On March 11, 1981, Melvin Thompson interviewed Richard F. Caldwell Sr. (b. 1919 in New Orleans, Louisiana) about his experiences living in Las Vegas, Nevada for over 49 years. The interview begins with Caldwell discussing his family and what brought him to Las Vegas. He then talks about working at the Nevada Test Site, the hotels and casinos that were built on the Strip, his experience working at some of those properties, and the way of life in Las Vegas in the 1940s and 1950s. The two also discuss politics, religion, and recreational gambling in the city. The interview finalizes with Caldwell’s account of the Westside of Las Vegas, African American entertainers who came to town to perform, and a brief mention of many specific historical sites in the city.

General Las Vegas history, Sahara and Charleston, when UNLV was first built, personal awards, Lorenzi Park, Newspapers. City Sanitation, power, and telephone. Church and religion, personal and family history.(Interview on tape inaudible).

Narrator b.1891. Las Vegas history from 1942 to 1979. Las Vegas airfield (Nellis). Prostitution. Hoover (Boulder) Dam: two anecdotes. Effect of WWII on Las Vegas. Hotel/casinos during the 1940s and 1950s. Leisure activities. Eldorado Festival. Lorenzi Park. BMI Plant. Retirement in Las Vegas.

James Cardle is from Brainerd, a small town in central Minnesota. He grew up in a rural area with emphasis on outdoor fun. He attended Catholic grade school in Brainerd and a boarding high school in Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin. James earned an undergraduate degree at Holy Cross in western Massachusetts, and a Ph D in Civil Engineering from the University of Minnesota. He did research (physical experiments and numerical modeling) at St. Anthony Falls Hydraulic Laboratory, created a computer program that was used in the design of many large storm sewer systems around the country, and did consulting work on the side. Dr. Cardle came to UNLV in August of 1985 and began teaching a class on wastewater treatment. He was one of a small group of professors who worked hard to prepare for ABET accreditation. James was a member of the curriculum committee, did research on the Yucca Mountain project, and also worked on setting up a master's program. He wrote a proposal for the Ph.D. program in civil engineering which ended up being approved. James left UNLV to pursue a law degree at University of Notre Dame. Today he works as a patent attorney in Minneapolis-St. Paul. In 2006, he began acting as intellectual property counsel to UNLV on a part-time basis, giving him an opportunity to come back to Las Vegas and the university a couple of times each year.

James D. Campbell interviews Las Vegas native, Marianne Carpenter (born in 1929) at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) office, located at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. During the interview Marianne recalls the crash of Carol Lombard’s plane, the early above ground atomic tests, pollution and other social and environmental occurrences that have taken place in Las Vegas. Marianne also discusses the Helldorado Parade, the Downtown area and the Mesquite Club. Lastly, she offers an overview of her experience working for Nellis Air Force Base and her current job at the EPA

In this interview, Helen Daseler shared memories of mining work in Colorado, living in Europe, and working for the U.S. government, in addition to opening the "Las Vegas Day School". Helen was born in 1929 in Newton, Iowa. She matriculated at George Washington University but earned her degree from the University of California Santa Barbara. After graduation Helen married Jack Daseler who joined the "Lighter-Than- Air Program with the Navy and flew blimps along the Pacific Coast, Atlantic Coast and South America. Later, Jack worked as a teaching principal in France and Germany where their three children were born. Helen and Jack, both certified teachers, moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, 47 years ago and started the Las Vegas Day School in a Unitarian Fellowship building on Bond Road (Tropicana). The initial class started with 14 students. Helen taught kindergarten the first year, and Jack assumed the administrative and management duties. As the nineteen seventies approached, they played a major role with school integration in Las Vegas. Since Jack, the daily operations of the school are performed by the three sons, Neil, Jack, and Frank. Helen is retired and lives in Las Vegas.

Margaret "Peggy" Casey was born in Louisville, Kentucky where her father was the city editor of the local newspaper. She grew up amidst all the excitement of the Kentucky Derby, which she recalls in the interview. Peggy attended college at the University of Wisconsin during World War II. She describes the atmosphere and what it was like during her years in college. After graduating, she worked for an aeronautical company, Curtiss-Wright, where she helped build planes for the war. By 1952 Peggy was married to Walt Casey, whom she met through her sister, and they had moved to Las Vegas. In the interview, Peggy discusses what the environment was like in Las Vegas for a woman raising children. She describes what grocery shopping was available, and how she sewed most of her children's clothing. Peggy's children got involved in different activities. Mike had asthma, and he started swimming at the Paradise Park pool, which was built around 1960. The aerobic effects of competitive swimming developed his lungs. Steve was into horses and actually delivered newspapers on his horse. Her daughter loved horses also, and owns them to this day. In 1959, Peggy joined the Mesquite Club, which is the oldest federated women's club in Las Vegas. The club planted trees, started the public library, and was involved in many worthy causes. She also became a Master Gardner and has helped in many gardening projects around the valley. Peggy gives a great account of her life in Las Vegas, and that of her family and friends. At the end of the interview Peggy gives her thoughts on Las Vegas today, comparing them to her memories of Vegas back in the 1950's and 1960's.