Joanne Goodwin: Nevada Women's History Scholar and Advocate

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 Nevada Women’s Archive, launched the Las Vegas Women Oral History Project, and worked to preserve suffrage sites across the state. She shares how these efforts have helped ensure that women’s voices (especially those often left out of traditional narratives) are accessible to future generations. From her early interest in gender studies to her leadership in historical preservation, Joanne reflects on the challenges of capturing untold stories and the importance of making history available to researchers, students, and the public. Join us as we explore her journey, the impact of her work, and what it takes to keep history alive!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Joanne’s early life and how her parents encouraged her to pursue higher education.
• What shaped her interest in women’s history and how she came to teach at UNLV.
• Her efforts to represent diverse women from different backgrounds in her courses.
• Details of Joanne’s archival work and how Jean Ford helped bring in collections.
• The origins of The Women’s Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN).
• An overview of the Las Vegas Women Oral History Project and how it was expanded.
• Ways that Nevada residents have benefitted from Joanne’s preservation efforts.
• A breakdown of The Suffrage Trail by the National Collaborative for Women’s History Sites.
• How the Las Vegas Women Oral History Project partnered with PBS to create the Makers: Women in Nevada History Collection.
• Key challenges Joanne has faced during her career, from fundraising to communication.
• Surprising reflections and takeaways from Joanne’s journey.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Joanne Goodwin

Nevada Women’s Archive at UNLV

Women’s Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN)

WRIN Las Vegas Women Oral History Project

Changing the Game: Women at Work in Las Vegas 1940-1990

Women in Nevada History: A Legacy Digital Project
Makers: Women in Nevada History

National Collaborative for Women’s History Sites
National Votes for Women Trail
Claytee White
Su Kim Chung

Erica Vital-Lazare

Women of Diversity Productions Inc.
Nevada Humanities
The National Endowment for the Humanities

Caesars Entertainment

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