Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada (UNLV)
Under the direction of Claytee White, the Director of the UNLV Oral History Research Center, and Barbara Tabach, Project Coordinator, UNLV students are collecting oral histories from Latinx residents through May 2020. Students conduct in-depth interviews with a wide array of individuals with different backgrounds and perspectives. The oral histories cover topics such as immigration and settlement, aspirations and challenges, family life, employment and economic issues, religion and culture, gender, neighborhoods and businesses, politics, social and community events, discrimination, activism, and more. The oral histories are transcribed, edited, and made available online for all to study.
Preserving and sharing the life stories of Southern Nevada’s Latinx residents are important because these individuals and communities have played a significant role in our region’s history but are underrepresented in our historical record. Today, approximately 29% of Southern Nevada’s residents and more than 25% of UNLV’s student body are Latinx. Many Latinx residents have greatly influenced the progress of our educational system, multiple business sectors, politics, and cultural life in Southern Nevada. By collecting and preserving these oral histories, the UNLV University Libraries ensures that the perspectives of our region's Latinx residents are reflected in our collections so that present and future generations can learn and study more about their achievements, aspirations, and experiences.
