“The Women Who Saved History”

Welcome to the final episode of the Women Who Saved History Project with Su Kim Chung and Claytee White! Today, we are reflecting on this project we have put together and discussing some key points. You’ll hear all about the interviews we have done, and we even discuss a few women we wished we could’ve included in these interviews, but unfortunately couldn’t. Finally, we thank some people who have...

From showgirls to scholars, Su Kim Chung has dedicated her career to keeping Nevada’s history alive! In this episode of the Women Who Saved History, our very own Su Kim is opening up about how her love of history led to her career as an archivist and educator. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about Su Kim’s work, how it has been used in Nevada, her work with Jerry Jackson and the Mesquite Club, some of...

Imagine walking into a boarded-up courthouse, its windows gone and walls crumbling, and having the opportunity to help bring it back to life. In this episode of Women Who Saved History, host Claytee White and scholar Su Kim Chung speak with Ellen Knowlton, former FBI Special Agent in Charge of the Las Vegas Division, about her journey from FBI service to founding chair of The Mob Museum’s board. E...

Preserving Nevada’s history takes passion, persistence, and a deep respect for place—qualities that define Dr. Heidi Swank’s work. During this episode, Su Kim Chung sits down with Dr. Heidi Swank to talk about her work in preserving Nevada’s history. From an early interest in history to a career as a linguistic anthropologist, Heidi’s path led to founding the Nevada Preservation Foundation, whose...

What sparks a community’s love for its own story? In this episode of The Women Who Saved History, Claytee White and Su Kim Chung sit down with Alicia Barber, a public historian, writer, and founder of Stories in Place, to find out how she has redefined what it means to preserve Nevada’s past. Alicia shares how childhood road trips across America ignited her passion for place and how her fascinatio...

What does it take to ensure women’s stories and accomplishments aren’t lost to history? In this powerful episode of The Women Who Saved History, we explore the legacy of Marlene Adrian, an athlete, scholar, and visionary who devoted the last three decades of her life to documenting and championing the contributions of Nevada women. Hosts Claytee White and Su Kim Chung are joined by Denise Duarte,...

Much of our history risks being lost if it isn’t recorded. In this episode, Su Kim Chung speaks with nuclear historian Dr. Mary Palevsky Granados about her vital work preserving Nevada’s history. We begin by exploring Dr. Palevsky Granados’s rich cultural heritage and the profound influence of her family history. From there, we dive into her career path, entrepreneurial spirit, and research journe...

The U.S. government’s relationship with Indigenous peoples is long and fraught, and its impact is still deeply felt today. In this episode, we’re joined by Mary Gibson, founder and executive director of the Noowuh (Shoshone) Knowledge Center in Nevada, a Nevada-based nonprofit focused on cultural preservation. A Western Shoshone enrolled with the Te-Moak Tribe, Mary is also a librarian and archivi...

Who ensures that women’s voices and contributions aren’t lost to history? In today’s episode of The Women Who Saved History, hosts Claytee White and Su Kim Chung speak with historian Joanne Goodwin, whose work has been crucial in documenting Nevada women’s history. As Professor Emerita of History and Director Emerita of the Women’s Research Institute of Nevada at UNLV, Joanne helped establish the...

In preserving Nevada state history, it’s essential that all groups are represented. Today, we are joined by Lynette Sawyer, cultural collector and founder of the Hispanic Museum of Nevada, an institution committed to driving awareness of diverse Hispanic cultures to foster greater intercultural understanding. In our conversation, we hear from Lynette about her upbringing in New York and how her pa...

How do we pay honor to our histories and build alongside them instead of paving over them?  This episode is an in-depth conversation with the inimitable Director of Oral History at UNLV, Claytee D. White. Join us as she shares her early experiences of connecting with the Black community through oral history before entering into a career in this field. We discuss the migration to Las Vegas, address...

What does it take to preserve a vital yet painful chapter of history? In this episode, Claytee White and scholar Su Kim Chung interview Sherry Rupert, former Indian Affairs Director for Nevada and Executive Director of the Nevada Indian Commission. Sherry, now CEO of the American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association (AIANTA), shares her remarkable journey as the driving force behind the restor...

Imagine growing up in a town where your backyard view was the open desert and the iconic Las Vegas Strip was no more than a collection of scattered hotels, gas stations, and coffee shops. In this episode, Su Kim Chung speaks with filmmaker, historian, and author Lynn Zook about her mission to preserve the history of the Las Vegas she grew up in: a town built on the dreams and hard work of everyday...

For over 50 years, Gwendolyn K. Walker has been a driving force in preserving Nevada’s African American history. In this episode, host Erica Vital-Lazare sits down with Gwendolyn, founder of the Walker African American Museum, to explore her lifelong commitment to ensuring that the stories of Black Nevadans are not forgotten. Gwendolyn shares her inspiring journey, from collecting photographs and...

What drives someone to preserve history, even in the face of overwhelming odds? In this episode of the Women Who Saved History podcast, we explore the remarkable life and legacy of Elizabeth Warren, a passionate historian and preservationist dedicated to protecting Las Vegas' architectural and natural heritage. Joining us today are her sons, Louis and Jonathan Warren, who share personal stori...

Imogene Evelyn Young Ford, affectionately known as Jean, was a key figure in preserving Nevada's cultural and historical legacy. As a volunteer, citizen activist, and state senator, her deep commitment to safeguarding the Silver State's heritage made her instrumental in documenting and protecting its history for future generations. Through her extensive involvement with historical societ...

In this episode of The Women Who Saved History, hosts Claytee White and Su Kim Chung speak with Dennis McBride about Anna Dean Kepper’s remarkable accomplishments in preserving Nevada’s history, including her efforts to archive local historical documents in UNLV Special Collections and promote the significance of historical preservation. Kepper also founded the Association for the Preservation of...

Did you know that the foundation of Nevada's historical preservation was laid by a woman who started with a general store and a passion for collecting? In today’s episode, host Claytee White and scholar Su Kim Chung interview Amber Colbert, the Clark County Museum Administrator, about the remarkable contributions of Anna Roberts Parks. Anna's journey began in 1911 when she moved to Las V...

In today’s episode, we explore the work, life, and legacy, of Dr. Effie Mona Mack, a prolific writer, celebrated historian, and beloved teacher. We are joined by Patti Bernard, a former history teacher and WCSD principal, who, in 2015 was chosen as the Nevada Women’s History Project’s (NWHP) honoree for Woman of Achievement. Our host for today’s episode is Claytee White, a Women of Diversity Produ...

During this episode, we celebrate the legacy of Jeanne Wier in preserving Nevada’s history. Joining us to unpack her impact on chronicling Nevada’s history is Su Kim Chung, Head of Special Collections and Archives Public Services at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. Interviewing her is Claytee White, a Women of Diversity Productions Inc Board Director. Join us as we explore the long-lasting impa...

Welcome to the introductory episode of The Women Who Saved History podcast, a special series that celebrates the hard work of Nevada women who have made noteworthy contributions to preserving our state’s history. This podcast is produced by Women of Diversity Productions Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching women's lives and, consequently, society as a whole, by giving visibi...