New from the School of Medicine Library

Eadington Gaming Fellow Matias Karekallas | In Residence March 19 - April 8

Matias Karekallas

Special Collections and the Center for Gaming Research welcome Eadington Gaming Fellow, Matias Karekallas.

Karekallas is a sociology Ph.D. student in the Department of Social Research at the University of Helsinki, Finland. He also has a background in cultural geography where he earned his Master's degree. His dissertation approaches gambling from a cultural perspective and examines the (mental) images and places attached to gambling. In addition to gambling, his primary (research) interests include various phenomena related to popular music and…Read More

Eadington Gaming Fellow Lee Scrivner | In Residence March 17 -March 29

Special Collections and the Center for Gaming Research are delighted to welcome Eadington Gaming Fellow, Lee Scrivner.

Lee Scrivner (PhD London 2011, MA Utah 1998, BA Utah 1997) is a Lecturer in American literature and culture sponsored by the US Department of State, currently touring universities in Colombia. Formerly, (2010-2012) he was a Fulbright Lecturer in the Humanities at Bosphorus University in Istanbul, a sessional lecturer at the University of London (2007-2008); and an adjunct professor at UNLV (2001-2005). His…Read More

Eadington Gaming Fellow Michelle Robinson | In Residence March 6-March 19

Michelle Robinson

Special Collections and the Center for Gaming Research are delighted to welcome Eadington Gaming Fellow, Michelle Robinson.

Michelle Robinson is an Assistant Professor of American Studies at UNC-Chapel Hill. She earned a B.A. in English and American Language and Literature from Harvard University and a Master’s of Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School before completing the Ph.D. in Boston University's American and New England Studies Program. Her essays have appeared in Studies in the Novel, Modern Drama, Children’s Literature Association…Read More

Eadington Gaming Fellow Robert Miller | In Residence February 24-March 21

Special Collections and the Center for Gaming Research are delighted to welcome Eadington Gaming Fellow, Robert W. Miller.

Robert Miller is a doctoral candidate in Modern European History at the University of Kansas, under the direction of Dr. Chris Forth. He received degrees in History, Sociology, and Political Science from Eastern Kentucky University, and a Master of Arts degree in History from the University of Kansas.  His research interests include histories of travel, tourism, culture, and consumption. He is primarily a historian of Europe in the…Read More

Caesars Palace Exhibit - 3rd Floor, Lied Library

A model standing in front of the neon sign for Caesars Palace (Las Vegas), August 1966 advertising the grand opening. YESCO Collection, 98-12.

In honor of the recent roundtable on Jay Sarno's life and legacy, Head of Exhibits Peter Michel curated an exhibit on Caesars Palace that is located just outside of the Goldfield Room.  It's drawn from a variety of collections in UNLV Special Collections, and features architectural drawings, menus, photographs, postcards, ephemera,artifacts, and original press releases documenting the history of one of the most legendary Las Vegas hotel/casinos ever built. Much of the material has…Read More

UNLV Libraries Event - Jay Sarno: A Roundtable of His Life and Legacy March 2, 4pm

UNLV Libraries Event - Jay Sarno: A Roundtable Discussion of His Life and Legacy, March 2, 2014

Have you ever wondered about the origins of Caesars Palace and Circus Circus? Learn about the life and legacy of Jay Sarno, the Las Vegas legend behind the construction of these two famous Strip hotels, at this March 2nd panel at the UNLV Libraries.  Moderated by Dave Schwartz, author of Grandissimo: The First Emperor of Las Vegas , the new biography of Sarno, the panel will feature a number of notable Las Vegans including former Las Vegas mayor, Oscar Goodman, casino…Read More

Author Event: UNLV Libraries Center for Gaming Research: Dr. Larry Gragg, Feb 23, 4-6pm

Enjoy an illuminating Sunday afternoon this spring attending one of the author events sponsored by the Center for Gaming Research in the UNLV Libraries.  First up on February 23, Dr. Larry Gragg, Curator's Teaching Professor of History and Chair of the Department of History and Political Science at Missouri University of Science and Technology. Dr. Gragg will be speaking about his book Bright Light City: Las Vegas in Popular Culture   and the research he is currently working on for his biography of Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel. RSVP by Monday February…Read More

Vegas PBS Panel Discussions

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

Living to Dance: Tapping in Las Vegas

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

Rose Hamilton & Friends

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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