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In his lifetime, Eleazar Martinez has climbed both literal and figurative mountains as an avid outdoorsman and social justice advocate for Latinx issues. Born in Sweetwater, Texas, Eleazar (Al for short) grew up connected to the land and his family. Al comes from a large family with strong ties in Texas and Mexico. His mother worked the fields and his father was a construction worker who instilled in their children the importance of a strong work ethic and the pursuit of an education. Al shares about growing up during a time when Spanish was banned from schools and children would get punished if they were caught using their home languages. His experiences developed his aspiration to serve his community and fight for people’s rights. After a short stint in the Navy, Al followed his instincts and sought out a college education and majored in sociology. His interest in social issues lead him to serve in a range of roles from psychiatric support, community education outreach, and counseling. At one point, Al even helped mediate tensions between gangs and law enforcement in order to prevent violence from erupting. Since arriving in Las Vegas in 1998, Al has been working alongside diverse communities to build solidarity. Today, he works as a supervisor for the Whitney Recreation Center and leader in Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting, and the Outdoors (HECHO). As Al would describe himself, he is “a proud Mexican Latino American, a Tejano with a Chicano attitude”.
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The Charles A. Hendel Notebook is comprised of one notebook of poetry and prose written by Charlie Hendel between 1960 and 1976. Topics include the state of Nevada, World War II, American nationalism, and biographical materials about Charles Hendel.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Flora and Stuart Mason conducted by David G. Schwartz on February 27, 2010 for the Remembering Jay Sarno Oral History Project. Flora Mason begins by discussing the relationship between her family and the Sarnos. Mason describes that she and her husband socialized with Jay and Joyce Sarno in the 1960s because they lived on the same street in Las Vegas, Nevada. Stuart Mason recounts how the Sarnos were incredibly friendly and Jay occasionally invited him to play golf. Mason then chronicles his role as a contractor and the work he did for Jay Sarno throughout his career. He talks about how many of the development ventures of Sarno's were funded by Jimmy Hoffa and the Teamster’s Union. Lastly, Mason discusses how Sarno understood the gaming industry more than any other casino operator and how that was attributed to the success of Caesars Palace.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jay C. Sarno Jr. conducted by David G. Schwartz on July 10, 2008 for the Remembering Jay Sarno Oral History Project. Sarno begins by discussing how his parents met in the early 1950s in Miami, Florida and were married within six weeks. Sarno then describes his family moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1965 and living in the Dunes Hotel for the first three weeks. Sarno then chronicles his parents’ marriage and their divorce in the 1970s. Sarno then recounts his father’s relationship with Jimmy Hoffa and Allen Dorfman and the visits Hoffa made to Las Vegas to see his father. Sarno talks about the way his father treated him and his brother differently than his sisters. Lastly, Sarno discusses how he and his siblings were surprised their father owed the Internal Revenue Service over one million dollars at the time of his death.
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews with Richard Bryan conducted by Kristin Guthre on November 10, 2011 and an unknown date for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Bryan begins by discussing his father’s time as a law student in Washington, D.C. and the influence his father had on his decision to pursue law. Bryan then chronicles moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in the 1940s and growing up in the Huntridge Community near Charleston Boulevard. Bryan recounts attending both the University of Nevada, Reno and the University of California, Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco, California. Bryan describes his experiences in the Las Vegas District Attorney’s office and the Army Reserve. He then recalls his political career as a member of the Nevada Senate, his role as the Attorney General of Nevada, the Governor of Nevada, and as a United States Senator. Lastly, Bryan discusses political issues in Nevada and the United States during his time in office such as debates about renewable energy, environmentalism, and preservation.
Archival Collection
The Nevada Division of State Parks Photograph Collection (approximately 1910-1940) contains black-and-white photographic prints and some corresponding negatives that depict state parks and recreational areas throughout southern Nevada. The images also portray Lake Mead, Hoover Dam, Logandale, the Valley of Fire, and Mount Charleston as well as images of actors filming on location in southern Nevada.
Archival Collection