Oral history interviews with Alma Whitney conducted by Claytee D. White on March 03, 1996 and May 28, 1996 for the Women's Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN) Las Vegas Women Oral History Project. Whitney opens the interview by talking about her life in Tallulah, Louisiana. She discusses race relations in Tallulah and how she traveled from Tallulah to Las Vegas, Nevada. Whitney describes her first job as a maid at the Desert Moon Motel, and her move later to the Desert Inn Hotel. Whitney discusses her career of over 30 years at the Desert Inn along with her promotion from maid to supervisor. Whitney also describes a time when Desert Inn employees went on strike for three weeks.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Henry Wieking conducted by Anna Dean Kepper on August 20, 1975 and August 21, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Wieking discusses the Old Mormon Fort and a recollection of early Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Louis Wiener conducted by Eleanor Johnson on January 24, 1990, February 09, 1990, and February 23, 1990. Wiener discusses being raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1931. He also discusses his parents, both businesspeople, and his experience as an attorney.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Mert Wilber conducted by Gabriel Filippone on March 05, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Wilber discusses his arrival to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1942 to work for the Basic Magnesium Plant in Henderson, Nevada. Wilber describes how and where the magnesium was mined. Wilber lastly discusses the low crime rate at the time, and the sudden growth in population starting in the 1950s.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jesma and Carlyle Wilcox conducted by Sally Griffis on February 19, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Jesma Wilcox begins by describing her family ranch, how her father leased the property to tenants, and what it was like living without air conditioning and refrigeration. She describes using a nearby stream as a water source, recreational activities, and the Mormon settlers and missionaries who first settled on the ranch. Wilcox talks about her religious involvement with the Mormon Church and life in Las Vegas, Nevada during the mid-twentieth century, as well as how Las Vegas has changed. Wilcox, with her husband Carlyle, also discusses the history of the nuclear weapons tests. Carlyle then describes the construction of the Basic Magnesium Plant in Henderson, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Leora M. Wilcox conducted by Alex D’Andrea on January 14, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Wilcox discusses arriving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1945, and shares her disappointment upon arrival. Wilcox also describes what it was like to live in Las Vegas and Henderson, Nevada while efforts for World War II were taking place. Wilcox later describes some of the most noticeable changes throughout Las Vegas, as well as the construction of Boulder (Hoover) Dam.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Barbara Wilde conducted by Candy Lorman on September 27, 1972 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Wilde discusses her early life growing up in Las Vegas, Nevada and recalls her experiences living there as a local. Wilde lastly discusses general changes that Las Vegas has underwent.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Roscoe Wilkes conducted by Claytee D. White on March 19, 2009 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Roscoe Wilkes discusses moving to Pioche, Nevada, being a PBX operation, working as a lead zinc miner, and teaching grade school. He also talks about enlisting into World War II, during which he was a prisoner of war in Romania. He then discusses enrolling in the University of Southern California School of Law, becoming a district attorney, and then a judge.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Bill Willard conducted by Perry Kaufman on June 04, 1972 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Willard discusses entertainment in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with James L. Willcox conducted by Carol Benner on March 04, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Willcox discusses working in a research office at the Nevada Test Site for the National Weather Service as a research meteorologist. Willcox later discusses the overall changes to Las Vegas, Nevada, specifically the effects that population increase had on the desert.
Archival Collection