Oral history interview with Debbie Conway conducted by Claytee White on March 03, 2013 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview Debbie Conway speaks about how in 2007 she was the first African American to be elected as the County Recorder in Clark County and in the State of Nevada. She also talked about how she has held various other roles such as Clark County’s Business Development Manager, co-founder of the Summer Business Institute, and producer/host of an economics talk show on KCEP radio.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Emma Stampley conducted by Claytee D. White on October 22, 2007 for the UNLV University Libraries Oral History Collection. In this interview, Stampley discusses her early life in Fayette, Mississippi and growing up in a family of farmers. She remembers segregated schools, the living conditions during that time, and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1968. Stampley talks about participating in the civil and welfare rights movements, and the foundation of Operation Life. Lastly, Stampley recalls traveling to civil and welfare rights movement marches, police harassment, and the African American experience in Las Vegas during that time.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Nittaya Parawong conducted by Cecilia Winchell, Stefani Evans, and Jerwin Tiu on March 17, 2022 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project.
In this interview, Nittaya Parawong discusses her upbringing in Northeastern Thailand, her parents' restaurant and family recipes, and her business education in Bangkok, Thailand as a teenager. Wanting more than a corporate lifestyle, Parawong decided to immigrate to the United States, briefly living in Orlando, Florida before moving to Las Vegas, Nevada. She recalls bussing tables at a local Thai restaurant and attending English classes at College of Southern Nevada (CSN) before opening her own restaurant, Jasmine Thai Gourmet, at the age of 25. Now, Parawong is the owner of Nittaya's Secret Kitchen, Nittaya's Little Kitchen, and Block9 Thai Street Eats in Las Vegas. She shares memories and traditions of Thai celebrations, her views on Buddhism, personal cooking philosophy, and restaurant offerings.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Ruthe Deskin conducted by Anthony Ferri on April 17, 2000 for the Communication and Community in Las Vegas research study. In this interview, Deskin talks about her upbringing in Yerington, Nevada, her degree in journalism from the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR), and her permanent move to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1945. She discusses her early jobs working for KENO and KLAS radio stations as an advertising and continuity editor, her public relations work for the Last Frontier Hotel, and then starting what would become her life work with Hank Greenspun's Las Vegas Sun newspaper in 1954. Later, she talks about her column "Memo to Hank" and Greenspun's "Where I Stand" column, about how Las Vegas changed over her fifty year tenure at the newspaper, politicians, racial inequality, and highlights of her career.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Kathleen Kahn Mahon conducted by Barbara Tabach on December 03, 2018 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. In this interview, Mahon discusses her family’s upbringing in New Mexico and talks about her Jewish education as a child. Mahon describes her family’s role in the founding of Congregation Albert in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Temple Beth Shalom in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She then talks about moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1980, taking on a pediatric ophthalmologist position, and being involved in the pediatric community. Mahon recalls becoming the first female president of the Nevada Chapter of the American College of Surgeons and her involvement with the Junior League of Las Vegas. Lastly, Mahon discusses the Ronald McDonald House, the Pediatric Society, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and being a founding member of the Children's Discovery Museum.
Archival Collection
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From the Roosevelt Fitzgerald Professional Papers (MS-01082) -- Personal and professional papers file.
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The Las Vegas Porcelain Artists Records span from 1975 to 1993 and document the history of the Las Vegas, Nevada, non-profit organization that was a division of the World Organization of China Painters (WOCP). The collection includes club by-laws, membership lists, convention pamphlets, promotional materials, correspondence, membership applications, meeting minutes, and financial information. It also includes photo albums, slides, negatives, a cookbook, and other documents.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Bernard and Barbara Kaufman conducted by Barbara Tabach on October 27, 2014 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. In this interview, the Kaufmans reflect upon their upbringing in St. Louis, Missouri, where they met and married, and making the decision to move to Las Vegas, Nevada. They discuss the experience of running their stores and the impact on business as the retail environment changed over the years. The Kaufmans also talk about their involvement with the Jewish community, including B’nai B’rith and Sisterhood, and how it has grown over the years. They also discuss the impact of the Jewish community members in gaming as well as other sectors, and the increase of congregations over the decades.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Gwendolyn Walker conducted by Claytee D. White on July 15, 2014 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. Walker discusses her mother founding S.W.A.P. (Students With a Purpose) and the Swapettes, the first precision drill team in Las Vegas, Nevada. Walker also talks about collecting African American memorabilia and founding the Walker African American Museum, and some notable family members.
Archival Collection
