On February 29, 1980, Annie Shum interviewed Lilly Fong about her experiences as an educator and resident in Southern Nevada. Born in Superior, Arizona in 1926, Fong would eventually move to Las Vegas after marrying her husband, Wing Fong. Prior to this move, she received her education in both China and Arizona; she later completed her master’s degree in education at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). In the interview, Fong talks briefly about her background and eventual move to Las Vegas. She describes how her educational career started at the historic Fifth Street School as a third grade teacher in 1950. Fong also lists several organizations of which she was a part, including the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) and the American Association of University Women (AAUW). Fong also mentioned that she and her husband opened their own Chinese restaurant, Fong’s Garden, on East Charleston Boulevard in 1955. Later in the interview, Fong describes her campaign for the Nevada State Board of Regents in 1974 where she would make several accomplishments in the development of UNLV, including the building of its Fine Arts Complex. Fong later talks about Chinese traditions in which she would take part as well as her life in China from 1930 to 1937. The interview concludes with Fong’s thoughts on the Asian Studies program at UNLV and her personal perspective on religion.
Tracye Ann Collins interviews teacher Judith Ann Allaire in her classroom at Valley High School in Las Vegas, Nevada. Allaire was born in Chicago, Illinois on March 24th, 1944, and relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1955. This interview covers education, growing up in Las Vegas, and politics in Nevada. Allaire also discusses the various job titles she has held, such as medical social worker, secretary, cocktail waitress, drug counselor, dancer, and teacher, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
On March 4, 1980, collector Denise Wolff interviewed truck driver and teacher, William E. “Bilbo” Helms (born on December 7th, 1932 in Memphis, Tennessee) in an office room at Bonanza High School in Las Vegas, Nevada. This interview covers the transformation, growth, and development of the public education system in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Patrick W. Carlton Papers on the Oral History of the Public School Principalship Project
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Collection Number: MS-00829 Collection Name: Patrick W. Carlton Papers on the Oral History of the Public School Principalship Project Box/Folder: Box 05