Search the Special Collections and Archives Portal
Search Results
Ron Current interview, March 16, 2012: transcript
Ron Current's heart was always in the right place, with respect to social activism and his dedication to empowering the black community in Las Vegas. Inspired by Black Panther Party founders, Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale, Ron started the Black Panther Party Las Vegas Chapter. He was also the director of public relations for the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression; an organization created to work in tandem with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, NAACP, to eliminate racial inequality. Ron describes the overall atmosphere of the Westside community in Las Vegas during the early days, as chaotic, drug infested, and riddled with daily gang related shootings. He also recalls the historic preservation attempts made by leading members of the Westside community, such as Sarann Knight Preddy. Ron recalls working at the University Medical Center while recruiting for the Black Panther Party Las Vegas Chapter. This interview demonstrates the power of love. As the founder and leader of the Black Panther Party Las Vegas Chapter, Ron was named one of the most influential blacks in Las Vegas by the Sentinel Voice. He recalls utilizing his hands-on leadership approach towards capacity building and the successful implementation of community mobilization strategies and methods. He was a champion for educational equity, equal access to employment opportunities, and economic equality in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Text
Newspaper clipping, NAACP Bachelor of the Year Fund Raising Affair, publication unknown, April 29, 1976
Newspaper clipping with photograph featuring Toni Miller from Western Airlines buying an advertisement from NAACP representatives Saran Knight, Eleanor Walker and Lubertha Johnson.
Text
Newspaper clipping, Photograph with black community leaders, Homecoming Committee, publication and date unknown
Newspaper clipping of photograph with caption: Homecoming Committee -- Left to right - Sarann Knight, Rev. Willie Davis, Lubertha M. Johnson, Rev. Jesse D. Scott, and Judge Addelair D. Guy.
Text
Newspaper clipping, Photograph with Verlia Davis presenting oral histories, The Advertiser, February 21, 1979
Newspaper clipping with photograph featuring Verlia Davis, Sarann Knight, Lubertha Johnson and Arlone Scott receiving oral histories taken in the 1970s for "The Black Experience in Southern Nevada."
Text
Photograph of NAACP fundraiser at Valley View Golf Club, circa 1965
Black and white photograph of Dr. James B. McMillan, J. David Hoggard, Herb Mills, Claude Perkins, Sarann Knight, Willie "Punch" Hughes, and Lorenzo Calhoun raising money at the NAACP Valley View Golf Club, circa 1965.
Image
Cotton Club (Las Vegas, Nev.)
"The Cotton Club was a club at 500 Jackson St. in the West Side of Las Vegas, Nevada, which was an exclusive club for African Americans. Established in late 1944 as a small bar by Moe Taub... In 1969, [Sarann] Preddy put in a club with Margie Elliot called the Playhouse Lounge at the location. They were unable to obtain a gaming license and after a year, sold the business. It reopened from 1970 to 1985 as "Love's Cocktail Lounge"..." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotton_Club_(Las_Vegas)
Corporate Body
Audio recording clip of interview with D. D. Cotton by Claytee D. White, February 14, 1997
Part of an interview with D. D. Cotton by Claytee White on February 14, 1997. Cotton discusses challenges faced by women dealers and her work as a dancer and dealer in a number of casinos.
Sound
Urban Chamber of Commerce of Las Vegas, Nevada Records
The Urban Chamber of Commerce of Las Vegas, Nevada Records date from approximately 1980 to 2009 and contains the organizational records of the Urban Chamber of Commerce of Las Vegas, Nevada (UCC), one of the many chambers of commerce in the Las Vegas, Nevada area. The mission of the Urban Chamber of Commerce is to create and foster an environment that promotes development of members and Black-owned businesses. The collection is comprised of publications, financial and administrative records, various event information, and photographs of events and membership.
Archival Collection
Black Experience in Southern Nevada
The Black Experience in Southern Nevada Oral History Project features a core set of twelve interviews donated to the UNLV Libraries in the early 1970s. In 1978 the UNLV Libraries Special Collections and Archives received a grant to edit and transcribe the interviews from the U. S. Office of Education, Department of Health, Education, and Welfare and distributed by the Nevada State Library. The project was completed by Elizabeth Nelson Patrick between 1978 and 1979 with an abstract of the interviews distributed statewide.
Corporate Body
Transcript of interview with Bud Weil by Claytee White, December 9, 2003
Bud Weil worked as a disc jockey in Mexico after serving in the military during World War II. In 1947, he moved to Las Vegas to work at KLAS but after two days he was job hunting. His search landed him at KENO, a radio station owned by Max and Laura Belle Kelch. His was an interview show that afforded him entree to stars performing in town. The list of his favorite interviews includes Sophie Tucker, Sammy Davis, Jack Benny, The Mills Brother, Rosemary Clooney, Leno Home, Joey Lewis and many others. In 1955, he became restless, left the career in broadcasting, and joined Max Kelch as a partner in a new venture for Las Vegas - Musak. This enterprise took him to the doors of every business in town and shortly, he knew everybody. He uses that knowledge in this interview to talk about all aspects of life as the town grew over the years. Today he is a senior statesman of our town, enjoying everything about Las Vegas except the traffic.
Text