Search the Special Collections and Archives Portal
Search Results
Dr. William H. Bailey oral history interview
Identifier
Abstract
Oral history interview with William H. "Bob" Bailey conducted by A. D. Hopkins on February 17, 1999 for the Las Vegas Review-Journal First 100 Oral History Project. In the interview, Bailey discusses his birth in Detroit, Michigan and his early life and education in Cleveland, Ohio. Bailey moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1955. He describes racial segregation in the neighborhoods he lived in, and in Las Vegas in general. He also talks about entertainers and business associates he worked with at the Moulin Rouge in Las Vegas. Other subjects Bailey discusses include the Great Society programs during the 1960s, affirmative action during the 1970s, the Las Vegas Black Chamber of Commerce, and minority business growth and development in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Vicki Richardson oral history interview
Identifier
Abstract
Oral history interview with Vicki Richardson conducted by Claytee D. White on January 29, 2003 and August 19, 2003 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Richardson discusses teaching art in the Clark County School district and owning businesses, including the Left of Center Art Gallery in North Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Joseph J. Buckley oral history interview
Identifier
Abstract
Oral history interview with Joseph J. Buckley conducted by Patrick Carlton on July 17, 2002 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Buckley opens his interview by detailing his participation in the Rotary Club of Las Vegas, Nevada, including offices he held. He then recalls his upbringing in New York through the mid-1950s, his employment at Rockwell International, and the work he did to test components of the Apollo 11 spacecraft. He then discusses moving to Las Vegas in 1969 to become the Personnel Director at the Desert Inn Hotel and Casino and recalls opening his own human resources consulting firm in 1985. He then describes the Rotary Club in more detail including the club philosophy, fundraising auctions, the scholarships they offered, and their short-lived television program. Buckley further talks about the Rotary Club's campaign to eradicate polio globally, events that occurred during his club presidency in the 1980s, and his time as Rotary Club District Governor in 1985. He then discusses overseeing a global Rotary Club convention in Las Vegas during the 1980s, and dealing with a lawsuit filed against the Rotary Club organization for discrimination against women. He recalls his time in Human Resources for the Howard Hughes Corporation, and a lawsuit filed against the Las Vegas hotel industry for employment discrimination against African Americans. Lastly, Buckley talks about the expansion of Las Vegas, the increase the city's population, and labor union relations.
Archival Collection
Irene Doty oral history interview
Identifier
Abstract
Oral history interview with Irene Doty conducted by Jackie Ogden on March 20, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Doty discusses the first casino properties and restaurants in Las Vegas, Nevada. She also describes her experiences as a justice of the peace, living conditions during World War II, her experiences in Goodsprings, Nevada, and being a juror in several murder trials.
Archival Collection
Quincella Rivers oral history interview
Identifier
Abstract
Oral history interview with Quincella Rivers conducted by Claytee D. White on November 20, 2019 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Quincella Rivers began by talking about where she grew up, her family life and history with the arts, and her childhood. She recalls moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1979 to finish college at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and talks about different jobs and organizations she has participated in. Rivers serves as co-chair of the Youth in Arts for Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) Sorority, President of the Las Vegas Society, Inc., Advisory Board of Forgotten Song Foundation, and sings with Sweet Adeline International. She talks about the histories of some of the organizations, how she helped out in each of them, what their goals were, and what they did for the community. Lastly, she talks about racism in Las Vegas in the past and her personal experience with racism and segregation.
Archival Collection
Claude, Buddy, and Skip Trenier oral history interview
Identifier
Abstract
Oral history interview with Claude, Buddy, and Skip Trenier conducted by Betty Rosenthal on March 10, 1978 for the UNLV University Libraries Oral History Collection.
In this interview, Claude, Buddy, and Skip Trenier, members of the musical group "The Treniers", discuss their experiences performing on the Las Vegas Strip as Black men. They share their group's history playing music at the Flamingo Hotel and Casino and other establishments in Las Vegas, Nevada beginning in 1948. Their discussion covers not only their performing careers but also their experiences with desegregation, racism, and discrimination in the city of Las Vegas.
Claude, Buddy, and Skip Trenier share their accounts of both being a popular act in Las Vegas, requested by out-of-towners from New York and Chicago, and also how they were nearly fired for refusing to play music when noticing customers of color being treated unfairly at their shows. The trio talk about how they could not enter casinos from the front entrance, how most casinos did not formally desegregate until after 1960, and how there were very few Black entertainers, musicians, or dancers during the mid-20th century with a few notable exceptions including Sammy Davis Jr.
Archival Collection
Avril "Juanita" Simmons and Fred "Bubba" Simmons oral history interview
Identifier
Abstract
Oral history interview with Avril "Juanita" Simmons and Fred "Bubba" Simmons conducted by Claytee D. White on May 21, 1996 for the UNLV University Libraries Oral History Collection.
In this interview, husband and wife Bubba and Juanita Simmons talk about their separate moves from Fordyce, Arkansas to Las Vegas, Nevada in the 1940s and their impressions of the city after moving. Bubba shares stories of his employment at the Basic Magnesium, Inc. plant in Henderson and his experiences living in tents on the Westside, traveling to work with the help of Red Mitchell, and sharing living spaces with nine to ten other men. Juanita discusses her work as a family's caregiver and speaks to the kinds of occupations Black women obtained in Las Vegas at that time. The couple share stories of city life and the clubs, eateries, and shops that were present in the area.
Archival Collection
Judge Lee Gates oral history interview
Identifier
Abstract
Oral history interview with Lee Gates conducted by Claytee D. White on December 05, 1996 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview Judge Lee Gates discusses how he came to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1960 and how he lived in the historic Westside neighborhood. He also talks about civil rights, racial discrimination in the workplace, and the integration of Las Vegas hotels.
Archival Collection
Johnny Pate and Jillean Williams oral history interview
Identifier
Abstract
Oral history interview with Johnny Pate and Jillean Williams conducted by Claytee D. White on March 04, 2004 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Johnny Pate discusses his best friend, Joe Williams, and talks about his career as a renowned jazz musician. Jillean Williams then talks about Joe Williams, her late husband, and about living in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Mabel and David Hoggard oral history interview
Identifier
Abstract
Oral history interview with Mabel and David Hoggard conducted by Perry Kaufman on February 23, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. David first discusses working at Nellis Air Force Base, how the armed forces weren’t segregated, and that segregation was not as big as it was outside of the base. David then explains the hostility between the civilian black community and the military black community. Mabel discusses education in West Las Vegas, Nevada, working with the American Red Cross, Teachers Local, and her membership with the National Education Association.
Archival Collection