Oral history interview with Gladys and Lester Simmons conducted by their grandson, James L. Moore, on February 26, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Mr. Simmons discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1945 to work on the Union Pacific Railroad. He describes the company culture, railroad lines, and the company's shift in focus to freight transport. Mr. and Mrs. Simmons talk about the construction and growth of Nevada Southern University (University of Nevada, Las Vegas) as well as the overall growth of the city of Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Eleanor and Elmer H. Nighswonger conducted by Rick Isom on September 24, 1972 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Elmer and Eleanor explain why they moved to Southern Nevada, Elmer's career as battalion chief of the Las Vegas Fire & Rescue Department, and living in Boulder City, Nevada. The Nighswongers also discuss Elmer's political affiliation, nuclear weapons tests, economic changes of Southern Nevada, and pollution caused by the chemical and metal plants in Henderson, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Pamela Jones Brown conducted by Claytee D. White on June 12, 2019 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Brown discusses growing up in Nashville, Tennessee and meeting her husband, Joe W. Brown, while attending Sweer Briar College and married two months later. They moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in July 1968, where she taught English and French at Brinley Junior High School. She left teaching and joined PBS/Channel 10 as a scriptwriter. The Junior League of Las Vegas became her creative outlet with the "Crossroads of the West" project that documented the history of the town. These short documentaries were produced by the local PBS statio, and she discusses writing the scripts.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Charles Nur Fernald conducted by Claytee D. White on May 31, 2014 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview Charles Nur Fernald discusses permanently moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in January 1968 to perform with Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca at the Flamingo Hotel and Casino. He discusses auditioning for the Lido de Paris show at the Stardust Hotel and Casino. He talks about how he remained there for sixteen years and how he is the only male dancer who performed with Lido through five different consecutive productions. Fernald also discusses meeting his partner, Aquiles Garcia in 1969.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Dorothy Wright conducted by Claytee Wright on April 23, 2015 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Wright opens her interview by discussing her parents and their upbringings. She then describes her father's time in the Marines during World War II and his death a few years later. Wright then talks about her stepfather and her family's move to Las Vegas, Nevada for her stepfather's job at the Nevada Test Site. Wright describes moving away from Las Vegas to attend college in Washington and, returning to Las Vegas in 1968. She talks about attending the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, working for the Nevada Humanities Committee, and active African American civic groups in the 1970s. Wright ends the interview highlighting some of the major Las Vegas projects she wrote grants for including the Neon Museum and the Welcome to Las Vegas Sign.
Archival Collection
From the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas, OH-01039. On March 25, 1981, collector Sonny Neighbors interviewed his mother, Margo Knowles (born October 13th, 1935 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa) at her home in Las Vegas, Nevada. Margo speaks about growing up and going to school in Las Vegas. She also discusses her work as a telephone operator in Las Vegas, and at the Nevada Test Site in Nye County, Nevada.
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From the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas, OH-00822. On March 10, 1981, Joseph L. Erb interviewed Ruth E. Hazard (born June 25th, 1907 in Marshall, Michigan) in Las Vegas, Nevada. At the time of the interview, Ruth had lived in Nevada for over forty years. Ruth discusses living and working in Las Vegas and Carson City, Nevada. She also covers various subjects including: the atomic tests and the growth of the hotel industry.
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Oral history interview with Catherine "Caty" Crockett conducted by Claytee D. White on December 3, 2024 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Crockett recalls her parents' history living in Las Vegas, Nevada and starting a guest ranch, Hidden Wells, and later the Crockett/Alamo Airfield airport, and the Lazy Flying C Ranch. Crockett recalls growing up on the airport, riding horses, and interacting with celebrities and entertainers, including Howard Hughes. After graduating from Valley High School, she worked at the Sahara Hotel and Casino, Saks Fifth Avenue, and then at Valley Bank. She describes meeting many leading figures in Las Vegas history through her banking job, including Parry Thomas, the Mack family, Kirk Kerkorian, and others. Crockett describes later jobs, including owning an art gallery, and being one of the first women to join the Rotary Club.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Su Kim Chung conducted by Claytee White on March 11, 2021 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project.
Su Kim Chung is the Public Services Department Head of University of Nevada, Las Vegas Lied Library's Special Collections and Archives. This interview was conducted in part for the 20th year celebration of Lied Library. Su Kim first talks about the construction of Lied Library and what makes it special compared to the previous library building on campus. She then discusses her personal history and education that led her to UNLV, where she has now worked for 22 years. Her work involves manuscript curation, panel discussions with Las Vegas entertainers, and oral history collection among other activities. She has also written a book, Las Vegas Then and Now, that talks of the city's rich entertainment history.
Archival Collection