Oral history interview with J. K. Russ conducted by Claytee D. White on December 22, 2017 for the Remembering 1 October Oral History Project. In this interview, Russ discusses her early life in New Zealand and growing up on a tobacco farm. She remembers arriving to the United States and establishing a career as an artist. Russ talks about the 1 October shooting, creating an art exhibit using cards and letters received from people all over the world, and Las Vegas’ response to the tragedy. Lastly, Russ describes the art community in Las Vegas and the Arts District.
Oral history interview with Megan Griffard conducted by Claytee D. White and Stefani Evans on August 22, 2024 for the UNLV Remembers: an Oral History of the 6 December 2023 Shootings project. In this interview, Griffard, UNLV assistant professor in the educational policy and leadership program, describes taking her 18-month-old daughter to the UNLV/CSUN Preschool on the UNLV campus before going to her office. She initially planned to go to the Student Union, where her colleagues had prepared poster presentations when she received the first alert and hid under her desk. Her husband called to tell her he had been called to prepare for mass casualties at UMC and the freeway was closed. She texted her dad, her coworkers, and called the preschool while hiding under her desk. She describes trying to get to the Methodist Church across Maryland Parkway, the designated spot for the preschool parents to be transported to the preschool to pick up their children. When her turn finally came, she was driven to the school and passed through layers of security before she could retrieve her daughter. Her husband soon arrived and the family was eventually able to go home together. The next day, Griffard returned to campus with her colleague who had been in the Student Union. The following Monday, Griffard and her coworkers held a Zoom meeting to check in with each other and talk about their experiences. She talks about the importance of finding the right therapist, learning how to process painful events, and realizing how her recovery has helped her shut down a tendency to people-please. Digital audio and transcript available.
Archival Collection
UNLV Remembers: an Oral History of the 6 December 2023 Shooting interviews
Oral history interview with Mary Hawkins conducted by Bill Murphy on June 22, 1972 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In her interview Hawkins discusses her reasons for moving to Las Vegas, Nevada and the developmental changes she has seen occur in Las Vegas.