"The Oral History Research Center’s (OHRC) inaugural project captures the history of the Las Vegas by collecting stories of historical events, neighborhood and family interactions, and political proceedings. Always open-ended, allowing OHRC to interview residents over many decades and to enlarge the demographics whenever necessary, this project houses the history of dancers and showgirls, maids, politicians, golfers, dealers, teachers, and many others that share memories of Las Vegas. The project is named after OHRC's founding benefactor, Dr.
Oral history interview with Billie Rayford conducted by Claytee D. White on May 01, 2018 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Rayford discusses her early life in Jefferson, Texas. She talks about school integration, living during the Jim Crow laws, and the discrimination she experienced at the time. Rayford remembers moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1979, obtaining a teaching position at Rancho High School, and teaching students with special needs. Rayford describes the implementation of empowerment schools in the Clark County School District (CCSD), and her involvement with the dual enrollment program at the College of Southern Nevada (CSN) for CCSD high school students. Later, Rayford discusses her involvement with Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, Les Femmes Douze (The Ladies Twelve), 20 Pearls Foundation, and providing civil services for the Westside community. Lastly, Rayford talks about being a charter member of 100 Black Women.
From the Syphus-Bunker Papers (MS-00169). The folder contains an original handwritten letter, an envelope, a typed transcription of the same letter, and a copy of original letter attached.