“The Women Who Saved History”
“The Women Who Saved History” is a monthly 30-60 minute podcast focused on telling the stories of the many women who have dedicated their lives to preserving the history of the Silver State. Currently, there have been 20 women throughout the state that we have identified, including eight deceased women. Many of our historical institutions are the outcome of their work. Acknowledging these women has long been overdue. We are excited to celebrate them and their accomplishments with our first podcast series.
This program is funded in part with support from Nevada Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities. In addition, we thank Caesar's Entertainment for their sponsorship of this podcast series. Without these sponsors support, this podcast would not be possible.
“The Women Who Saved History”
Su Kim Chung: Las Vegas History Curator, Archivist/Librarian, and Teacher
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 the challenges she faced, her series Fishnets and Spotlights, and
so much more! We also delve into why she decided to obtain her Ph.D. while working full-time, and how she uses social media to reach students and keep them engaged in history. Finally, Su Kim tells us about the article she’s writing about AAPI performers in Las Vegas with her colleague Tammi Kim. You don’twant to miss this captivating conversation, so press play now!
Key Points From This Episode:
- Su Kim Chung tells us about her role in preserving the history of Nevada.
- A brief overview of Su Kim’s education, family life, and what inspired her to be a librarian.
- How her work has been used in Nevada by both historians and residents.
- Su Kim tells us about the work she did with the choreographer, Jerry Jackson.
- Some of the challenges she has faced over the years in doing this work.
- Why she loves teaching so much, and a bit about her series, Fishnets and Spotlights.
- What has surprised Su Kim in terms of her ability to succeed in this work.
- Some unique circumstances that led to her success in Nevada.
- Su Kim tells us about one of her first collections, the Papers of the Mesquite Club.
- Why Su Kim decided to go back to school during her work to get a Ph.D.
- How Su Kim reaches students and keeps them engaged in history via social media.
- Su Kim tells us about her article on AAPI performers, particularly George Lee.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Su Kim Chung Harper Collins Publishers
Su Kim Chung Books on Goodreads
Nevada Week in Person S1E61 Su Kim Chung
The Importance of Libraries and Access to Information
UNLV Special Collections & Archives
