Oral history interviews with Thalia Dondero conducted by Suzanne Becker on March 10, 2008 and August 22, 2008 for the Women's Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN) Las Vegas Women Oral History Project. Dondero opens her interviews discussing why she became involved with the Las Vegas, Nevada Parent Teacher Association (PTA) and eventually the Nevada State PTA. Dondero then describes her work with the Girl Scouts and her election campaign for a seat on the Clark County Commission. Dondero also discusses Las Vegas city development and how the city has flooding issues. Later Dondero discusses her membership in the Las Vegas Junior League and her work throughout the state to supervise the living conditions of foster care children. Lastly, she describes her experience as a commissioner working to ensure various goods and services were available to the community.
Archival Collection
The Dorothy Dorothy Photograph Collection (approximately 1910-1985) consists of black-and-white photographic prints and negatives as well as colored transparencies of Dorothy Dorothy. Included are photographs of campaigns, meetings, and banquets with various local and federal politicians. Also included are photographs of her husband, Dale Dorothy, and their ranch in Pahrump, Nevada.
Archival Collection
The Beckley Family Photograph Collection (approximately 1891-1982) consists of black-and-white photographic prints and negatives and color photographic slides. The images depict the Beckley family, their businesses in southern Nevada, and Las Vegas, Nevada as the city developed during the first half of the twentieth century. Also included are images of airplanes at the first Las Vegas airport Anderson Field, later renamed Rockwell Field in 1925, Fremont Street in Las Vegas, and postcards of mining towns across southern Nevada.
Archival Collection
The Claudine Williams Photograph Collection (approximately 2007-2009) consists of nine optical disks containing ninety-eight digital surrogate images dating between 1940 and 2000. The images primarily portray Claudine Williams in publicity images for various hotel and casinos Williams and her husband owned alongside prominent individuals, including Dean Martin, Hillary and Bill Clinton, and Robert Reich. Other images depict Williams in her youth and with her family members. Additional materials include images of Williams’ business cards, articles in various Las Vegas and Nevada magazines and newspapers on Williams, and images of properties Williams operated.
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews with Sook-ja Kim conducted by Myoung-ja Lee Kwon on February 12, 1996 and April 06, 1996 for the Women's Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN) Las Vegas Women Oral History Project. Kim begins her interview discussing her family's background in singing in Korea and she then transitions to her and her sisters' arrival to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1959. Kim discusses their Las Vegas act, singing rock 'n' roll tunes at the Thunderbird Hotel. Kim goes on to discuss her groups' big break, performing on the Ed Sullivan Show. Kim describes how this event ignited a successful touring period for the sisters and the eventual launching of another group, the Kim Brothers, comprised of Sook-ja Kim's brothers. Kim ends the interview discussing what challenges Koreans face when moving to America and important information she thinks future Korean immigrants should know or consider.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Stella Champo Iaconis conducted by Kay Long on May 14, 1997, May 21, 1997, May 26, 1997, and September 22, 1997 for the Women's Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN) Las Vegas Women Oral History Project. Iaconis opens her interviews discussing her difficult upbringing and life on a ranch in Las Vegas, Nevada with her dad in the 1910s and 1920s. Iaconis then describes her experiences as a waitress in Las Vegas. As the interviews continue, Iaconis discusses Block 16 and sex work, the Helldorado Days, and life in 1930s Las Vegas. Iaconis ends the interview talking about her father and his career as a miner; her many husbands; and her personal history in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews with Nancy Houssels conducted by Caryll Batt Dziedziak on November 18, 1998, December 07, 1998, and December 14, 1998 for the Women's Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN) Las Vegas Women Oral History Project. Houssels begins her interviews discussing her childhood in California and the influence World War II had on her upbringing. Houssels then talks about her dance training and career including topics on her auditions, her dance partners, and touring Europe in the 1960s. Houssels describes coming to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1968 where she was booked as a dancer in Folies Bergere at the Tropicana Hotel. Houssels then discusses the influences Mormonism and adiago ballet had on her life. Houssels then describes how she co-founded the Nevada Ballet Theatre with Vassili Sulich, performances of the company, their dancers, and community outreach.
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews with Renee Diamond conducted by Caryll Batt Dziedziak on November 17, 1997, November 20, 1997, November 27, 1997, and November 30, 1997 for the Women's Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN) Las Vegas Women Oral History Project. Diamond begins her interviews describing her childhood and young adult life in Los Angeles, California. Diamond then discusses her interest in organizing, which started with the Rumford Fair Housing Act campaign. Diamond talks about continuing her activism with the Women's Democratic Club in Las Vegas, Nevada after she moved there in 1972. Diamond discusses Las Vegas in the 1970s, the activist community at the time, Ruby Duncan, and the importance of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). Diamond goes on to describe the ERA extensively, including the benefits of passing the ERA, campaigns and challenges specific to Nevada, and locals involved in the efforts. Diamond also talks about working with the National Organization of Women (NOW), and her presidency in the Women's Democratic Club.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with J. David Hoggard conducted by Claytee White and unnamed interviewer on various dates in 1997, 1998, and 1999 for the Women's Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN). Hoggard discusses serving in World War II, being transferred to Nellis Air Force Base in 1945, and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada from New Jersey in 1946. He also recalls becoming one of the first African American police officers in Las Vegas, and working in the Clark County School District for 15 years. Hoggard then discusses his involvement with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), including serving as chapter president for four years.
Archival Collection
The UNLV December 6, 2023 Memorial Collection (2023-2025) contains material documenting the response to the deadly shooting on UNLV's Maryland Parkway campus on December 6, 2023. The collection contains items left at spontaneous memorials, such as handwritten notecards, small religious tokens, bracelets, teddy bears, and artificial flowers. Also included in the collection are videos of the UNLV vigil service held on December 13, 2023, archived UNLV websites, and condolence items sent to campus administration. Additionally, two members of the UNLV community donated their personal photographs and journal entries relating to the day of the shooting.
Archival Collection
