Oral history interview with Helen E. La Plant conducted by Claytee D. White on October 08, 2003 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. La Plant begins by discussing her early life in Minneapolis, Minnesota during the 1920s and 1930s and joining the United States Army at the age of twenty-one. La Plant then describes serving in Okinawa, Japan after World War II as a photographer for the Signal Corps. La Plant describes her return from Japan and decision to attend photography school in New York City, New York. La Plant then chronicles her experiences moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in the late 1950s to work at the Nevada Test Site as a photographer. She then recounts the shift from aboveground atomic testing to underground testing and her role as head of the photography department at the Nevada Test Site. Lastly, La Plant talks about entertainment during the 1960s in Las Vegas.
Oral history interviews with Louise Anna Yoxen conducted by Claytee White on October 08, 2003 and October 15, 2003 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Yoxen begins her interview by discussing how she first arrived in Las Vegas, Nevada to work for the U.S. State Department in the 1950s. She then describes her childhood in Alabama, competing in the Miss America pageant, and her life in Miami, Florida. Yoxen also discusses living in North Africa and Berlin, Germany while working for the State Department as a clerk. She then talks about moving around with her sister and her family, and eventually coming to Las Vegas. She describes what Las Vegas was like in the 1950s. Yoxen ends her interview with a discussion on her family, her husband's work, and their recreational activities.
Oral history interview with Jane Ann Morrison conducted by Claytee D. White on May 10, 2019 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Morrison discusses her early life in Fort Smith, Arkansas. She talks about her early interest in journalism, her employment at The Christian Science Monitor, and reporting for the Southwest Times Record. Morrison recalls transferring to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1976 and reporting for the Nevadan, which was a Sunday magazine published by the Las Vegas Review-Journal. She describes writing reports on organized crime, local politics, and covering Operation Yobo and Operation G-Sting. Lastly, Morrison discusses her more meaningful coverages.
Oral history interview with Mimi Rodden conducted by Claytee White on April 9, 2009 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Rodden begins by discussing her family's Basque heritage from their immigration to California and then into northern Nevada. She then discusses her immediate family, especially her mother, and the beginning of ther own volunteer work, which led to a lifelong interest in historic preservation that began with fundraising for the Nevada State Museum. After moving to Las Vegas, Nevada, Rodden continued working on historic preservation activities around the Keil Ranch and other historic sites in Clark County. Her work led to a Presidential selection for the National Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. She then discusses her move to Boulder City, Nevada and her work on the preservation of Tonopah Mining District.
Oral history interview with Steve Johnson conducted by Fred Reagan on March 20, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In the interview, Johnson discusses his exposure to African American racial discrimination and segregation in Las Vegas, Nevada during the 1950s to the 1970s. He discusses these experiences in markets, theaters, casinos, employment, and in common social interactions. Johnson also discusses the slow progression of social acceptance to racial integration and African Americans entering professional fields.
Oral history interview with Louis A. Tabat conducted by Jo Anne Marshall on March 30, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Tabat discusses his personal history in Las Vegas, Nevada. Tabat describes being stationed at Nellis Air Force Base and searching for housing in Henderson, Nevada because of lack of housing in Las Vegas. He also describes his television repair business, how Las Vegas has developed and changed, and life in North Las Vegas, Nevada. Lastly, he talks about nuclear testing, being a constable for the North Las Vegas Township, and his religious affiliations.
Oral history interview with Helen Winthrop conducted by Ron Valles on February 20, 1980 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Winthrop discusses her personal history and living in Las Vegas, Nevada. Winthrop describes her family, education, and marriage to her husband. She also describes her recreational activities and places she has traveled with her family. Winthrop explains the differences between the Las Vegas Strip and the rest of the city, as well as how Las Vegas is developing and changing. She goes on to discuss irrigation and agriculture in Las Vegas, the effects of nuclear testing in Nevada, and nuclear power. Winthrop concludes the interview by expressing her opinions on future development of the city and what environmental protections she thinks should be implemented.
Oral history interviews with Eva Futch conducted by Claytee D. White on November 02, 2010 and November 10, 2010 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Futch begins by discussing her personal history in Sweden, describing her early life, education, and what life was like in Sweden. She continues by describing her involvement in the boxing industry through her husband, Eddie Futch, who was a prominent boxing trainer. Futch provides insight into various aspects of boxing, how her husband trained fighters, and provides details on how the industry operates and the athletes she met. Futch describes moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1995 and the boxing events she was involved with in the city. She also goes through a series of photographs and memorabilia of her husband and explains their history and significance.
Oral history interview with Charles Silvestri conducted by Claytee D. White on December 31, 2012 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Silvestri begins by discussing his family history and his personal history in the United States Army during the 1950s. He describes moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1957 after leaving the army, working as a casino dealer at The Mint Hotel and Casino and California Club while attending the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, called Nevada Southern University at the time. Silvestri then describes attending the University of Nevada, Reno to finish his degree and moving back to Las Vegas to begin his career as a teacher. Lastly, he talks about life in Las Vegas, entertainment in the city, race relations in Las Vegas during the 1960s, and the middle school that was named in his honor.
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.