Thalia Dondero
Dublin Core
Title
Thalia Dondero
Subject
Source
Women in Nevada History: A Legacy Digital Project
Publisher
Women's Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN)
Rights
This resource is available for education and research purposes. This collection is a collaboration and combination of various projects including, but not limited to; the Women in Nevada History: A Legacy Digital Project, the Nevada Women’s Archives, the Las Vegas Women Oral History Project and the Makers: Women in Nevada History Project, a co-production of the Women's Research Institute of Nevada and VegasPBS. The text, images, audio and video in this collection are under copyright by different repositories and may not be reproduced without express written consent of the appropriate entities.
Person Item Type Metadata
Work/Contribution
First female County Commissioner in Clark County
Birth Date
January 23, 1921
Birthplace
Arrival in Las Vegas
1942
Date of Interview
March 13, 1976
March 18, 1978
March 6, 2014 and April 2, 2014
March 18, 1978
March 6, 2014 and April 2, 2014
Biographical Text
The education of children in Las Vegas is an important issue for Thalia Dondero and her husband, Harvey. Together they have worked to improve the quality of education in the city. Thalia Dondero arrived in Las Vegas in 1942 and married Harvey in 1945. Harvey Dondero had already begun his work in education and was teaching at Las Vegas High School. The newlyweds moved to the state capitol, Carson City, from 1946-1948 while he worked for the US Office of Education. The couple returned to Las Vegas in 1948.
Dondero first got involved with public education at the Mayfield Grade School. She became active in the school's Parent Teacher Organization. At the same time, she was mentored by Maude Frazier, the superintendent for Las Vegas schools, whom she drove to and from meetings. It was this encouragement that later prompted her to seek public office.
Dondero did not limit her activity to the schools. She was active in the Service League and was the director of the Las Vegas Girl Scouts. She was also appointed to the Nevada State Parks Commission.
In 1972, Dondero made her first run for public office. She ran for the Nevada State Assembly but was defeated. She did not allow this defeat to stop her and ran for the Clark County Commission (CCC) two years later. Dondero was elected (the first woman commissioner) and served on the CCC for twenty years. During her time on the CCC she served as chair three times. Dondero made the news when she refused to act as secretary to the male members of the commission. She was defeated in 1994 by Myrna Williams. Dondero's service on the Clark County Commission helped open doors for other women to serve without facing the same kind of discrimination she originally faced.
Dondero's public service continued in 1996 when she was elected to the Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents, where she continues to serve. As a regent, she works to improve higher education in the state.
Thalia Dondero made important contributions to the Las Vegas community over the last fifty years. Her dedication to public service continues to improve the education system and the overall quality of life in southern Nevada.
Dondero first got involved with public education at the Mayfield Grade School. She became active in the school's Parent Teacher Organization. At the same time, she was mentored by Maude Frazier, the superintendent for Las Vegas schools, whom she drove to and from meetings. It was this encouragement that later prompted her to seek public office.
Dondero did not limit her activity to the schools. She was active in the Service League and was the director of the Las Vegas Girl Scouts. She was also appointed to the Nevada State Parks Commission.
In 1972, Dondero made her first run for public office. She ran for the Nevada State Assembly but was defeated. She did not allow this defeat to stop her and ran for the Clark County Commission (CCC) two years later. Dondero was elected (the first woman commissioner) and served on the CCC for twenty years. During her time on the CCC she served as chair three times. Dondero made the news when she refused to act as secretary to the male members of the commission. She was defeated in 1994 by Myrna Williams. Dondero's service on the Clark County Commission helped open doors for other women to serve without facing the same kind of discrimination she originally faced.
Dondero's public service continued in 1996 when she was elected to the Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents, where she continues to serve. As a regent, she works to improve higher education in the state.
Thalia Dondero made important contributions to the Las Vegas community over the last fifty years. Her dedication to public service continues to improve the education system and the overall quality of life in southern Nevada.
Video Interview
Bibliography
Thalia Dondero, “An Interview with Thalia Dondero, an Oral History Conducted by Mary Germain” [transcript], Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas (1976), Special Collections and Archives, University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Thalia Dondero, “An Interview with Thalia Dondero, an Oral History Conducted by Susan Scott” [transcript], Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas (1978), Special Collections and Archives, University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Thalia Dondero, “An Interview with Thalia Marie Dondero, an Oral History Conducted by Claytee D. White” [transcript], The Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project (2014), Special Collections and Archives, University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Guide to the Thalia Dondero Political Papers, Nevada Women's Archives. Special Collections. University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Collection # MS-0034.
Thalia Dondero, “An Interview with Thalia Dondero, an Oral History Conducted by Susan Scott” [transcript], Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas (1978), Special Collections and Archives, University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Thalia Dondero, “An Interview with Thalia Marie Dondero, an Oral History Conducted by Claytee D. White” [transcript], The Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project (2014), Special Collections and Archives, University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Guide to the Thalia Dondero Political Papers, Nevada Women's Archives. Special Collections. University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Collection # MS-0034.
Collection
Citation
“Thalia Dondero,” Makers Teaching Modules, accessed September 5, 2026, https://makersteachingmodules.sites.unlv.edu/items/show/36.