The collaborative to Document the African American Experience in Las Vegas is in the process of conducting the second series of roundtable discussions. The first panel filmed in this sequence recalled fact and memories about Berkley Square. On November 6, 2013 the conversation was by Brenda William with panelists that included Esther Langston, Agnes Marshall, Jarmilla McMillan-Arnold, and Courtney Mooney. They examined various aspects of this first subdivision in Nevada built by and for African Americans. Architect Paul Williams designed the homes and the Thomas Berkley acted as financier for Berkley Square which is located approximately 1/2 mile from the center downtown.
One week later, Patricia Cunningham, master talk show host, moderated a panel that discussed Las Vegas black media. Craig Knight (GM KCEP), Ramon Savoy (Editor, Sentinel Voice Newspaper), Roosevelt Toston (first news anchorman of color), and Kim Bailey Tureaud…Read More
By Claytee White, Director of the UNLV Oral History Research Center
Dr. Marcia Robinson, Director of the West Las Vegas Arts Center, called my attention to a group of older women who enjoy tap dance classes at her facility several time per week.
One Sunday afternoon, I met the leader of the group, Carolyn Freeman, wife of jazz great, Russ Freeman. Her enthusiasm captured my attention. That following week, Andres Moses, Regent Awards Program Student, and I went over with the video camera.
The six septuagenarian and octogenarian women of diverse backgrounds were led through intricate steps by a young man fifty years their junior, Lindell Blake. Andres and I immediately scheduled interviews. Please enjoy and grow younger just by watching their moves and listening to their stories.
Videos
This segment from the Boyer Early Las Vegas History Project highlights the memories of Rose Hamilton and friends. Rose, Carolyn, Marilyn, Deloris and Bobbie grew up together in Las Vegas and they are still very good friends.
The interview by Claytee White, Director of the Oral History Research Center, was taped in Bobbie's home on January 20, 2007.
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When the average person talks about Las Vegas as decadent, sinful, dangerous and seedy, I am always the person in the room who argues the opposites. From my vantage point I see a city that is vibrant, exciting and alive with possibilities. Why the difference in perspective? I see Las Vegas from inside average homes where I go to document the city's history. I see Las Vegas as I record stories sitting at a kitchen table sharing a cup of coffee, or in the den with the family dog jumping on my lap, or on a patio listening to memories while watching a sunset.…Read More
On Thursday, May 23, the Neon Museum will host a special program commemorating the 58th anniversary of the opening of Las Vegas’ famed Moulin Rouge Casino. Las Vegas filmmaker Stan Armstrong will screen portions of his latest project, the documentary titled “The Misunderstood Legend of the Las Vegas Moulin Rouge.” Stan will also serve on the panel with Claytee White, director of the Oral History Research Center at UNLV Libraries, and others that may include Katherine Joseph and Jerushia McDonald. Dr. Michael Green, professor of history, College of Southern Nevada, will serve as the panel moderator.
The evening will begin with a meet-and-greet at 5 p.m. with the panelists for Neon Museum members only. Doors will open to the public at 5:30 p.m. and the program will begin promptly at 6 p.m.
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The African American Collaborative Project is holding the third in a series of three Town Hall Meetings on Saturday, 11 May 2013. This meeting will be held at the West Las Vegas Library (951 W. Lake Mead) from 11:00 AM until 1:00 PM. The goal of this project is to collect oral interviews, photographs, and manuscript materials depicting the overarching, pivotal experiences of blacks in Las Vegas.
Please join us for a few hours to:
-tell stories
-share photos from your personal collection
-test your knowledge of historical facts
-enjoy light…Read More
NATIONAL PRESERVATION WEEK
April 21 -27, 2013
This year, University Libraries will participating in National Preservation Week.
Libraries all over the country will present events, activities, and resources that highlight what we can do, individually and together, to preserve our personal and shared collections.
In honor of Preservation Week, University Libraries will be hosting a Preservation Open House, on the 3rd Floor of the Lied Library. April 27th, 2013; Saturday (2:00 -5:00 pm).
Our focus this year will be RARE BOOK COLLECTING, and our afternoon event will feature a Panel Discussion. Experts will be sharing stories and experiences about working with rare books. This local event is FREE and open to the public.
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UNLV Libraries and the History Department in the College of Liberal Arts are hosting the annual conference of The Southwest Oral History Association (SOHA) from Thursday, April 4 through Saturday evening April 6, 2013. Caryll Dziedziak, history professor, is conference chair and assumes the organization’s presidency this year. Under her leadership, SOHA is seeking to become a research entity on our campus sponsored by the College of Liberal Arts and UNLV Libraries. For more information please contact Claytee White.
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The Oral History Research Center has reached its Tenth Year of collecting the history of Southern Nevada! The party will be held on Sunday afternoon, May 5, 2013 at 3:00 to celebrate not only the art of collecting oral history but of training community groups to collect their history, conducting workshops throughout campus, working with researchers from the world community with a focused concentration on our students, and forming group projects to ensure that Las Vegas history is captured and preserved for future generations. The center also engages in writing and presenting the history of our region at conferences, panel discussions, presentations and as written documentation in books and journals. Over the next ten years, the center intends to engage our students at a new and exciting level, continue to present UNLV in individual and group settings throughout the city, and teach the value of the interviewing process as a critical primary source that allows the inclusion of all…Read More
The African American Collaborative Project is collecting oral interviews, photographs, and manuscript materials depicting the overarching, pivotal experiences of blacks in Las Vegas.
The project’s span is from 3 – 5 years with partners that include
- UNLV Libraries
- Vegas PBS
- Las Vegas Clark County Public Libraries
- Las Vegas National Bar Association
- Henderson Libraries
- Weiner-Rogers Law Library
- Nevada State Museum
- Las Vegas National Bar Association
- Clark County Museum
A group of community advisors that assisted in organizing a series of panels filmed by Vegas PBS and an ongoing Town Hall Meetings at the West Las Vegas library is comprised of Jarmilla McMillan-Arnold, Hannah Brown, Brenda Williams, Sonya Horsford, EdD, Clare Sampson, Courtney Mooney, and Todd Robinson, PhD.
For more information please contact the Director of the Oral History Research Center…Read More
