Since its founding in 2003, the Oral History Research Center (OHRC) has collected oral histories as part of focused projects designed to produce a series of interrelated histories. Projects are described below.
Las Vegas is rapidly becoming a major sports and entertainment destination, home to teams such as the Vegas Golden Knights, Las Vegas Aces, UNLV Rebels, Las Vegas Aviators, and Las Vegas Raiders, with Major League Baseball’s Athletics expected to arrive soon.
Building on this momentum, the Oral History Research Center (OHRC), part of Special Collections and Archives (SCA), launched the Game On! The Oral History of Las Vegas Sports project to document the history and growth of sports in Las Vegas.
Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American & Pacific Islander Oral History Project was a three-year, $300,000 oral history project documenting the experiences of Asian American and Pacific Islander communities in Las Vegas and Southern Nevada.
The Oral History Research Center collected 130 interviews, each of which was edited, cataloged, bound, and digitized. Although AAPI communities represent more than 10 percent of Clark County’s population, they have been historically underrepresented in the region’s archival record.
UNLV Remembers: An Oral History of the 6 December 2023 Shooting documents the events of the December 6, 2023 shooting on the UNLV campus and its aftermath. The project seeks to enhance the historical record through first-hand accounts of the tragedy.
Interviews include students, faculty, staff, and community members, focusing on personal experiences, as well as campus and community response and recovery efforts. Together, these narratives preserve an important and difficult moment in the university’s history and provide insight into resilience and collective memory.
The Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project, OHRC’s inaugural initiative, documents the history of Las Vegas through the personal narratives of its residents. Interviews capture experiences of daily life, community development, and political activity across the city’s history.
The project is ongoing and continues to expand its scope and representation, including voices from dancers and showgirls, service workers, politicians, educators, and others who have shaped Las Vegas.
The project is named for Dr. Harold Boyer, whose support helped establish OHRC and ensured the continuation of future oral history projects.
All That Jazz: Those Who Played with the Greats documents Las Vegas entertainment history from the perspective of musicians who performed on the Strip.
Interviews explore what it was like to perform alongside major entertainers, as well as changes in the music industry and the impact of labor decisions on live performance. The project offers insight into a lesser-documented dimension of Las Vegas entertainment history.
The Blue Diamond Oral History Project documents the history of the Blue Diamond community through interviews conducted by local residents. The village, located in Red Rock Canyon, has a long history tied to gypsum mining and rural life in Southern Nevada.
With training from OHRC, community volunteers collected nearly 100 interviews and developed related initiatives, including securing nonprofit status and producing a play based on the oral histories. The project reflects a grassroots approach to preserving local history and community identity.
Building Las Vegas documents the region’s rapid growth between 1970 and 2010, a period during which Southern Nevada’s population expanded dramatically and its built environment transformed.
Conducted between 2016 and 2020, the project collected more than 140 oral histories with individuals who contributed to this development, including urban planners, architects, and others. The project provides valuable insight into the forces that shaped the modern landscape of Las Vegas and supports research across multiple disciplines.
Documenting the African American Experience in Las Vegas is a true community-based project exploring the history and contributions of African Americans in Las Vegas through oral histories and archival materials. Conducted between 2012 and 2017, it brought together community advisors, cultural institutions, and local agencies.
In addition to oral histories, the project collected photographs, documents, and manuscripts, and developed an online portal providing access to these materials. In collaboration with Vegas PBS, it also produced a documentary and a K–12 curriculum, extending its impact beyond the archive.
Heart to Heart: A History of Early Health Care in Las Vegas documents the development of health care in Las Vegas from its early years to the present. The project explores the challenges faced by medical professionals in a rapidly growing and often underserved region.
Interviews include doctors, nurses, and other health care workers, tracing the evolution of local medical facilities from early, informal settings to modern institutions. The project provides insight into both the history of health care and the broader development of the city.
Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada documents the histories and experiences of Latinx communities in Las Vegas and surrounding areas. Launched in 2018, the project emphasizes both oral history and community engagement.
The project collected more than 200 interviews and involved students in documenting community narratives. By encouraging intergenerational storytelling, it highlights the diversity of experiences within Latinx communities and strengthens connections between the university and the public.
Remembering One October documents the October 1, 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas through oral histories. The project preserves first-hand accounts of one of the deadliest mass shootings in U.S. history.
More than 135 interviews have been collected from first responders, witnesses, and survivors. These narratives capture the immediate impact of the event as well as its lasting effects on individuals and the community.
The Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project documents the history and contributions of Jewish communities in the region. Conducted between 2014 and 2018, the project combines oral histories with extensive archival collection and digitization efforts.
More than 200 oral histories were recorded, and over 24,000 historical items were digitized. The project also includes archival collections, biographies, and interpretive materials available through an online portal, supporting research into the Jewish experience in Southern Nevada.
UNLV @ Fifty documents the early history of the university in celebration of its 50th anniversary in 2007. The project captures institutional milestones and the experiences of those who helped shape the campus.
The Oral History Research Center conducted more than 60 interviews with faculty, staff, and alumni. These accounts provide insight into early student life, campus traditions, and the development of the university’s identity.
Voices of the Historic John S. Park Neighborhood documents the history of Las Vegas’s first residential neighborhood listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The neighborhood has been home to generations of residents, including civic leaders and public officials.
Interviews explore community life, neighborhood change, and efforts to preserve its historic character. The project also captures stories of local events and conflicts, offering a detailed view of one of Las Vegas’s most significant residential areas.
West Charleston Neighborhoods: An Oral History Project of Ward 1 documents the history of neighborhoods in west Las Vegas, including Artesian Heights, Rancho, Scotch Eighties, and others. These communities are known for their long-standing residents and distinctive character.
Interviews capture multigenerational experiences and community identity, as well as changes in the area over time. The project contributes to a broader understanding of neighborhood development and preservation in Las Vegas.
Additional oral history collections preserved in the archives
The Arnold Shaw interviews document the early history of Las Vegas entertainment through conversations with prominent performers. The collection reflects the era of major live entertainment on the Strip.
Interview subjects include Debbie Reynolds, Wayne Newton, Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gormé, Joe Williams, and Paul Anka. These interviews are available onsite only
The Oral History of the Public School Principalship documents the experiences of public school principals across the United States. Initiated in 1986 by Patrick W. Carlton, it captures the perspectives of administrators at the elementary, middle, and high school levels.
The collection includes approximately 400 interviews conducted in multiple states. The project was transferred to UNLV in 2000 and continued through 2010, providing a substantial record of educational leadership.
The Ralph Roske interviews document the early history of Las Vegas through a large-scale oral history initiative led by UNLV History Professor Ralph Roske. Beginning in the 1970s, Roske trained students to collect interviews as part of public history coursework.
Together, Roske and his students collected nearly 1,200 interviews. This body of work forms one of the foundational oral history collections on Las Vegas.
The Nevada Test Site Oral History Project documents the experiences of individuals connected to Cold War nuclear testing in Southern Nevada. Conducted between 2003 and 2008, the project captures a wide range of perspectives.
Interviewees include scientists, engineers, laborers, military personnel, Native American community members, and others affected by testing. The collection includes more than 150 interviews and related materials, many of which are accessible online.