Transcript of interview with Eugene Buford by Claytee D. White, September 12, 2006
Metadata
- Digital ID
- ohr000127
- Title
- Transcript of interview with Eugene Buford by Claytee D. White, September 12, 2006
- Narrator
- Material Set
- Interviewer
- White, Claytee D.
- Description
- Interview with Eugene Buford conducted by Claytee D. White on September 12, 2006. Buford came to Las Vegas as a child from Birmingham, Alabama. He held a variety of jobs, including washing dishes at the Last Frontier and delivering ice to casinos like the Flamingo and the Stardust, and ultimately retired after thirty-six years with the Post Office. Buford's great grandmother, Mary Nettles, was instrumental in the formation and growth of the NAACP chapter in Las Vegas, and he recalls meetings in her house and his own role as president of the Junior League NAACP. Buford shares memories of historical locations and events such as Helldorado, Block 16, and Carver Park, and several important figures in Las Vegas history, including James B. McMillan, Charles West, Jimmy Gay, Benny Binion, and the mafia.
- Abstract
- Eugene Buford came to Las Vegas from Birmingham, Alabama, when he was two years old with his mother and grandmother. He held several jobs during his life in Las Vegas, including washing dishes at the Last Frontier and delivering ice to casinos like the Flamingo and the Stardust. He is currently retired, after spending thirty-six years working for the Post Office. Buford's great grandmother, Mary Nettles, was instrumental in the start and growth of the NAACP chapter in Las Vegas. Buford recalls his great grandmother holding meetings in her house and his own role as president of a Junior League NAACP. It was these early experiences that opened Buford's eyes to prejudice and discrimination. Much of his interview reflects upon what it was like being an African American growing up in Las Vegas. He recalls the attitude of the community at various moments in history and compares them to his own feelings of the time. Buford also expresses many memories of important figures in Las Vegas history, including James B. McMillan, Charles West, Jimmy Gay, Benny Binion, and the mob. In addition, Buford reflects on historical locations and events of the city, such as Helldorado, Block 16, and Carver Park.
- Identified Individuals
- Identified Corporate Bodies
- Neighborhood City / Town
- Source
- CT247 .B83 2007
- Original Collection
- Original Date (interview)
- 2006-09-12
- Subject (FAST)
- DC Type
- Genre (TGM)
- Specific Genre (LCSH)
- Language
- Rights
- This material may be protected by copyright. Personal, including educational and academic, use of this material is without restriction; but acknowledgement of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, University Libraries is requested whether the use is oral, web or in print. Commercial use of any portion of this material requires permission. For further information please contact Digital Collections: http://digital.library.unlv.edu/contact. This document is an oral history. It is a spoken account of certain events and phenomena recorded at one particular moment and filtered through one individual's life experience, sensibility, and memory. As such, it should be considered a primary source rather than a final, verified, or complete narrative of the events it records.
- Digital Publisher
- University of Nevada Las Vegas
- Digital Collection
- Master Extent
- 2285 x 3131 pixels; 7.6 x 10.4 inches; 21,772,173 bytes; 51 images
- Master File Format
- Master File Quality
- 24 bit color; 300 ppi
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