child in 1945. Savalli then goes on to discuss her 46 year long career at the Southern Nevada Telephone Company. She describes rising through the company starting as an operator and ending as a community relations coordinator. Savalli discusses the company's merger with Sprint and the changes this brought about including the creation of a union and wage and benefits changes. Savalli ends her interview by talking about atomic testing, and how the testing grew to be a part of Las Vegas culture at the time.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jonathan S. "Jon" Sparer, FAIA conducted by Barbara Tabach on March 04, 2015 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. Sparer discusses his career as an architect of many major Las Vegas, Nevada hotels and casinos. He also talks about designing the Congregation Ner Tamid and The Center for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered (LGBT) community.
Archival Collection
Oral history joint interview with the "Holiday in Japan" dancers conducted by Claytee D. White on May 26, 2011 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. The dancers present for the interview were Sachiko O. Thompson, Minoru Saito, Kazu Hamada, Kyoko Nakamura, Nobuko Suda, and Katsuko Tomoko Billman. The dancers begin by discussing their lives in Japan before coming to the United States in 1960 to perform their "Holiday in Japan" stage show. They describe their reactions to coming to the United States and compare it to life in Japan, as well as their reactions to coming to Las Vegas, Nevada specifically. They discuss performing their show at the New Frontier Hotel and Casino, Desert Inn Hotel and Casino, and Dunes Hotel and Casino. They describe their show, which presented Japanese culture to Western audiences, and the work that went into it. They end the interview by detailing their lives and careers after performances of the show concluded in 1961.
Archival Collection
Ann Valder Papers (1963-1984) include agendas and minutes, programs, invitations, events, and newspaper clippings. The papers are limited to the time Valder spent working for the Review Journal and the Valley Times in Las Vegas, Nevada. The activities covered are her work with Southern Nevada Memorial Hospital and the American Cancer Society.
Archival Collection
The Nevada Hotel and Motel Association Collection contains items from the hospitality and service industries from 1979 to 1992. The collection consists of trade publications, conference brochures, and industry reports focusing on the service and hospitality industries in Nevada.
Archival Collection
The Loretta Bowman Collection of Clark County Clerk Records (1912-1997) contain documents collected by Clark County Clerk Loretta Bowman during her time in office. Materials include court proceedings, signed agreements and contracts, appointments to public offices and related correspondence, denials of cases involving battery on police officers, affidavits for birth certificates, and criminal peace bonds. The majority of the materials are oaths of office and the related surety bonds for government officials.
Archival Collection