Oral history interview with Calvin Leavitt conducted by Patricia van Betten on March 09, 2007 for the History of the Blue Diamond Village in Nevada Oral History Project. Leavitt discusses his birth in Mesquite, Nevada at his family's dairy farm, and goes into detail about his schooling in Mesquite. Leavitt describes his family's dairy farm and their conversion from a Grade B to a Grade A farm. He then details his summers spent working odd jobs at the Blue Diamond mine in the summers of 1950 and 1951. Leavitt primarily discusses his outdoor hobbies, namely hunting, fishing, trapping, and rockhounding. He also describes his reasons for moving to Blue Diamond in 1995.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Edith Fernandez conducted by Marcela Rodriguez-Campo and Claytee D. White on September 27, 2018 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. In this interview, Fernandez discusses her upbringing in Las Vegas, Nevada and growing up in the Charleston Heights neighborhood. She recalls living in a predominantly white community, and the growth of Latinx families in that area. Fernandez talks about her educational experience in the city, her father’s involvement with Culinary Worker Union Local 226, and identifying as a Chicana American. Later, Fernandez remembers her involvement with opening the Cambridge Center, working with the Latino Youth Leadership Conference (LVLC), and becoming the District Director for Representative Steven Horsford. Lastly, Fernandez discusses her role as the Associate Vice President at Nevada State College (NSC).
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Javier Barajas conducted by Laurents Banuelos-Benitez, Marcela Rodriguez, and Barbara Tabach on November 20, 2018 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. In this interview, Javier Barajas describes his cultural upbringing and his Mexican heritage. He explains how he helped his grandparents in their restaurant, La Flor Michoacan, and learned how to cook during his time in seminary. He eventually moved to Las Vegas, Nevada to pursue his career. Barajas mentions that his first opportunity to practice cooking was when he worked as an executive chef for the owner of the restaurant Viva Zapata. After the restaurant closed down, Barajas went on to open his own restaurant, El Lindo Michoacan, and it became a popular place to enjoy Mexican cuisine in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history with Nathan Harper conducted by Claytee D. White on July 29, 2022 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Harper describes his childhood and growing up in Wichita, Kansas and how those early days shaped his belief system today. After discussing his experience as a Fulbright Scholar in Cyprus, Harper discusses his role, beginning in 2007, as Archaeologist for the Springs Preserve in Las Vegas, Nevada. He talks about unearthing the history of John Howell, the first Black man in Las Vegas who claimed land near what is now Springs Preserve. He also talks about relocating railroad cottages to the Preserve, restoring, and even decorating the buildings. He talks about the history of early Las Vegas and the area's water supply throughout the interview.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Magdalena Martinez conducted by Monserrath Hernandez and Barbara Tabach on April 4, 2019 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. In this interview, Magdalena Martinez recalls her childhood and growing up in Los Angeles, California. Martinez's parents are from Durango, Mexico, and immigrated to the United States in the 1970s. Martinez describes the generational differences that the women in her family faced and how the feminist movement of the 1970s did not resonate with women of color. Her family moved to Las Vegas in 1986 where she attended Bishop Gorman High School. After transferring to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) from community college and joining a student organization that would later become Student Organization of Latinxs, she became an early member of the Latino Youth Leadership Conference (LYLC) sponsored by the Latin Chamber of Commerce. Martinez describes how the LYLC has evolved over the years, and talks about her role in those changes. She discusses past work for CSN, NSHE, and currently is the Director of Education Programs with the Lincy Institute.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jeffrey Fahl conducted by Claytee D. White on August 5, 2019 for the UNLV School of Medicine Oral History Project. Fahl starts off by talking about his family, early life, and school history. He stated that he went to Hahnemann School of Medicine in 1974 for pediatrics in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He then discusses his residency at Hahnemann Hospital and explained pediatric gastroenterology. Then, Fahl talks about his past mentors, what he had learned from them, and what he plans to do as a mentor to help other pediatric residents. Then, he explains what he does as professor of pediatrics and chair of the anatomy program at University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Lastly, he talks about the accomplishments and awards he was given throughout his time.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Muriel Parks conducted by Judy Drappo on February 26, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Parks discusses her personal history and the history of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). Parks discusses her career working at UNLV as the Director of Admissions and Records, and how the university has changed over time. Parks also discusses the career of Maude Frazier and their personal relationship.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Ann Lynch conducted by Emily Powers on May 27, 2008 for the Heart to Heart Oral History Project. In this interview Ann Lynch discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1959, being camp director for the Girl Scout program at Mount Charleston, and being highly involved with the Parent Teacher Association (PTA), not only at the local level, but at the state level as well. She also discusses being elected as Nevada PTA President, being one of the founding members of the Sunrise Hospital Children's Foundation and the Public Education Foundation, and lobbying in the Nevada State Legislature and in Washington, D.C.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Arthur Cummings conducted by Stefani Evans and Peyton McCord on April 26, 2017 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Cummings discusses his early life in Long Island, New York. He recalls his initial interest in real estate, moving to Las Vegas, Nevada to sell houses, and describes the real estate market during the mid-1990s. Cummings explains the importance of maintaining a good credit score, and the idea of financial preparedness as a way to avoid legal problems. Later, Cummings talks about obtaining a real estate license in Nevada, selling homes in Summerlin and the southwest portion of the Las Vegas Valley. Lastly, Cummings discusses building up clientele in the real estate industry.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Paul Sarno conducted by David G. Schwartz on July 13, 2007 for the Remembering Jay Sarno Oral History Project. Sarno begins by discussing the Sarno family, his grandparents, their Jewish heritage, and the early life of his uncle, Jay Sarno, and his father. Sarno then describes how his uncle married a lot later than his older siblings and he was the only one who had personal hobbies such as golf. Sarno then chronicles his uncle’s role as a businessman in Las Vegas, Nevada and how he only visited Las Vegas once because his father was a gambling addict. Lastly, Sarno discusses everything he knew about his uncle’s relationship with Allen Dorfman, the Teamster’s Union, and his legal troubles with the Internal Revenue Service.
Archival Collection